Bible Trees

The Olive Tree

The Olive tree has a great significance throughout the Bible. The olive was one of the most valuable trees to the ancient Hebrews. It is first mentioned in Scripture when the dove returned to Noah’s ark carrying an olive branch in its beak (Gen.8:11). Since that time, the olive branch has been a symbol of “peace” to the world, and we often hear the expression, “extending an olive branch” to another person as a desire for peace.

The Hebrew word for “olive tree” is es shemen, which literally means ‘tree of oil.” It is from a primitive root meaning “to shine.” It means “richness, anointing, fat, fruitful, oil, ointment, olive.” It is related to the word shemesh, “to be brilliant,” and which also is the Hebrew word for the “sun,” that brightly shining orb in the sky.

Paul in writing to the Romans uses the Olive tree to teach a significant lesson.  Romans 11:17-18 “If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”

Paul is describing an apparently common practice of olive tree farming. To mingle plants, caretakers can transplant branches from one tree to another. Paul's take on the practice seems unusual, however. It was unlikely that a farmer would graft a wild olive branch onto a cultivated olive tree. However, that may well be Paul's point. God's choice to graft the "wild" and unspiritual Gentile people onto the tree of God's grace to the Israelites also seems unlikely. And yet, this is exactly what God has done. 

Gracious God and heavenly Father, what a joy and privilege to be called Your child. I long that Your Spirit works deeply within my heart so that I may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I humbly pray that You will increase my desire to know You more and to love You better. Please continue to supply me with the grace and strength to abide in Your love, so that I may show forth the beauty of Jesus in my life, more and more. 

May my life and all I say and do, be honouring to You and draw me ever closer to Your heart of love. In Jesus' name I pray, 

Amen.