what does it mean to "choose the olive branch"?

Answer 1

Actually, the usual expression is "extend the olive branch", which means, "to make an offer of peace". (So "choose the olive branch" would suggest someone deciding to seek peace rather than war.)

The "olive branch" symbol here originally did not stand alone, but was combined with a dove, specifically a dove holding an olive branch in its beak.

The origin of this image and expression is in the biblical story of Noah and the Flood. After the flood,when Noah's ark had settled and the floodwaters are abating, Noah sends out several birds to see whether the water has subsided enough to leave.

The second episode is recounted thus:

Genesis 8:10-11 - Noah waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth

What does this have to do with PEACE? you may ask. Well, the flood story is about God judging humanity; the drying up of the waters --and so the dove's bringing back an olive branch-- is a sign that the END of judgment... God is satisifed.

In other words, God is now making PEACE with Noah and his descendants. This is made explicit in the next chapter, where God is said to set his "bow" in the skies (meaning a warrior's bow, but the image used is the RAIN-bow) as a sign of his "covenant"-promise not to destroy the earth by flood again

Genesis 9:11-13 - "I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

In fact, later in the Bible, all of this is referred to as God making a "covenant of PEACE".

Isaiah 54:9-10 - "This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart rom you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the LORD."


http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/26/messages/714.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_symbol#The_dove_and_the_olive_branch

Answer 2

It just means that you may not have been apart of the original, but you were adopted and you are like the original. That is what I gathered, anyway. Looking up the definition of grafted, it's when branches from one tree or bush grow into another... my image is those hedge-like things that people might put around their yard or something and they are all grown together. It's pretty much a metaphor. The roots are what keeps a tree in place and alive. The branches stem off from the root. Some branches fall off and others will be grafted in. It's saying that if you are a branch, you need to not boast about being a branch because you are not as important as the root. Bigger picture: The Lord is the root and we are the branches. Sometimes people will fall away from God, but others will come to God. To me, it is saying that we shouldn't brag about being of God because we are not God or anything like Him and we should not think we are better than anyone else because we are not. Instead, we should do our part at being the branches in order for the tree to continue to grow big and strong.

Answer 3

It means to choose peace and it means to choose forgiveness. When someone holds out the olive branch to you, that person is asking for forgiveness. If you accept the olive branch it means you have accepted the apology and you are choosing to forgive the offense.

Answer 4

The olive branch is a symbol of peace and friendship so to choose it would be to accept that rather than a fight or war..

Answer 5

Choose peace.

Answer 6

it means to set aside differences and choose to come into a compromise although I am not sure of the original meaning

Answer 7

choose the peace offer made by the enemy ( or apparent peace offer)

Answer 8

it is a dove symbol too peace

Answer 9

well its that or the arrows

if somebody is messin with you , you have to hit em with something