Original Word: ἐλαία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: elaia
Pronunciation: eh-lah-ee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (el-ah'-yah)
Definition: Olive tree
Meaning: an olive tree; the Mount of Olives.

olive or berry tree.

Feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary; an olive (the tree or the fruit) -- olive (berry, tree).

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).

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
an olive (the tree or the fruit)
NASB Translation
olive tree (2), olive trees (1), olives (10).

STRONGS NT 1636: ἐλαία

ἐλαία, 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.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word ἔλαιον (elaion), meaning "olive oil."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H2132 זַיִת (zayith): Olive tree, olive. This Hebrew term is used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the olive tree and its fruit, often symbolizing beauty, abundance, and divine favor. The olive tree is frequently mentioned in contexts of blessing and prosperity, such as in Deuteronomy 8:8 and Psalm 52:8.

In summary, ἐλαία (elaia) is a term rich with cultural and spiritual significance, representing both the literal olive tree and its broader metaphorical implications within the biblical narrative.

Usage: The term ἐλαία is used in the New Testament to refer to the olive tree itself and, by extension, to olives. It is often used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths, particularly in relation to Israel and the Gentiles.

Context: The Greek word ἐλαία (elaia) appears in several New Testament passages, often symbolizing peace, prosperity, and divine blessing due to the olive tree's significance in the ancient Mediterranean world. The olive tree was a vital part of daily life, providing oil for cooking, lighting, and religious anointing.

In the New Testament, ἐλαία is used both literally and metaphorically. For instance, in Romans 11:17-24, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree to describe the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. He speaks of the Gentiles as wild olive branches grafted into the cultivated olive tree, symbolizing their inclusion in the promises of God. This passage highlights themes of unity and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises.

The olive tree also appears in the context of Jesus' teachings. In Matthew 21:18-22, while not directly mentioning ἐλαία, the fig tree's cursing and the subsequent teaching on faith can be seen in parallel with the symbolism of the olive tree as a representation of spiritual fruitfulness and judgment.

The Mount of Olives, a significant location in the Gospels, derives its name from the abundance of olive trees in the area. It is the site of key events in Jesus' ministry, including His ascension (Acts 1:9-12) and the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), where He speaks of future events and the coming of the Kingdom.

ελαια ελαία ἐλαίᾳ ελαιαι ελαίαι ἐλαῖαι ελαίαν ελαιας ελαίας ἐλαίας ελαϊνον ελαιολογήσης Ελαιων ελαιών Ἐλαιῶν elaia elaiai elaíāi elaîai elaias elaías Elaion Elaiôn Elaiōn Elaiō̂nInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts