What does the wild olive tree represent in Romans 11?
In Romans 11, the wild olive tree represents the Gentiles, specifically the whole Gentile system. The passage says Gentiles are a wild olive tree grafted in among the Jews, the good olive tree, which was originally Israel. The wild olive is described as worthless, producing no fruit, yet is grafted into the beautiful original root.
Les teaches that Romans 11 uses the wild olive tree as an illustration of the Gentiles. In verse 17, Paul speaks to Gentiles as a wild olive tree grafted in among the Jews, the good olive tree, so that they partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Les points out this is the direct opposite of normal grafting: normally the native root survives and a good hybrid is grafted in, but here the beautiful tree is cast aside and an old wild olive tree is grafted in. He explains that the wild olive tree did not produce fruit and was worthless, like a bad weed—and that is what the Gentiles are. He also clarifies that this is not talking about believers only as those grafted in, although believers are certainly part of it, but about the whole Gentile system grafted into what was originally Israel. He connects this to Abraham and Genesis 12:3, where God promised that all families of the earth would be blessed, and notes that Israel enjoyed the fatness of the root of Abraham until Paul went to the Gentiles.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
What kind of tree is a wild olive tree — does it bear fruit?
The wild olive tree is portrayed as worthless and unfruitful, producing no fruit and likened to a bad weed. In this illustration, Gentiles are the wild olive tree grafted into Israel, the good olive tree, so they partake of the root and fatness rather than contributing fruit of their own.
Who is the wild olive tree in Romans 11:17?
In Romans 11:17 the wild olive tree represents Gentiles. The verse says Gentiles were grafted in among the Jews, the good olive tree, and partook of the root and fatness. This is opposite normal grafting because the wild olive was worthless, fruitless, and like a bad weed, yet it was grafted in.