Oak.
There are four Hebrew words so translated, but they are all apparently from the same root, signifying 'strong, hardy,' and are mostly applied to the oak, which lives to a great age. Three species of the Quercus are known in Palestine, the pseudo-coccifera, aegilops, and infectoria. It is symbolical of strength, and affords shade from the heat of the sun. Genesis 35:8; Joshua 24:26; Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Hosea 4:13; Amos 2:9; Zechariah 11:2. The word elah is judged to refer to the terebinth (pistacia terebinthus), though generally translated oak. Genesis 35:4; Judges 6:11, Judges 1:6; 2 Samuel 1:18; 1 Kings 1:13; 1 Chronicles 1:10; Isaiah 1:30; Ezekiel 6:13.