The Olive Tree: Israel

(Video Version)

Hosea 14:5-6 I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast out his roots in Lebanon. His branches shall go and his beauty shall be like the olive-tree; and his scent like as Lebanon to Him.

Jeremiah 11:16-17 YHWH once called you ‘a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.’ But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed. YHWH of hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal.

Quick sidenote: When we refer to Israel in a biblical context, it encompasses all twelve tribes descended from Jacob, not limited to the modern State of Israel in the Middle East. The collective term ‘Israel’ includes the entirety of Jacob’s descendants. It’s important to recognize that the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin constituted the House of Judah, and these two tribes became known as the Jews following the Babylonian captivity. In contrast, the northern ten tribes of Jacob are referred to as the House of Israel or, in some instances, simply as ‘Israel.’ This larger group is specifically identified with the name Ephraim. It’s crucial to note that the term ‘Israel’ is not exclusively reserved for the southern tribes. While all Jews are Israelites, not all Israelites are Jews.

The Roots

The foundation of the Olive Tree is the roots, which is the Word of YHWH, encompassing both the Law and the Prophets.

Deuteronomy 29:18 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from YHWH our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit,

1. Turning Away from YHWH: The verse warns against individuals or groups whose hearts turn away from the worship and obedience to YHWH, the God of Israel.
2. Serving Other Gods: This turning away is described as a shift in allegiance towards the gods of other nations. This implies disobedience to the commandments of YHWH.
3. The Metaphor of a Root: The metaphor of a root is used to illustrate the source or foundation of one’s beliefs and actions. If the root is not firmly grounded in the teachings and commandments of YHWH, but instead follows the instructions of false gods, it will produce negative consequences.
4. Poisonous and Bitter Fruit: The imagery of poisonous and bitter fruit symbolizes the harmful outcomes of disobedience. The actions and choices of those turning away from YHWH will result in negative consequences, akin to the harmful effects of poisonous and bitter fruit.

Moses is emphasizing the importance of staying true to the worship and commandments of YHWH (our roots), as deviating from this path can lead to destructive and bitter consequences.

Isaiah 5:24 So, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and the flame burns up the chaff; their root shall be like rottenness and their blossom shall go up like dust, because they have cast away the law of YHWH of hosts; and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.

They scorned and rejected the Law of YHWH, resulting in the decay of their spiritual root. Consequently, the logical outcome is their inability to comply with the Word, leading to the death of the blossom from which the fruit of obedience emerges.

Hosea 9:16-17 Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will put their beloved children to death. My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.

The House of Israel, also known as Ephraim, failed to heed YHWH’s Word, which serves as their foundational root. Consequently, Ephraim’s spiritual foundation has withered away. The fruit produced by this spiritual root is obedience to the Word. Thus, it is logical to infer that without a deep understanding of the law, the House of Israel cannot fulfill the obligation to obey it.

Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Paul advises believers to walk in Messiah Yeshua just as they received Him. The metaphor of being ‘rooted and built up in Him’ emphasizes the foundational nature of the relationship with Yeshua. Drawing from the concept presented in John 1:1, where Messiah Yeshua is identified as the Word of YHWH, it is understood that He is the root of the Olive Tree of Israel. Paul is conveying that accepting Yeshua’s sacrifice for atonement means establishing a foundation rooted in obedience to Torah.

In essence, believers are encouraged not only to acknowledge Yeshua’s redemptive work but to live out their faith by adhering to the Torah. The Torah, being the Word of YHWH, serves as the root upon which their faith is built. This implies that the transformative power of accepting Messiah Yeshua extends beyond mere acknowledgment to a life marked by obedience to the commandments outlined in the Torah. In this way, Paul emphasizes the continuity of faith, linking the acceptance of Messiah Yeshua to a commitment to live in accordance with the teachings of the Torah, which is the foundational root of their faith.

The Branches

The branches of the Olive Tree are those who follow Yeshua Messiah.

John 15:4-6  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Paul talks about the Olive Tree that is Israel in chapter eleven of his epistle to the Romans. He explains that wild olive branches will be grafted onto the tree that is Israel and existing branches will be pruned off of the tree.

Romans 11:17-24 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

The Olive Fruit

The olives on the branches represent the obedience of the followers of Yeshua to YHWH’s Word.

Matthew 13:23 But that sown on the good ground is this: the one hearing the word, and understanding it; who indeed brings forth and produces fruit: one truly a hundredfold; and one sixty and one thirty.

Understanding the Word leads to obedience, which is what is meant by producing good fruit.

