Plants of the Bible

The trees, crops and herbs of the Bible lands — how people grew them, harvested them and used them every day.

Fig treeHebrew te’enah · Greek sykē · about 60 mentions
Olive treeHebrew zayit · Greek elaia · one of the most valuable trees of Israel
GrapevineHebrew gefen (vine), kerem (vineyard) · Greek ampelos · Vitis vinifera
Wheat and barleyHebrew chittah (wheat), se’orah (barley) · the two staple grains
Cedar of LebanonHebrew erez · Cedrus libani · the tallest tree Israel knew
MustardGreek sinapi · only in the Gospels · probably black mustard
HyssopHebrew ezov · Greek hyssōpos · probably Syrian marjoram
Date palmHebrew tamar · Greek phoinix · Phoenix dactylifera