A mountain, named for its olive groves, east of Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley and near Gethsemane; an important location during the final week of Jesus' life. The southern peak, where Solomon built shrines to Chemosh and Molech (1Ki 11:7), is often referred to as the "Mount of Offense."
About Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a large ridge running north to south in the Judean mountains. It lies directly east of Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley. The mountain has three peaks, with two valleys between them. The northern peak is Mount Scopus. To the south of Mount Scopus is a small saddle where the ancient Roman road to Jericho passed. The central peak is the traditional Mount of Olives, standing 818.1 meters (2,684 feet) high, across from the temple platform (the Haram esh-Sherif).
On the main peak, Emperor Constantine built a large church around AD 325. This church was called the Church of the Ascension, and he dedicated it to his mother Helena. South of this church, there is a low area where today's road to Bethany runs.
Key References
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples,
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.
Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.
All Scripture References (18)
2 Samuel (3)
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
1 Kings (1)
At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.
2 Kings (1)
The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Zechariah (1)
On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south.
Matthew (3)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark (3)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke (4)
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples,
And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.
John (1)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
Acts (1)
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.