Luke 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

When we repent of our sin, which means disobedience to Torah, we must subsequently live in obedience or we will be trampling on the Son of God, counting His blood a common thing, and insulting the Spirit of Grace. If you find this is a new concept please see our studies in Path to Salvation.

Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries. If anyone did not regard the Law of Moses, that one dies without pity on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will be thought worthy to receive having trampled on the Son of God, and having counted the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified common, and having insulted the Spirit of Grace?

Colossians 1:10 for you to walk worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing into the full knowledge of God;

Yeshua defined ‘good work’ for us:

Matthew 19:16-17 And behold, a man came up to Him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

Walking worthily of the Lord is symbolized here as bearing fruit. Since ‘every good work’ means obeying YHWH’s commandments, the fruit you bear is your obedience to Torah.

John 15:1-17 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Yeshua says we are branches, bearing fruit only when we remain connected to Him. He clarifies that true adherence to Him involves keeping His commandments. As He is One with YHWH, Yeshua’s commandments are YHWH’s commandments. Yeshua’s words are YHWH’s words.

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.

John 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

1 John 2:1-6 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The Olive Oil

The significance of olives in the context of this analogy lies in their representation of obedience to YHWH’s commandments. The oil extracted from these olives serves as a manifestation of the love that flows through our adherence to Torah. In essence, the oil is the natural byproduct of our obedience—symbolizing love. It’s noteworthy that this pure olive oil, emblematic of our obedience-induced love, holds a distinctive role. It is the same oil that fueled the lamps within the Tabernacle, setting it apart from the oil used for anointing, which incorporated the aromatic blend of incense.

John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

1 John 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, five are depicted as wise, with lamps filled with oil, while the other five are deemed foolish, carrying empty lamps. The symbolic significance of the oil lies in the love that flows from obedience to YHWH’s commandments. All ten virgins share a state of innocence, signifying their faith in Yeshua Messiah. However, a crucial distinction emerges in their commitment to Torah obedience. The five who align their lives with the teachings of Torah are described as wise and, as a result, are ushered into the marriage supper of the Lamb, representing their entrance into the New Jerusalem. On the contrary, the five disobedient virgins are left behind to confront the trials of the Refiner’s Fire.

Exodus 27:20 You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn.

Zechariah 4 gives us an illustration on how all things are accomplished by the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is manifested by believers through the church.

The Lampstand serves as a symbol of Yeshua Messiah, the cornerstone of the Assembly of YHWH, upon whom His churches rest. The seven lamps upon the lampstand are the seven churches. The Hebrew word for ‘lampstand’ is Strong’s h4501 מְנוֹרָה mᵉnôwrâh; the menorah is a symbol of Yeshua Messiah who is the Light of the world.

Zechariah 4:11-14 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

We have already established that the Olive Tree is united Israel, therefore, the two Olive Trees from verse 11 represent Ephraim and Judah. This passage says that the olive trees stand on either side of the Menorah and also that they stand by the Lord of the whole earth; therefore the Menorah is the Lord of the whole earth—Yeshua Messiah.

Revelation 1:12-20 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The seven individual lamps ,or lampstands, that are atop the main branch of the lampstand are the seven churches that Yeshua sent messages to in Revelation 2:1-3:22.

Revelation 11:3-5 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed.

In Revelation chapter one, seven lampstands originally stand before Yeshua, symbolizing the seven churches. However, Yeshua cautions these churches in His messages, warning that failure to rectify their actions will result in the removal of their lampstands. By chapter eleven, only two lampstands remain—Smyrna and Philadelphia—representing Judah and Ephraim. For further insights, please refer to our in-depth study on the Seven Churches.

The Flames

The flames of fire are the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:3-4 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.

The Olive Tree

The olive tree is Israel, all believers are branches on this tree (whether natural or grafted in).

The Word of YHWH, the Torah, is the root that gives nourishment to His Holy Nation.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The olives are the believers’ obedience to Torah and love is the biproduct of that obedience—the pure oil moving through the pipes. The oil fuels the lamps which are the seven churches. The flame produced by the burning oil is the Holy Spirit. Without love, the flame goes out and the lamp will be removed from its place.

1 John 5:1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of scorners. But his delight is only in the law of YHWH and he meditates in His law day and night And he shall be planted like a tree by the rivulets of waters, which will give its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf will not wither; and all which he does will prosper.

Psalm 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will thank You forever, because You have done it; and I will hope in Your name for it is good before Your saints.