199. The fruit from the tree from which they were allowed to eat means the good and truth of faith, that is, the cognitions of faith, revealed to them from the Most Ancient Church. This becomes clear from the fact that reference is made to 'the fruit from the tree of the garden' from which they were to eat, and not merely, as previously in 2:16 where the subject was the celestial man or Most Ancient Church, 'from the tree of the garden'. As was stated at that point, the tree of the garden means perception, that is, the perception of good and truth. And because this good and truth are the product, it is here called fruit, as is also the meaning of 'fruit' many times in the Word.

In Leviticus 26:16, this signifies the lust of evil. (Arcana Coelestia 8364[4])

In Deuteronomy 28:22, this signifies spiritual disease, or some evil destroying the life of good, or falsity destroying the life of the understanding of truth. (Arcana Coelestia 8364[3])