Olive oil is a common ingredient in many recipes, like pasta dishes or salads. In the Bible, olive oil had many purposes. In addition to cooking, olive oil was used to light lamps (Leviticus 24:2), for anointing (Exodus 30:23–25), and for grain offerings (Leviticus 2:1–10). Olive trees grew abundantly in Israel; therefore, olive oil was readily available for all these special functions.

Olive oil was very important to Jewish culture. Olive oil symbolized richness, joy, and health (Jeremiah 31:12; Hebrews 1:9). When times were not going well, and Israel was facing persecution, olive oil was not found in abundance, as the prophet Joel states, "there isn't any more olive oil" (Joel 1:10). These were bitter times with much sorrow, pain, and anguish.

In Jesus' parable about the ten virgins, the oil is supposed to be seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit or of faith. Five of the virgins were wise and had their lamps lit by olive oil; however, the other five did not (Matthew 25:1–13). Only those who had their lanterns lit were able to enter the wedding banquet. Through this parable, we see that only those who have the Holy Spirit, or faith, will be the ones to enter the Kingdom with the Lord.