Olive, olive tree
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Job 15:33). The soil and climate of Syria were very favorable for the growing of olive trees, which are mentioned very frequently in Holy Scripture (Deut 6:11; 7:13; 8:8; 1 Kings 5:11 and elsewhere). The fruit of the olive is oblong and fleshy, resembling a plum; at first it is green, then a pale color, and finally, when fully ripe, it turns black and begins to wrinkle. The fruit of this tree is very valuable, since oil is pressed from it by various methods, forming one of the most important articles of trade and luxury (Job 24:11; Ezek 27:17). The fruit of the olive tree is gathered either by beating (Deut 24:20) or by shaking the tree.