Deuteronomy 8:8A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
See All... “A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey”

The land of Israel is described in the above verse as being a land of seven special food products. In scripture, the number seven speaks of perfection, and the seven food products listed have special typical significance.

What does the passage say?

The passage means what it says and says what it means. It is talking about a literal piece of land, a land that has specific borders, and a land that the children of Israel were to dwell in (see Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
See All..., Numbers 13:27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
See All..., Joshua 15-17). This was God’s promise for His people, and in that land these food products were to be found. 

What does the passage mean? 

The passage has clear typical significance. According to Proverbs 30:5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
See All..., “every word of God is pure”; therefore, these seven food products are listed in scripture for a specific reason. A careful study of God’s word reveals what each of these food products typifies. 

Wheat

• The first mention of wheat in scripture is found in Genesis 30:14And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
  See All.... This associates wheat with a harvest. The harvest speaks to us of a time when that which was sown is reaped. It speaks of that which falls into the ground and dies bringing forth fruit (1 Corinthians 15:36-38 [36] Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: [37] And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: [38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
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• Wheat was used in the meat offering in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 21:23And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
  See All...). The meat offering used fine flour (Leviticus 2:1And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
  See All...). Fine flour is wheat ground down so fine it is like a powder. It speaks of that which was crushed completely. Isaiah 28:28Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
  See All... tells us that bread corn is bruised. Corn is another term for wheat, and wheat is an ingredient of bread (Ezekiel 4:9Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.
  See All...). Bread speaks to us of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
  See All...). The bruised bread corn speaks to us clearly of the sufferings of Christ (Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
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• Wheat was traded (Ezekiel 27:17Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.
  See All...). Again this speaks to us of the suffering of Christ, who Himself was traded for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13 [12] And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. [13] And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
  See All...; Matthew 27:3Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
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• Wheat is that food product that was cast overboard into the sea before Paul’s ship was shipwrecked (Acts 27:38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
  See All...). After this, all those on board were saved.
• Wheat is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 12:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
  See All..., speaking of Himself, the Lord says, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

Wheat in scripture speaks to us of that thing which dies, is crushed, is traded, suffers, yet brings life. To me, wheat speaks so clearly of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in particular His suffering, His death, yet His bringing forth of life through these things. 

Barley

• The first mention of barley in scripture is found in Exodus 9:31And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
  See All..., and here we see that it is the first of the firstfruits; it is ready before wheat and rie. Therefore, we can safely say that barley would have been offered as part of the offering of the firstfruits on the day of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
  See All...). In this chapter in Leviticus 23, we have the Passover and feast of Unleavened Bread (verses 5,6), and then we have the feast of Pentecost on the first day of the week (verse 11). This can also be called the eighth day. In scripture, eight speaks to us of new beginnings, or resurrection. The first fruits were offered on the first day of the week, speaking to us of Christ’s resurrection. In the resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15, we are reminded that Christ is “risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (verse 20). Also, we are told that in Christ shall all be made alive, every man in his own order, “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” (verse 23). Because Christ is our firstfruits if we are saved, we indeed become “a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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• Barley is strongly associated with Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth. They both went to Bethlehem at barley harvest (Ruth 1:22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
  See All...). Ruth gleaned in the field and beat out an ephah of barley (Ruth 2:17So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
  See All...). Ruth kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest (Ruth 2:23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
  See All...). Boaz winnoweth (toss about, cast away, disperse, spread, strew etc) barley (Ruth 3:2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
  See All...). Boaz gave Ruth 6 measures of barley to take to Naomi (Ruth 3:15-17 [15] Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. [16] And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. [17] And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
  See All...). Boaz purchased Ruth, whose husband had died (Ruth 1:5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
  See All...) to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren (Ruth 4:10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
  See All...) and Ruth gave birth to a son (born in type to Naomi verse 17) called Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. Barley here clearly speaks to us of life from death, or resurrection.
• In 2 Kings 4 we read of the Shunammite woman’s son who died and rose again after Elisha lay on him after praying to the Lord (verses 18-37). Following this, the sons of the prophets were sitting, and put a wild vine in the pot of pottage. This bought death into the pot (verses 38-40). Elisha put meal (fine flour) into the pot and there was death no more (verse 41). Then came a man from Baalshalisha and brought Elisha bread of the firstfruits, 20 loaves of barley. Here again we have barley associated with a child that rose from the dead, and a pot of pottage that was recovered from death; barley clearly speaking to us of resurrection.

Barley in scripture speaks to us of that which was dead yet is now alive. It is often associated with resurrection and is one of the firstfruits. This typifies the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was dead but is now alive, and is the “firstfruits of them that slept”. 

