זַ֫יִת (za.yit)
za.yit
(Mount of) Olives
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun zayit refers primarily to the olive tree, its fruit, and the oil it produces. In the Old Testament, this word appears in contexts ranging from agricultural blessings to symbolic imagery. It denotes a tangible source of light and sustenance, reflecting the crop’s central role in ancient Near Eastern life.
While often translated simply as "olive" or "olive tree," zayit also carries specific geographical weight. Most notably, it forms the name for the Mount of Olives (Har HaZayitim), the ridge east of Jerusalem that features prominently in narratives such as David’s flight in 2 Samuel 15:30 and Zechariah’s prophetic vision in Zechariah 14:4.
The word’s etymology likely connects to concepts of shining or illumination, mirroring the use of olive oil for lamps. This association gives the term a subtle theological resonance, as seen when Psalm 52:8 describes the righteous person as "green" like an olive tree in God’s house, suggesting vitality and divine favor through this enduring plant.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zayit grounds us in the tangible reality of God’s provision. In ancient Israel, olive trees were not merely decorative; they were essential for survival, providing food and light. When Scripture mentions this crop, it often points to a land flowing with blessings that sustain life. This reminds us that God cares about our daily needs, offering sustenance that is both practical and enduring.
There is also a deeper spiritual resonance here. The oil from these trees was used to keep the lamp burning in the tabernacle, symbolizing God’s constant presence. Just as the olive tree thrives in rocky soil, believers are invited to find their vitality rooted in God’s house. This imagery suggests that faith is not about fleeting moments but about a steady, green shoot of life that grows around your table and home.
Even when circumstances change, the promise of this land remains. Whether it is David weeping on the Mount of Olives or the prophets speaking of restoration, zayit connects us to a history of God’s faithfulness. It invites you to look at the ordinary things of life—food, light, family—and see them as gifts from a Creator who provides consistently.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ olive trees4×
- olive4×
- and/ olive trees4×
- olive trees3×
- an olive tree3×
- olive[s]2×
- olive tree of2×
- <the>/ Olives2×
- to/ olive grove/ your1×
- to the/ olive tree1×
- the/ olive tree1×
- the/ olive1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זַ֔יִת3×
- זַ֥יִת2×
- זַ֙יִת֙2×
- זַ֖יִת2×
- הַ/זֵּיתִ֤ים2×
- לַ/זַּ֖יִת1×
- לְ/זֵיתֶֽ/ךָ\׃1×
- כַּ֝/זַּ֗יִת1×
- זָֽיִת\׃1×
- זַ֤יִת1×
- זֵיתֶֽ/ךָ\׃1×
- זֵיתֵי/הֶ֖ם1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 8:11
The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth.
This occurrence marks the first appearance of zayit in Scripture, signaling peace and the end of judgment through the dove's olive leaf.
-
II Samuel 15:30
David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
Here the word forms part of 'Mount of Olives,' grounding David’s sorrowful flight in a specific geographical location that later holds Messianic significance.
-
Judges 9:9
“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
The olive tree refuses to leave its duty of producing oil, illustrating the value of faithful service over positions of power.
-
Psalms 128:3
Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table.
This verse uses 'olive shoots' as a metaphor for children, linking family blessing and domestic joy to the vitality of the tree.