What does זַיִת (zayit) mean in the Bible?
זַיִת (zayit): Olive tree embodying provision, illumination, and peace—fruit yields oil for both sustenance and sacred lamp-lighting.
Hebrew · H2132
זַיִת
An olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree , the branch or the berry
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
זַיִתH2132
Pronunciationzayit
What does זַיִת (zayit) mean in the Bible?
זַיִת (zayit): Olive tree embodying provision, illumination, and peace—fruit yields oil for both sustenance and sacred lamp-lighting.
Full entry for זַיִת (H2132) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2132?
The BSB source-word alignment has 38 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and olive groves (4), of olive (3), olive groves (3), olive trees (3), olives (3).
Where does זַיִת (zayit) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (5), Zechariah (5), Exodus (3), Judges (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand olive groves4×Deuteronomy 6:11, Joshua 24:13, Judges 15:5, 1 Samuel 8:14
of olive3×Exodus 30:24, Deuteronomy 8:8, Nehemiah 8:15
olive groves3×2 Kings 5:26, Nehemiah 5:11, Nehemiah 9:25
olive trees3×Deuteronomy 28:40, Zechariah 4:3, Zechariah 4:11
olives3×Exodus 27:20, Leviticus 24:2, Micah 6:15
like an olive tree2×Job 15:33, Isaiah 17:6
of Olives2×Zechariah 14:4
olive2×Genesis 8:11, Zechariah 4:12
olive tree2×Isaiah 24:13, Jeremiah 11:16
am like an olive tree1×Psalms 52:8
and olive grove1×Exodus 23:11
and olive trees1×Amos 4:9
and the olive1×Haggai 2:19
But the olive tree1×Judges 9:9
like olive1×Psalms 128:3
like the olive tree1×Hosea 14:6
of olive trees1×2 Kings 18:32
the [Mount of] Olives1×2 Samuel 15:30
the olive1×1 Chronicles 27:28
the olives1×Deuteronomy 28:40
the olives from your trees1×Deuteronomy 24:20
though the olive1×Habakkuk 3:17
to the olive tree1×Judges 9:8
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:11זַ֖יִתtooliveNoun - masculine singularExodus 23:11לְזֵיתֶֽךָ׃toand olive grovePreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularExodus 27:20זַ֥יִתtoolivesNoun - masculine singularExodus 30:24זַ֖יִתtoof oliveNoun - masculine singularLeviticus 24:2זַ֥יִתtoolivesNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 6:11וְזֵיתִ֖יםtoand olive grovesConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralDeuteronomy 8:8זֵ֥יתtoof oliveNoun - masculine singular constructDeuteronomy 24:20זֵֽיתְךָ֔tothe olives from your treesNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:40זֵיתִ֛יםtoolive treesNoun - masculine pluralDeuteronomy 28:40זֵיתֶֽךָ׃tothe olivesNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 8:11
Aligned rows38
Books represented21
Genesis1Exodus3Leviticus1Deuteronomy5Joshua1Judges31 Samuel12 Samuel12 Kings21 Chronicles1Nehemiah3Job1Psalms2Isaiah2Jeremiah1Hosea1Amos1Micah1Habakkuk1Haggai1Zechariah5
Source forms
זַ֔יִת3xza·yiṯIsaiah 17:6, Isaiah 24:13, Habakkuk 3:17
הַזֵּיתִ֤ים2xhaz·zê·ṯîm1 Chronicles 27:28, Zechariah 14:4
זַ֖יִת2xza·yiṯGenesis 8:11, Exodus 30:24
זַ֥יִת2xza·yiṯExodus 27:20, Leviticus 24:2
זַ֙יִת֙2xza·yiṯNehemiah 8:15, Micah 6:15
הַזַּ֔יִת1xhaz·za·yiṯJudges 9:9
הַזַּ֖יִת1xhaz·za·yiṯHaggai 2:19
הַזֵּיתִ֜ים1xhaz·zê·ṯîm2 Samuel 15:30
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular11xGenesis 8:11, Exodus 27:20, Exodus 30:24, Leviticus 24:2
Article | Noun - masculine plural6x2 Samuel 15:30, 1 Chronicles 27:28, Zechariah 4:11, Zechariah 4:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural4xDeuteronomy 6:11, Joshua 24:13, 2 Kings 5:26, Nehemiah 9:25
Noun - masculine plural3xDeuteronomy 28:40, Psalms 128:3, Zechariah 4:3
Article | Noun - masculine singular2xJudges 9:9, Haggai 2:19
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural2x1 Samuel 8:14, Amos 4:9
Noun - masculine singular construct2xDeuteronomy 8:8, 2 Kings 18:32
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 24:20, Deuteronomy 28:40
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Olive tree embodying provision, illumination, and peace—fruit yields oil for both sustenance and sacred lamp-lighting.
Source Gloss
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree , the branch or the berry
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Olive tree embodying provision, illumination, and peace—fruit yields oil for both sustenance and sacred lamp-lighting.
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry BDB: olive-tree Usage: olive (tree, -yard), Olivet.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
olive tree
Showing 1 selected witness from 38 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
זַיִת is built from this root:
זִוH2099
Why This Word Matters
Represents stability and blessing.Hosea 14:4-8
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.