Lexical Summary
elaia: Olive tree
Original Word: ἐλαία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: elaia
Pronunciation: eh-lah-ee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (el-ah'-yah)
KJV: olive (berry, tree)
NASB: olives, olive tree, olive trees
Word Origin: [feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary]
1. an olive (the tree or the fruit)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
olive or berry tree.
Feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary; an olive (the tree or the fruit) -- olive (berry, tree).
HELPS Word-studies
1636 elaía – an olive tree (collectively, the Mount of Olives); (figuratively) the people of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit (the fulfillment/antitype of oil in Scripture).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. word
Definitionan olive (the tree or the fruit)
NASB Translationolive tree (2), olive trees (1), olives (10).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1636: ἐλαίαἐλαία,
ἐλαίας,
ἡ (from
Homer down), the
Sept. for
זַיִת;
1. an olive tree: Romans 11:17, 24; plural Revelation 11:4. τό ὄρος τῶν ἐλαιῶν (for הַזֵּיתִים הַר, Zechariah 14:4), the Mount of Olives, so called from the multitude of olive-trees which grew upon it, distant from Jerusalem (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 8, 6) five stadia eastward (cf. Winers RWB, under the word Oelberg; Arnold in Herzog x., p. 549ff; Furrer in Schenkel iv. 354f; (Grove and Porter in BB. DD.)): Matthew 21:1; Matthew 24:3; Matthew 26:30; Mark 11:1; Mark 13:3; Mark 14:26; Luke 19:37; Luke 22:39; John 8:1 Rec.; (on Luke 19:29; Luke 21:37, see ἐλαιῶν).
2. an olive, the fruit of the olive-tree: James 3:12.
Topical Lexicon
Botanical and Cultural BackgroundThe olive tree thrives in poor soil and arid climates, yet it endures for centuries, producing fruit that supplies food, fuel, medicine and the oil of anointing. Its hardy root-system, evergreen foliage and steady yield made it a staple of ancient Israel’s economy (Deuteronomy 8:8) and worship (Exodus 27:20). Such natural qualities underlie every biblical use of ἐλαία.
Covenantal Symbolism
Throughout Scripture the olive tree represents covenant life under God’s blessing—steadfast, fruitful and filled with light. When Noah received “a freshly plucked olive leaf” (Genesis 8:11), the sign spoke of renewed earth and restored communion. Psalm 52:8 pictures the righteous as “a green olive tree in the house of God,” and Jeremiah 11:16 calls Israel “a thriving olive tree with beautiful fruit.” In each case covenant obedience is expected to yield enduring fruitfulness.
Romans 11: The Cultivated and Wild Olive
Paul draws on this well-known imagery to explain God’s redemptive program (Romans 11:17–24). Israel is the cultivated olive whose nourishing root is the patriarchal covenant promise; believing Gentiles are the wild shoot graciously grafted in.
Romans 11:17: “If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them to share in the root and richness of the olive tree….”
The illustration safeguards two truths: (1) the continuing faithfulness of God to ethnic Israel—“how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree” (verse 24); and (2) the unity of Jew and Gentile in one redeemed people, sharing one root and one life. The horticultural image repudiates replacement theology while urging humility, perseverance and hope.
James 3:12: Moral Consistency
James uses the same plant to expose hypocrisy: “My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives…?” (James 3:12). An olive tree must produce olives; likewise those reborn by the implanted word must speak wisdom, not curses. The olive thus functions as a moral test of authenticity.
Revelation 11:4: Prophetic Witness
The two witnesses are “the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth” (Revelation 11:4), echoing Zechariah 4. There the oil flows unceasingly by God’s Spirit to maintain temple light. In Revelation the imagery guarantees that, even amid apocalyptic judgment, God empowers an unfailing testimony until His purposes are complete.
The Mount of Olives (Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν)
The same root names the ridge east of Jerusalem, appearing eleven times with Strong’s 1636.
Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29—Setting for the triumphal entry, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.
Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3—Site of the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus unveils the consummation.
Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39—Route to Gethsemane, venue of His agony and submission.
Luke 19:37; 21:37—Place of daily teaching during the final week.
John 8:1—Point of retreat after confronting religious opposition.
By choosing this particular hill for key actions and teachings, Jesus identifies Himself with prophetic expectation: Zechariah 14:4 foresees the LORD standing on the Mount of Olives at the climactic deliverance of Jerusalem. Acts 1:12 records the Ascension from the same location, directing hope toward His promised return “in the same way” (Acts 1:11).
Pastoral and Liturgical Uses
1. Anointing oil from olives consecrated priests, prophets and kings (1 Samuel 16:13). Believers are now “anointed by the Holy One” (1 John 2:20), set apart for holy service.
2. The Menorah burned pure olive oil (Exodus 27:20), symbolizing the Spirit-fueled light that the church must display (Matthew 5:14–16).
3. Grafted-in imagery calls congregations to humility toward Israel and gratitude for grace.
4. The Mount of Olives invites imitation of Christ’s prayer life and vigilance as we await His return.
Theological Themes
• Faithfulness of God to covenant promises.
• Unity of Jew and Gentile within redemptive history.
• Necessity of visible fruit matching inner nature.
• Empowerment by the Holy Spirit for witness.
• Assurance of the Second Advent anchored in geographic, historical reality.
Thus Strong’s Greek 1636 weaves together botanical fact, covenant symbolism, doctrinal clarity and eschatological hope—root, branch and fruit pointing to the Lord who is “the Root and the Offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16).
Forms and Transliterations
ελαια ελαία ἐλαίᾳ ελαιαι ελαίαι ἐλαῖαι ελαίαν ελαιας ελαίας ἐλαίας ελαϊνον ελαιολογήσης Ελαιων ελαιών Ἐλαιῶν elaia elaiai elaíāi elaîai elaias elaías Elaion Elaiôn Elaiōn Elaiō̂n
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