In the Bible, a fig tree represents the "natural", outward life of a person in the world, and the thoughts and feelings directly connected it. Our natural selves have a tendency to be drawn toward evil, seduced by bodily pleasures and engaged in merely factual thinking. If our natural level is connected to a more elevated interior state, though, it can be engaged in doing the work of being good and gathering the knowledge that can be built up into truth. This "natural good" is represented by the figs themselves, the fruit borne by the tree. It's interesting how there is a hierarchy among the most common fruits in the Bible. Olives represent the most exalted human state, which is called "celestial" and is driven by love of the Lord. Grapes represent the next level, which is called "spiritual" and is led by truth from the Lord and love of the neighbor. Figs represent the lowest level, the natural. This makes sense if you think about it. Olives produce olive oil, which is not only food but can also be burned, and fire represents love. Grapes produce wine, which was prized in ancient times and which represents spiritual truth. Figs are food, giving the body energy to work.

2508. 'She is my sister' means rational truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'a sister' as rational intellectual truth, dealt with in 1495. That rational truth is meant by 'a sister' cannot be seen by anyone except from the heavenly marriage; for the things that descend from that marriage have links with one another - resembling the ties of blood-relationships and relationships by marriage on earth, concerning which see 685, 917 - and in ways endlessly varying. The heavenly marriage exists solely between Divine Good and Divine Truth. Conceived from that marriage there exist with man the capacities to understand, to be rational, and to have knowledge; for without this conception from the heavenly marriage no one can possibly be endowed with understanding, reason, or knowledge, and cannot consequently be a human being. Insofar therefore as he draws from the heavenly marriage he is human. The heavenly marriage exists within the Lord Himself, so that the Lord is that marriage itself; for He is Divine Good itself and at the same time Divine Truth. The heavenly marriage exists with angels and men insofar as love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour, and consequently insofar as faith derived from these exist with them, that is, insofar as the Lord's good and the truth derived from this do so. When this is the case with them they are called 'daughters and sons', and in relation to one another 'sisters and brothers', but with differences. The reason rational truth is called 'a sister' is that it is conceived from the influx of Divine Good into the affection for rational truths. The good conceived in this way in the rational is called 'a brother', and the truth 'a sister'. But this will be clearer from the words spoken by Abraham in verse 12 of this chapter, 'And also she is truly my sister, my father's daughter but not my mother's daughter; and she became my wife'.