Vines

• The first mention of vines in scripture is found in Genesis 40:9-11 [9] And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; [10] And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: [11] And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
  See All.... Here we read of Pharoah’s butler having a dream, and before him was a vine. This vine had clusters which brought forth ripe grapes. These grapes were pressed into Pharoah’s cup, and the cup was subsequently handed to Pharoah (verse 21). As a result of this, the wrath of Pharoah, which was upon the butler (verse 2), was pacified and the butler was restored (verse 21). It is interesting to note that the clusters brought forth ripe grapes, and in Isaiah 65:8Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
  See All... we read “As the new wine is found in the cluster,”. This new wine speaks to us of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
  See All...). The King’s wrath was only pacified by the presenting of the “new wine” which came from the vine, and only then was the butler restored. This speaks to us clearly of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
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• In Genesis 49:10-12 [10] The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. [11] Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: [12] His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
  See All... we also see a clear picture of the vine, wine and grapes speaking to us of the blood of Christ.
• In the Old Testament, the vine speaks to us of the nation of Israel. In Isaiah 5:2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
  See All..., the vineyard is Israel and the vine is Judah (see also Jeremiah 2:21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
  See All...; 6:9
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• In the New Testament, we read that the true vine is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
  See All...). The fruit of the vine speaks of the Lord’s shed blood (Luke 22:18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
  See All...; Mark 14:24-25 [24] And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. [25] Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
  See All...). This wine cheereth God and man (Judges 9:13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
  See All...) It cheereth God because it is the sacrifice of His son, the only acceptable atonement for sin, and it cheereth man because it is all he can offer for forgiveness of sin.

The vine speaks to us in scripture of that thing which brings forth new wine; new wine which cheereth God and man. This speaks to us so clearly of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the true vine, and the true vine sheds His own blood so that we might have redemption through it (Colossians 1:14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
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Fig Trees

• The first mention of figs in scripture is found in Genesis 3:7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
  See All.... Here we read after the Fall of man through disobedience, Adam and Eve “sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons”. This speaks to us of man trying to cover sin himself by his own works and righteousness (Romans 10:1-3 [1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
  See All...).
• The fig tree speaks to us of sweetness and good fruit (Judges 9:11But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
  See All...). Yet the fig trees of Matthew 21:19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
  See All..., and Luke 13:6-9 [6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
  See All... do not produce good fruit. These speak to us of the state of the nation of Israel.
• Good fruit is likened to the fruit of righteousness (James 3:17-18 [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
  See All...; 1 Philippians 1:11Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
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• Fruit is likened to righteousness in other places in scripture (see Ephesians 5:9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
  See All...; 2 Corinthians 9:10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
  See All...; Hebrews 12:11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
  See All...).
• In Jeremiah 24:1-10 [1] The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. [2] One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. [3] Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. [4] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [5] Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. [6] For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. [7] And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. [8] And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: [9] And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. [10] And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
  See All... we read of good figs and evil figs. Good figs speak to us of God’s goodness towards His people, and He giving them a heart to know Him and return unto Him with their own heart. A Christian living in righteousness (bearing good fruit) can expect God’s goodness towards him.

Fig trees in scripture speak to us of that thing which brings forth sweetness and good fruit, the good fruit being likened to righteousness. Where righteousness is forsaken, the fig tree does not bear fruit. Adam and Eve tried to apply the leaves of the fig tree themselves, speaking of self righteousness, but this didn’t cover their sin, so God had to clothe them Himself after shedding blood (Genesis 3:21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
See All...). Of ourselves, our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
See All...), yet the righteousness spoken of by the fig tree is God’s righteousness, imputed to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:22-24 [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
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Pomegranates

