What is the meaning of the olive branch in the Bible?
Throughout history, the olive branch has been associated with both war and peace.
It was initially a Roman symbol of the goddess of peace, Pax.
Messengers requesting peace, shelter, or asylum often carried olive branches.
The goddess Athena (Minerva, to the Romans) was not only the goddess of wisdom, but also of war.
Thus, olive tree wreaths (and laurel) were placed on the heads of military winners in order to celebrate their victories.
Genesis 8:11 says: “When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.”
Therefore, the olive branch in the Bible is not only a sign of the end of the flood, but also a representation of God’s promise to bring peace and restoration into the world.
The Old Testament also teaches us that “the olive tree is a valuable plant, whose fruit is meat, and its leaves are medicine.”
The Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, reflects the importance of this plant species in biblical events – it is the place where Jesus prayed before his arrest and crucifixion and where He ascended to Heaven.
Olive oil has the power to cleanse, serve as fuel, and nourish. Jacob poured olive oil on the rock at Bethel after his dream vision of a ladder reaching Heaven (Genesis 28:10-22).
The etymological meaning of the name “Messiah” in Hebrew is “the anointed one.”
Olive oil was also used to treat wounds, as seen in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).
In Christian tradition, pure olive oil was mixed with balm and aromatic spices for the preparation of “myrrh,” used for baptism, confirmation, and the anointing of the sick.
Mentions of the Olive Tree in the Bible
The Bible mentions the olive tree more than 25 times, being one of the first trees mentioned in the Holy Scripture.
Here are a few biblical mentions of the olive tree:
“And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a newly sprouted and freshly plucked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the land.” (Genesis 8:11)
“Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil and for sweet incense.” (Exodus 25:6)
“And of cassia 500 shekels, in terms of the sanctuary shekel, and of olive oil a hin..” (Exodus 30:24)
“You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.” (Psalm 23:5)
“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.” (Psalm 52:8)
“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table.” (Psalm 128:3)
“Yet gleanings [of grapes] shall be left in it [the land of Israel], as after the beating of an olive tree [with a stick], two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outermost branches of the fruitful tree, says the Lord, the God of Israel..” (Isaiah 17:6)
“And there are two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl and the other upon the left side of it [feeding it continuously with oil]..” (Zechariah 4:3)
“You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.” (Luke 7:46)
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Bulgarea Anca is a devout Christian and the founder of Bible Wings, a comprehensive resource for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and understanding of the Bible. Raised within the Christian faith, Bulgarea Anca’s spirituality was nourished by her grandparents, who were cantors in their local church. Her Christian upbringing was further solidified by her education at a Christian school. Today, she uses her in-depth knowledge of the scripture to provide insightful and meaningful content through Bible Wings.