Encyclopedia entry
Olive
The fruit of the olive-tree. This tree yielded oil which was highly valued. The best oil was from olives that were plucked before being fully ripe, and then beaten or squeezed (Deut. 24:20; Isa. 17:6; 24:13). It was called “beaten,” or “fresh oil” (Ex. 27:20). There were also oil-presses, in which the oil was trodden out by the feet (Micah 6:15). James (3:12) calls the fruit “olive berries.” The phrase “vineyards and olives” (Judg. 15:5, A.V.) should be simply “olive-yard,” or “olive-garden,” as in the Revised Version. (See OIL.)
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
The olive was among the most abundant and characteristic vegetation of Judea. The olive tree grows freely almost everywhere on the shores of the Mediterranean, but it was peculiarly abundant in Palestine. See (6:11; 8:8; 28:40) Oliveyards are a matter of course in descriptions of the country like vines and cornfields. (Judges 15:5; 1 Samuel 8:14) The kings had very extensive ones. (1 Chronicles 27:28) Even now the is very abundant in the country. Almost every village has its olive grove. Certain districts may be specified where at various times this tree been very luxuriant. The cultivation of the olive tree had the closest connection with the domestic life of the Israelites (2 Chronicles 2:10) their trade, (Ezekiel 27:17; Hosea 12:1) and even their Public ceremonies and religious worship. In Solomon’s temple the cherubim were “of olive tree,” (1 Kings 6:23) as also the doors, vs. (1 Kings 6:31,32) and posts. ver. (1 Kings 6:33) For the various uses of olive oil see Oil. The wind was dreaded by the cultivator of the olive for the least ruffling of a breeze is apt to cause the flowers to fall. (Job 15:33) It is needless to add that the locust was a formidable enemy of the olive. It happened not unfrequently that hopes were disappointed, and that “the labor of the olive failed.” (Habakkuk 3:17) As to the growth of the tree, it thrives best in warm and sunny situations. It is of moderate height, with knotty gnarled trunk and a smooth ash-colored bark. It grows slowly, but lives to an immense age. Its look is singularly indicative of tenacious vigor, and this is the force of what is said in Scripture of its “greenness, as emblematic of strength and prosperity. The leaves, too, are not deciduous. Those who see olives for the first time are occasionally disappointed by the dusty color of their foilage; but those who are familiar with them find an inexpressible charm in the rippling changes of their slender gray-green leaves. (See Ruskin’s “Stones of Venice,” iii. 175-177.) The olive furnishes the basis of one of Paul’s allegories. (Romans 11:16-25) The Gentiles are the “wild olive” grafted in upon the “good olive,” to which once the Jews belonged, and with which they may again be incorporated, (The olive grows from 20 to 40 feet high. In general appearance it resembles the apple tree; in leaves and sterns, the willow. The flowers are white and appear in June, The fruit is like a plum in shape and size, and at first is green, but gradually becomes purple, and even black, with a hard stony kernel, and is remarkable from the outer fleshy part being that in which much oil is lodged, and not, as is usual, in the almond of the seed. The fruit ripens from August to September. It is sometimes eaten green, but its chief value is in its oil. The wood is hard, fine beautifully veined, and is open used for cabinet work. Olive trees were so abundant in Galilee that at the siege of Jotapata by Vespasian the Roman army were driven from the ascent of the walls by hot olive oil poured upon them and scalding them underneath their armor.—Josephus, Wars, 3; 7:28.—ED.)
In the Bible
66
Verses where Olive is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 27:28
Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the foothills. Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.
- 1 Kings 5:11
and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.
- 1 Kings 6:23
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood.
- 1 Kings 6:31
For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts.
- 1 Kings 6:32
The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
- 1 Kings 6:33
In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance.
+60 more verses naming Olive.
Scripture on Olive
53
See all 53 +−
- Zechariah 4Romans 11Exodus 27Exodus 35Deuteronomy 24Judges 91 Samuel 81 Chronicles 27Job 15Isaiah 17Hosea 12Habakkuk 3Genesis 8Exodus 23Exodus 25Exodus 30Leviticus 2Leviticus 5Leviticus 6Leviticus 7Leviticus 24Numbers 18Deuteronomy 6Deuteronomy 8Deuteronomy 28Joshua 241 Kings 52 Kings 52 Kings 18Ezra 7Nehemiah 5Nehemiah 8Nehemiah 9Psalms 52Psalms 128Isaiah 24Isaiah 41Jeremiah 11Ezekiel 27Ezekiel 45Hosea 14Amos 4Micah 6Haggai 2Luke 16James 3Revelation 11Revelation 18
Olive references
17
Voices on Olive
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.