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ἐλαιών

elaiṓn

G1638 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An olive grove, a plantation or area where olive trees are cultivated. In specific contexts (e.g., the New Testament), it can refer to the grove on the Mount of Olives, a well-known location near Jerusalem. The primary meaning denotes a plantation of olive trees, though in some contexts it comes to designate a particular geographical site associated with such groves.

Semantic Range

olive grove, olive orchard, plantation of olive trees, (in context) the Mount of Olives

Root / Etymology

From ἐλαία (olive tree); formed with the suffix -ών, which denotes a place characterized by what the root expresses. Thus, ἐλαιών refers to a place of olives/olive trees (olive grove).

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term ἐλαιών is found in later Classical Greek and Hellenistic Greek, where it typically referred to a plantation or grove of olive trees. In the New Testament, ἐλαιών is most notably used to designate the location on the eastern side of Jerusalem known as the Mount of Olives, a prominent and named olive grove overlooking the city (e.g., Luke 19:29, 37; 21:37; 22:39). In the Septuagint, the word is less frequent, but its association with specific olive groves is already present. English translations often render the term as 'Mount of Olives' in contexts where a specific geographical site is meant, but the word's general use is broader, denoting any olive plantation or grove, not necessarily elevated ground. The Mount of Olives became significant as a site of events in the New Testament narrative, which led to 'Olivet' becoming a proper noun in certain translations. However, its primary lexical meaning remains 'olive grove.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐλαία; an olive-orchard, i.e. (specially) the Mount of Olives:--Olivet.

Root Family

ἐλαία (elaía) — olive tree, olive (fruit/berry)

Root ἐλαι- olive, olive tree, olive grove
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1636 ἐλαία to an olive tree

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1638-01 Ἐλαιῶν elaion N GEN F PL of Olives of olive trees of olive trees 2
G1638-02 Ἐλαιῶνος elaionos N GEN M SG Olivet of an olive grove which 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1638-01 Luke 19:29 Ἐλαιῶν elaion N GEN F PL of Olives of olive trees of olive trees
G1638-01 Luke 21:37 Ἐλαιῶν elaion N GEN F PL Olives of olive trees of olive trees
G1638-02 Acts 1:12 Ἐλαιῶνος elaionos N GEN M SG Olivet of an olive grove which
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