• The first mention of pomegranates in scripture is found in Exodus 28:33-35 [33] And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: [34] A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. [35] And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
  See All.... Here pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet were upon the hem of the robe of the high priest as he entered in and out of the holy place.
• The colours themselves here are significant. They were the colours of the curtains in the tabernacle (Exodus 26:1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
  See All...). They were also the colours of the freewill offering (Exodus 25:4And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
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• Blue - speaks of heavenly things, in particular the remembrance of the commandments of the Lord and holiness (Numbers 15:38-40 [38] Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: [39] And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: [40] That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
  See All...). Purple – speaks of royalty (Judges 8:26And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
  See All...; Esther 1:6Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
  See All...; 8:15
  See All...). Scarlet – speaks of that which is firstborn (Genesis 38:27-30 [27] And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. [28] And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. [29] And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. [30] And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
  See All...). It also speaks of blood. It is found in the temple and is associated with the offerings in Leviticus 14 along with cedar wood and hyssop (verses 4,6,49-52). This speaks of Calvary and bloodshed.
• Blue, purple and scarlet were also found in the robe of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 27:28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
  See All... – scarlet; Mark 15:17And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
  See All... - purple; Luke 23:11And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
  See All... – gorgeous; Ezekiel 23:6Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
  See All...,12 – tell us that gorgeous is described as blue.
• In Numbers 4:4This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:
  See All... we read about instruction for the things of the tabernacle “about the most holy things”. Blue, purple and scarlet are found amongst these things (verses 6,8,13).
• Pomegranates are found on the pillars of the temple (1 Kings 7:18-20 [18] And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. [19] And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. [20] And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
  See All...; 2 Chronicles 3:16And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
  See All...; 4:13
  See All...). The temple, the place of holiness, was held up by pillars, and these pillars were covered in pomegranates.
• Song of Solomon, a book which speaks much about the beauty of holiness, makes mention of pomegranates several times (4:3,13; 6:7
  See All...,11; 7:12
  See All...; 8:2
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Pomegranates in scripture seem to be associated with that which is holy. Whether it’s the blue, purple and scarlet fruits found on the hem of the robe of the priest, which accessed the holy place, or the fruits found on in the temple, or the fruits associated with the beauty of holiness described in Song of Solomon, the constant theme is holiness. This speaks so clearly to me of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who was holiness personified.

Oil Olive

• The first mention of oil olive in scripture is when we are told that pure oil olive was to be used in the lamp in the tabernacle, causing it to burn always (Exodus 27:20And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
  See All...; see also Leviticus 24:2Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
  See All...). Compare this with 1 Samuel 3:3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
  See All.... This oil olive speaks to us of purity, particularly the purity of the Holy Spirit.
• Oil olive is found in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:24-25 [24] And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: [25] And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
  See All...). This was to be used to anoint the tabernacle, the ark of the testimony, the table and vessels, the candlestick and vessels, the altar of incense, the alter of burnt offering and vessels and the laver and foot. They were to be sanctified as they are holy. Aaron and his sons were also anointed (Exodus 30:26-30 [26] And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, [27] And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, [28] And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. [29] And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. [30] And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.
  See All...).
• The anointing oil is holy, and is for the priests only. It will not be put upon man’s flesh, none shall be made like it and it shall not be put upon a stranger (Exodus 30:31-33 [31] And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. [32] Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. [33] Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.
  See All...). This again speaks of the purity of the Holy Spirit.
• In Psalm 52:8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
  See All... we read “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God:” This speaks to us of the Lord Jesus Christ. An olive tree has, so to speak, the oil flowing through itself. So too, the Lord Jesus Christ was full of the Holy Spirit.
• The olive tree speaks of fatness, causing others to honour God and man (Judges 9:9But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
  See All...). The olive tree caused others to honour God, not itself. This speaks of the Holy Spirit. He causes others to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, not Himself (John 16:8-14 [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. [12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
  See All...).
• Oil speaks of unity, only the unity that the Holy Spirit can bring through Jesus Christ (Psalm 133).

In scripture, oil olive seems to be constantly associated with that which is pure and holy. That which anoints and unites, that which glorifies not its own importance. That speaks to me so clearly of the person and work of the Holy Spirit, holy, pure, bringing glory to Christ.

Honey

• The first mention of honey in scripture is found in Genesis 43:11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
  See All... where it is associated with the best fruits of the land and is available in a time of famine.
• The Manna provided by God to the children of Israel in the wilderness tasted like wafers made with honey (Exodus 16:31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
  See All...).
• Honey flowed through the promised land (Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
  See All...,17; 13:5
  See All...; Leviticus 20:24But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
  See All...; Numbers 14:8If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
  See All...; 16:13
  See All...; Deuteronomy 6:3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
  See All...; 11:9
  See All...; 26:9
  See All...,15).
• Jacob ate honey out of the flinty rock (Deuteronomy 32:13He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
  See All...); God is the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
  See All...). Honey speaks here of the word of God.
• In Judges 14:8-9 [8] And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. [9] And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
  See All..., Samson saw honey in the carcase of the lion, and he ate it. In verse 14, we read, “out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness”. In verse 18 we read, “what is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
  See All...), His word is meat (Hebrews 5:12-14 [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
  See All...) and His words are sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
  See All...; Psalm 119:103How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
  See All...).
• After battle, the children of Israel saw honey on the ground. Jonathan tasted the honey and his eyes were enlightened. This speaks clearly of the enlightening that comes from the word of God (Psalm 19:8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
  See All...; Job 33:30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
  See All...).
• It is good to eat honey, which is sweet to taste (Proverbs 24:13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
  See All...).
• In Ezekiel 3:3And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
  See All... we see that the roll that Ezekiel ate was like honey for sweetness (this refers to the words of the Lord – see verse 4). Also, in Revelation 10:9-10 [9] And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. [10] And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
  See All..., the angel gave John a little book which he ate. In his mouth it was as sweet as honey, yet in his belly it was bitter (this again refers to the word of the Lord – see verse 11).

