Remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you!

“But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai (Jesse), a shoot will grow from his roots.”
— Yeshayahu [Isaiah] 11:1 (CJB)

The prophet Yeshayahu foresaw the coming of the Netzer — the Branch, from which the name Netzari (followers of the Branch) is derived. This Branch is Y’hoshua HaMashiach, the promised Son of David, who sprang forth from the root of Yishai. From that same root, the covenant of Y’hovah flows — first to Yisra’el, then to the nations.

Through Him, all who believe are grafted into the living tree of covenant relationship. But Sha’ul (Paul) gave a solemn warning to the Gentiles who came to faith in Y’hoshua:

“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them and came to share the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you!”
— Romiyim [Romans] 11:17–18 (TS2009)

The Olive Tree of Yisra’el

The olive tree represents the family of Y’hovah’s covenant — the people of Yisra’el. Some of the natural branches (those who did not believe in Y’hoshua) were temporarily broken off, not forever removed. Through mercy, the wild olive branches — the Gentile nations — were grafted in among them to share in the life of the same root.

Sha’ul’s message was not to exalt the wild branches but to remind them of their dependence on the root. Every promise, every truth, every covenant blessing comes from Yisra’el — the people through whom Y’hovah revealed His Torah and His Messiah.

“After all, what makes you so special? What do you have that you didn’t receive as a gift? And if it was a gift, why boast as if it weren’t?”
— 1 Corinthians 4:7 (CJB)

The faith we hold is not a new tree planted by the Gentiles but the same olive tree nurtured by Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov. It is a Jewish root that sustains the entire body of believers. To forget that is to forget the covenant itself.

The Root that Bears You

Whether we identify the root as Y’hoshua HaMashiach, Avraham, or the patriarchs of Yisra’el — the meaning is the same: the root is Hebrew, covenantal, and sacred. Every Gentile believer who trusts in Y’hoshua has been joined to this covenant through grace, not privilege.

Sha’ul warns against spiritual arrogance — the idea that the “Church” has replaced Yisra’el or that Yisra’el is no longer the center of Y’hovah’s plan. This kind of pride is chutzpah before Elohim and is contrary to the very teaching of the Renewed Covenant.

“For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. See then the kindness and severity of Elohim.”
— Romiyim [Romans] 11:21–22 (TS2009)

We stand only by faith and grace, not by superiority. The moment pride replaces humility, the graft withers.

The Grafted Branches — One People

When Gentiles come to faith in Y’hoshua, they do not start a new religion — they are grafted into the covenant family of Yisra’el. This was true in Ruth’s time and remains true today.

“Your people shall be my people and your Elohim my Elohim.”
— Ruth 1:16 (TS2009)

To be joined to the Elohim of Yisra’el means to join His people, not to replace them. The wild branches share in the nourishment of the olive tree — the Torah, the promises, and the hope of redemption — but the root remains Hebrew.

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh... were at that time without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’el and strangers from the covenants of promise. But now in Messiah Y’hoshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.”
— Ephesians 2:11–13 (TS2009)

Every talmid, whether from Yisra’el or the nations, finds life through the same root. We have one faith, one covenant, and one Redeemer.

A Call to Humility and Restoration

Sha’ul’s warning was not meant to shame but to restore. He saw the danger of Gentile believers losing reverence for the people and promises of Y’hovah. He wrote to remind them — and us — that salvation is rooted in Yisra’el, not in the traditions of Rome or the doctrines of men.

Gentile kedoshim (set-apart ones) are called to walk in humility, gratitude, and obedience — guarding Torah, honoring the Jewish root of faith, and blessing the people of Yisra’el. As the prophet Zecharyah wrote:

“In those days ten men from all languages of the nations shall grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.’”
— Zekharyah [Zechariah] 8:23 (TS2009)

To honor the root is to honor Y’hovah’s eternal covenant. To forget the root is to deny the very source of our salvation.

The Root Bears You

Let us remember Sha’ul’s words — “You do not bear the root, but the root bears you.” Every believer who follows Y’hoshua HaMashiach stands upon the foundation of Y’hovah’s covenant with Yisra’el.

Y’hoshua Himself said,

“Salvation is from the Jews.”
— Yochanan [John] 4:22 (CJB)

We, the grafted-in branches, must walk with gratitude, humility, and love toward the natural branches — our elder brothers in the faith. For when the full number of the nations comes in, all Yisra’el shall be saved (Romans 11:26).

“For if their being cast away is the restoration of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”
— Romiyim [Romans] 11:15 (TS2009)

The olive tree is living once more — and every branch that abides in it will bear fruit for the glory of Y’hovah.

By Rabbi Francisco Arbas
📧 franciscoarbas.yisrael@gmail.com
Following His ‘WAY’ — Netzari Mashiach Judaism