Audio Download
The Fruit of the Land-Part 5 Pomegranates and Olives
[Study Aired November 1, 2026]
This is our fifth and final installment on the spiritual significance of the fruit of the land which we are to offer to our Lord to please Him and to seek His favor.
Deu 8:8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
As always, the fruit of the land is never to be offered without first acknowledging that it must be offered upon a burnt offering.
Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Cain did not “do well” because “the Lord… had not respect… unto [Cain’s] offering”, because Cain refused to acknowledge his need for a burnt offering of the flock.
The fruit of the ground and the fruit of the land signify that which we owe the Lord because He has purchased us with His own blood. When we bring our offering of the fruit of the land before we acknowledge that the Lord must die for our sins before we can present Him an offering of what He has given us, we are in effect proclaiming that our works of our own hands can save us, and the Lord has no respect for such a mindset.
The last two fruits of the land to be offered upon the sacrifice of Christ are pomegranates and oil olive. We very gratefully acknowledge our need for a Savior before we can bring Him an offering of the ground… of the best fruits in the land. Today we will ask, “What is the spiritual significance of our offering of pomegranates and olive oil”, and we will begin with pomegranates.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are mentioned in scripture as symbols of fertility, abundance, beauty, and the divine blessing of our land. They first appear in scripture as part of the robe of the high priest:
Exo 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Exo 28:34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
“Pomegrantes of blue, purple and scarlet” signify our journey from red carnal flesh through the purple bruising storms of life and into the realm of the spirit. See the studies on the spiritual significance of colors in scripture:
https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-color-red-part-1/
https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-color-red-part-2/
https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/colors-in-scripture-blue-part-1/
https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/colors_blue-part-2/
The color purple is what we get when we mix scarlet… red, with blue. Purple signifies the bruising storms of life which the Lord commands to bring us to our wits’ end (Psa 107:24-31). Purple signifies our lives while we possess the treasure of Christ in us as earthen vessels. We must endure the purple bruises of this natural realm before we are brought to the blue of the realm of the spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual [blue], but that which is natural [scarlet or red]; and afterward [through purple] that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such arethey also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
The next mention of pomegranates is Numbers 13:23:
Num 13:23 And they [the twelve spies] came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Pomegranates are filled with hundreds of little seeds within a red to purple colored ball. These abundant seeds signify the spiritual fertility of our land and the many children we will produce for the family of our husband, Christ. Those children all begin their conception in the same place we are all conceived… in the land we have been promised as “the earnest of [our] possession.”
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Seven Fruits of Our Land
Deuteronomy 8:8 list seven fruits of our land which we offer to the Lord of what He has bought and paid for with His blood. The fact there are seven fruits mentioned in this verse signifies a complete offering of the fruits of our land.
Combining this list with “the best fruits in the land” of Genesis 43:11 gives us a total of twelve fruits of our land, which signifies the foundation of our dedication to our Husband’s service.
Pomegranates decorated the pillars of the temple of Solomon:
1Ki 7:18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
1Ki 7:19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
1Ki 7:20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
The colors red, purple and blue each signify the different stages of our being judged in this present age. These three colors covered the veil that surrounded the tabernacle of Moses. The pomegranates on the robe of the high priest were to be red, purple and blue, signifying the spiritual journey of the Lord’s elect from the natural realm into the spiritual realm.
The temple signifies us as the Lord’s elect:
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The pillars with their chapiters and pomegranates also signify the Lord’s elect:
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
In 1 Kings 7 we are told that Pomegranates were carved in rows, two hundred in number, around the chapiters of the two bronze pillars of Solomon’s temple:
1Ki 7:18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
1Ki 7:19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
1Ki 7:20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
The number two and its multiple 200 adds to the proof that we are both witnesses, which is the spiritual significance of the number two (Deu 17:6; 19:15; Mat 18:16) and the pillars through which all men will, in the fullness of time, be brought into the temple of God.
Last but not least, pomegranates are mentioned in the Song of Solomon signifying the romantic beauty which Christ sees in us as His bride:
Son 4:3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
Son 6:7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
Such is the spiritual significance of pomegranates in our land which we offer to our Lord.
Its many seeds containing red juice signify the abundance the Lord has placed in our land, and fruitfulness, prosperity, and God’s generous provision for His people.