In scripture, honey is that thing which can be eaten and is sweet to the taste. It is available in a time of famine, it is pleasant to taste, it brings enlightening and it is good to eat. This speaks clearly of scripture. As well as these things, the word of God deals with us like no other book, and as well as being pleasant to taste, and bringing enlightening, it can also be bitter to taste, especially when it reveals that in our lives which shouldn’t be there.

Therefore, when we look at the 7 food products listed in Deuteronomy 8:8A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
See All..., we see 7 prophetic characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see One that was born to die, in order that others might live (wheat), we see One who was to be raised from the dead (barley), we see One who was to shed His blood so that we might be redeemed (vines), we see One who would be righteous (figs), we see One who would be holy (pomegranates), we see One who would be anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost (oil olive) and we see One who would be full of the word and words of God (honey). We see the perfect characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ, that One that one day would come forth out of the land of Israel.

What does the passage mean to me? 

We, as Christians, should see the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ in our own lives.

• Wheat – We should be prepared to die to self in order that Christ might live within us (Romans 8:13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
  See All...; Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  See All...). Our lives should say “Thy will be done” not “my will be done”.
• Barley – We should live with resurrection truths in our daily lives. The resurrection is essential to the gospel we preach (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
  See All...), the resurrection declares the power of God to quicken us (Romans 8:11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
  See All...), and the resurrection declares the hope of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
  See All...). We should live expecting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ at any time.
• Vines – We should always realise that we, as believers, are washed clean from our sins by the precious blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
  See All...). It is His shed blood, and that alone, that cleanses us from all our sin (1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  See All...) and we should live our lives realising that in Him all our sins are forgiven and we are free from the bondage of our guilt.
• Fig Trees – We should see righteousness, through the presence of Christ, in our daily lives. It should be a fruit that we bear (2 Corinthians 9:10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
  See All...; Philippians 1:11Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
  See All...), and that fruit should cause us to forsake the things of this world, to be separate, and to follow Him alone (2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
  See All...).
• Pomegranates – We should, as Christians, attain to holiness in our daily living. We should aim to be holy, as Christ is holy (1 Peter 1:13-16 [13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: [15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
  See All...; Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
  See All...), not polluted with the things of this world (1 Thessalonians 4:7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
  See All...).
• Oil Olive – When our lives are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, then we should glorify the Lord Jesus Christ at every opportunity (John 16:14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
  See All...). This should then cause us to live our lives walking in the Spirit rather than walking in the flesh (Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
  See All...). This will then help us, as Christians, to understand that for us, there is now no condemnation, and we are indeed adopted children of God (Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
  See All..., 15-16). This same Spirit, when present in our lives, will cause us to yield fruit which should be visible to all (Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
  See All...).
• Honey – As Christians, we should give the rightful place in our lives to the word of God. We should love it (Psalm 119:140Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
  See All...), listen to, read and meditate on it (Proverbs 4:20-22 [20] My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. [21] Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. [22] For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
  See All...), let it deal with us in any way it needs to (Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
  See All...), use it as our final authority on all matters of faith and practice (Matthew 4:1-11 [1] Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. [3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. [4] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [5] Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, [6] And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. [7] Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. [8] Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. [10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. [11] Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
  See All...), and let it prove our love for the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
  See All...).

It is interesting to note that when God’s people forsake Him, then the food products (all but honey) disappear from the land (Joel 1:8-12 [8] Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. [9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD's ministers, mourn. [10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. [11] Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. [12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
See All...). Yet even in these circumstances, the word of the Lord is still available (Joel 1:1The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
See All...). So too, in the daily lives of believers, when we walk in the world, away from the Lord, then we can expect His blessings to be withdrawn. Although we can never lose our salvation, we can lose our daily close fellowship with Him. It is by abiding in His word that we can keep close to Him.

The 7 food products of Israel speak to us in a historic sense of the beauty of the promised land; in a prophetic sense of the perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and in a spiritual sense of the 7 things that we, as Christians, ought to see manifest in our lives as we live for Him.