ἀγριέλαιος (agrielaios)
agrielaios
wild olive tree
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective agrielaios describes something belonging to the wild olive, also known as the oleaster. In the New Testament, it functions substantively to refer specifically to the wild olive tree itself. This term appears only twice in Scripture, both times within the eleventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Paul uses this agricultural image to explain the relationship between Gentile believers and the people of Israel. He describes Gentiles as a wild branch grafted into the cultivated olive tree, drawing nourishment from its root (Romans 11:17). The contrast highlights that while the wild olive is naturally hardy, it does not support the root; rather, the root supports the wild branch. This metaphor underscores that salvation history flows from the Jewish covenant people to the Gentiles, reversing natural expectations.
The word combines agrios (wild) and elaios (olive), emphasizing the untamed nature of the grafted branches compared to the cultivated original. Paul notes in verse 24 that it is contrary to nature for a wild branch to be grafted into its own tree, stressing the miraculous grace involved in including Gentiles in God’s promises.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agrielaios refers to a wild olive tree, known in ancient agriculture as the oleaster. This hardy plant grows naturally on rocky hillsides and produces small, bitter fruit. It stands in contrast to the cultivated olive tree, which is carefully tended by farmers to yield rich oil. In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, both within Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Paul uses this image to explain how Gentile believers relate to God’s promises. He describes us as wild branches grafted into a cultivated olive tree. This means we do not support the root; instead, the root supports us. The connection is entirely an act of grace, reversing natural expectations. We share in the richness of the covenant people without being part of the original lineage.
This metaphor reminds us that our standing before God rests on His faithfulness, not our own merit. It invites humility and gratitude. We are joined to a history we did not start but are invited to cherish. This shared root connects all believers across time and culture.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a wild olive tree2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγριέλαιος1×
- ἀγριελαίου1×
Key Verses
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Romans 11:17
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree,
This verse establishes the core metaphor by identifying Gentile believers as wild olive branches grafted into the cultivated tree to share in its spiritual richness.
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Romans 11:24
For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Here Paul emphasizes the miraculous nature of this inclusion, noting that it is contrary to nature for a wild branch to be grafted into such a good olive tree.