Those red juicy seeds are symbols of fertility, abundance, beauty, and the divine blessing of our land. They are also spiritual symbols of the spiritually sexual fertility with which we as the wife of our Lord will bless Him with many children. Those children will be the “much fruit” produced by us and our Husband by falling into the ground and dying:
Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
We will conclude this study of the spiritual significance of the pomegranate tree by taking notice that Joel uses the withering of the pomegranate to signify the Lord’s judgment upon us when we stray from His ways:
Joe 1:12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
Haggai uses a healthy pomegranate tree to signify the Lord’s blessings upon us when we repent and return to Him:
Hag 2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is the final fruit of our land which we bring as an offering to our Lord.
Deu 8:8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
Olive oil is listed next to honey which we have already examined as one of “the best fruits in the land”, which Jacob (Israel) sent to “the man” who held the lives of his sons in his hand:
Gen 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
What is the spiritual significance of olive oil as a fruit of our land which we must offer our Lord upon a burnt offering to seek His favor?
The first mention of olive oil reveals that it is spiritually connected with the giving of continuous light:
Exo 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
The light in the tabernacle of Moses and later in the temple of Solomon was commanded to be kept always burning. There was never to be any darkness in the Lord’s house and olive oil provided that light.
Olive oil was in the vessels of the wise virgins giving them access into the wedding feast:
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
“Go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves”, informs us that no man can come to God except the spirit drag him.”
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: G1670, ‘helkuo’, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins demonstrates that olive oil signifies the holy spirit which the Father gave to Christ to give to us:
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine [including “the holy spirit of God”, Eph 4:30]: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
The holy spirit is “the holy spirit of God”. God gave His holy spirit to Christ and Christ gives us of His Father’s holy spirit.
Typifying and foreshadowing the gift of the holy spirit which Christ gives to those who believe in Him, the high priest, Aaron, was anointed with olive oil:
Lev 8:12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
That anointing oil had spices mixed with it, but the oil was olive oil:
Exo 30:22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 30:23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
Exo 30:24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
Exo 30:25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
Shekels are measurements of solid substances whereas “an hin” is approximately one liquid gallon of olive oil.
This anointing oil signifies our anointing with the holy spirit of God and just observe how the Old Testament refers to this anointing:
Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
“The spirit of Christ” is the holy spirit which His Father gave to Him so He could give it to us. This is what we are told of that spirit:
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
The New Testament teaches that true Christians are anointed with the Holy Spirit. This anointing is not a special privilege for a select few. Being anointed with the holy spirit is a universal reality for every believer who does the things Christ tells us to do. Being obedient to Christ and doing the things He tells us to do identifies us with Jesus Christ, the Messiah (the “Anointed One”). Simply claiming His anointing does not mean we have His spirit. These are Christ’s own words:
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
2 Corinthians 1:21–22 states that God “has anointed us” and “given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee,” linking the anointing directly to the indwelling Spirit.
2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
1 John 2:20 and 2:27 affirm that believers “have an anointing from the Holy One” and that this anointing “abides in you,” teaching them truth and remaining permanently.
1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction [G5545. ‘chrisma’, anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing [5545, ‘chrisma’, same word translated as ‘unction’ in verse 20] which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing [G5545, ‘chrism’, anointing] teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Acts 10:38 confirms that God anointed Jesus with His holy spirit, and through union with Christ, believers partake in this same anointing.
The anointing of the holy spirit of God is defined as “the holy spirit of God”:
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [“of the purchased possession”, (Eph 1:14)]
The anointing of the holy spirit is not a feeling, energy, or secondary experience. It serves to seal believers as God’s possession (Eph 1:12), empower them for service, and teach them spiritual truth (1Co 2:13-14), ensuring that all Christians share in the same anointing as Christ and have the same mind of Christ:
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
What all these verses are telling us is that we must have the mind of Christ, which IS the anointing of the holy spirit of God, if we are granted to be one of those who are given a part in the “blessed and holy… first resurrection”:
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
“The spirit of Christ and the holy spirit of God” are one and the same because the holy spirit of God is the expression of the mind of God. If we are given the mind of Christ in this age, then when we are raised up from the dead, we will be in “the resurrection of life” because:
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God [“Know Thee” means to think as “the only true God” thinks], and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
That is the spiritual significance of olive oil. It signifies the very mind of God with which He anoints all who know Him and His Son. Both the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil come “out of the ground”, out of our ‘land’. Olive oil is one of the fruits of our land which we bring to our Savior presenting it to Him upon the burnt offering of His own soul, acknowledging that it is “of His own” that we are giving ourselves to Him.