Symbolic Elements in Zenos's Allegory

Zenos's allegory of the tame and wild olive trees, though complicated, is one of great doctrinal and historical importance, in part because it represents the past and future history of the house of Israel. Understanding the elements in this allegory, which are grouped together and listed on this chart, can lead to added insights concerning God's dealings with his covenant people. As this data shows, the allegory is a dynamic interchange between several trees (or parts of trees) and the master of the vineyard, his servant, and several laborers. This chart does not interpret these symbols as they appear in Jacob 5, but it shows that many elements are built into this extended allegory and thus facilitates in-depth reflection on this text.