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זַיִת

𐤆𐤉𐤕

zayith

H2132 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The olive tree (Olea europaea) and its fruit, especially noted for its oil-yielding properties. The term denotes both the tree itself and its fruit, as well as olive groves or orchards. In rare contexts, it may refer more broadly to products, land, or locations characterized by olives.

Semantic Range

olive tree, olive fruit, olives as a crop, olive groves, land characterized by olives, Mount of Olives (place name), olive wood

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root likely זית (Z-Y-T), though an explicit verbal root is not attested in Biblical Hebrew; possible connection proposed with the notion of brightness (cf. זִו), possibly alluding to the sheen of oil or the brightness of olive oil when lit. The word זַיִת is primarily a noun meaning 'olive tree' or 'olive.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historically, זַיִת is a central term in Biblical Hebrew, reflecting the agricultural, economic, and cultural importance of the olive in ancient Israelite society. Olives and olive oil were foundational in diet, anointing, illumination (lamp oil), and in ritual use (anointing kings, priests). The word refers both to individual trees and to olive fruit, and sometimes by extension to olive orchards (e.g., מִשְׁמֶן זַיִת, 'olive oil'; גַּן־זֵיתִים, 'olive grove'). In some translations and traditions, 'Mount of Olives' (הַר הַזֵּיתִים) is called 'Olivet,' but this is a later, Greco-Roman designation. Unlike later English usage, the term never refers to ethnic or religious identity. The significance and prevalence of olives is attested archaeologically and textually in all periods of Israelite history, from the patriarchal to post-exilic, with no substantial semantic shift. Contrasts with יִצְהָר (yitzhar), which specifically highlights olive oil, especially fresh or high-quality oil, whereas זַיִת refers primarily to the tree and its fruit, but by metonymy supplies related meanings. Standard English translations ('olive' or 'olive tree') generally capture the word’s sense, though occasionally they may render it as 'olive grove' or 'Olivet' when a geographic distinction is intended.

Translation Consistency

primary "olive" 37 occurrences

זַיִת most commonly denotes the olive (tree or fruit) and by extension groves or land characterized by olives. "Olive" is the natural, concise English headword that covers both tree and fruit and easily forms phrases like "olive tree" or "olive grove," matching the primary usage (31 of 38 occurrences). It keeps renderings consistent and natural.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"oliveyard" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from an unused root (akin to זִו); an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry; olive (tree, -yard), Olivet.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זית (z-y-t) — olive (tree), olive (fruit), to yield olives

Root זית olive (tree), olive (fruit), to yield olives
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2133 זֵיתָן and Olive-Grove
H2241 זֵתָם and Zetham

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2132-11 זַ֖יִת zayit HNcmsa olive olive tree olive tree 11
H2132-03 הַ/זֵּיתִ֜ים hazeytim HTd/Ncmpa of Olives the olive trees the olive trees 5
H2132-10 וְ/זֵיתִ֖ים vezeytim HC/Ncmpa and olive trees and olive trees and olive trees 4
H2132-15 זֵיתִ֛ים zeytim HNcmpa olive trees olive trees olive trees 3
H2132-09 וְ/זֵיתֵי/כֶ֛ם vezeyteykhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp2mp and olive groves and your olive trees and your olive trees 2
H2132-13 זֵֽיתְ/ךָ֔ zeytekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your olives your olive tree your olives 2
H2132-01 הַ/זַּ֔יִת hazayit HTd/Ncmsa the olive the olive tree the olive tree 2
H2132-12 זֵ֥ית zeyt HNcmsc of olive olive of olive of 2
H2132-06 כַ/זַּ֖יִת khazayit HRd/Ncmsa like the olive like an olive tree like an olive tree 1
H2132-05 כְּ/זַ֣יִת kezayit HR/Ncmsa like an olive like an olive tree like an olive tree 1

Occurrences in Scripture

38 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2132-11 Genesis 8:11 זַ֖יִת zayit HNcmsa olive olive tree olive tree
H2132-08 Exodus 23:11 לְ/זֵיתֶֽ/ךָ lezeytekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and with your oliveyard to your olive tree and with your oliveyard
H2132-11 Exodus 27:20 זַ֥יִת zayit HNcmsa olive olive tree olive
H2132-11 Exodus 30:24 זַ֖יִת zayit HNcmsa olive olive tree olive
H2132-11 Leviticus 24:2 זַ֥יִת zayit HNcmsa olive olive tree olive
H2132-10 Deuteronomy 6:11 וְ/זֵיתִ֖ים vezeytim HC/Ncmpa and olive trees and olive trees and olive trees
H2132-12 Deuteronomy 8:8 זֵ֥ית zeyt HNcmsc olive trees olive of olive tree
H2132-13 Deuteronomy 24:20 זֵֽיתְ/ךָ֔ zeytekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your olive tree your olive tree your olive tree
H2132-15 Deuteronomy 28:40 זֵיתִ֛ים zeytim HNcmpa olive trees olive trees olive trees
H2132-13 Deuteronomy 28:40 זֵיתֶֽ/ךָ zeytekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your olives your olive tree your olives
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