1636. elaia
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 Origin
a prim. word
Definition
an olive (the tree or the fruit)
NASB Translation
olive tree (2), olive trees (1), olives (10).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1636: ἐλαία

ἐλαία, ἐλαίας, (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 Background

The 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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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 21:1 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν τότε Ἰησοῦς
NAS: at the Mount of Olives, then
KJV: unto the mount of Olives, then sent
INT: mount of Olives then Jesus

Matthew 24:3 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ
NAS: on the Mount of Olives, the disciples
KJV: the mount of Olives, the disciples
INT: mount of Olives came to him

Matthew 26:30 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν
NAS: they went out to the Mount of Olives.
KJV: into the mount of Olives.
INT: mount of Olives

Mark 11:1 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν ἀποστέλλει δύο
NAS: near the Mount of Olives, He sent two
KJV: the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth
INT: mount of Olives he sends two

Mark 13:3 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν κατέναντι τοῦ
NAS: on the Mount of Olives opposite
KJV: the mount of Olives over against
INT: mount of Olives opposite the

Mark 14:26 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν
NAS: they went out to the Mount of Olives.
KJV: into the mount of Olives.
INT: mount of Olives

Luke 19:29 N-GFP
GRK: τὸ καλούμενον Ἐλαιῶν ἀπέστειλεν δύο
KJV: called [the mount] of Olives, he sent
INT: called of Olives he sent two

Luke 19:37 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶν ἤρξαντο ἅπαν
NAS: of the Mount of Olives, the whole
KJV: of the mount of Olives, the whole
INT: mount of Olives began all

Luke 21:37 N-GFP
GRK: τὸ καλούμενον Ἐλαιῶν
KJV: that is called [the mount] of Olives.
INT: called of Olives

Luke 22:39 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν ἠκολούθησαν δὲ
NAS: to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples
KJV: to the mount of Olives; and his
INT: mount of Olives followed moreover

John 8:1 N-GFP
GRK: Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν
NAS: went to the Mount of Olives.
KJV: unto the mount of Olives.
INT: mount of Olives

Romans 11:17 N-GFS
GRK: πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου
NAS: root of the olive tree,
KJV: and fatness of the olive tree;
INT: fatness of the olive tree became

Romans 11:24 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐλαίᾳ
NAS: into their own olive tree?
KJV: their own olive tree?
INT: into the own olive tree

James 3:12 N-AFP
GRK: μου συκῆ ἐλαίας ποιῆσαι ἢ
NAS: my brethren, produce olives, or a vine
KJV: bear olive berries? either
INT: of me a fig tree olives to produce or

Revelation 11:4 N-NFP
GRK: αἱ δύο ἐλαῖαι καὶ αἱ
NAS: are the two olive trees and the two
KJV: are the two olive trees, and the two
INT: the two olive trees and the

Strong's Greek 1636
15 Occurrences


ἐλαίᾳ — 1 Occ.
ἐλαῖαι — 1 Occ.
ἐλαίας — 2 Occ.
Ἐλαιῶν — 11 Occ.

1635
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