The Nature of the Olive Tree

In looking up the nature of the olive tree today, I discovered it lives to be anywhere from 200 to 2000 years old. And in a rare case, there is an olive tree in Crete estimated to be around 4000 years old.

The olive tree is a picture of the nation of Israel as described in the Bible. And it seems a good example of a tree that is hearty and lives thousands of years, just like the nation of Israel.

Romans 11:17-18 " 17 Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you."

Romans 11:1-6 "1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."
4 But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5 So too at the present time, there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace."

This is written to the people of the time of the Romans, but is still true today. Not all Scripture was written to us, but all Scripture was written for us so that we can see prophecy as it confronts us and the wisdom of God's plan for the future.

God has not forgotten the Jewish people or Israel. He has brought His people back into the land He gave her and is preparing a time of trials to bring her back to Him.


Israel is the only nation in the world that will ever completely turn to Christ during Jacob's trouble, called the tribulation. No other nation has ever done this, nor will any other nation do this.

Jesus Christ is referred to as the "Root of Jesse", that is, the cultivated olive tree of God in whom the world has salvation if they trust in Him.