The Branch Nobody Reads — Shai Magzimof

Shai Magzimof

The Branch Nobody Reads

June 22, 2026

English

Every engineer knows what a branch is. This one has been in production for five thousand years and nobody reads it.

Most people look at the Great Seal of the United States and see the eagle. Almost nobody notices what it is holding.

In its right talon: an olive branch. Thirteen leaves, thirteen olives. In its left: thirteen arrows. The placement is intentional. Charles Thomson, who finalized the design in 1782, wrote that the eagle holds "in his right talon the olive branch" to signal that "the power of peace" comes first. Right before left. Branch before arrows. And the eagle's head turns toward its right side, toward the olive branch. The bird is looking at its peace offering.

Now look at the state emblem of Israel. The seven-branched menorah at center. Two olive branches, one on each side. The word Israel below, binding everything together. The brothers Gabriel and Maxim Shamir designed it in 1948, citing Zechariah chapter 4 directly: a menorah flanked by two olive trees. They wrote that the branches express "love of peace among the people of Israel." The emblem was adopted officially on February 10, 1949.

Two countries. Two different traditions. Different languages, different founding centuries, different continents. Both chose the olive branch.

They are not alone.

Why the olive branch?

The olive branch has carried diplomatic meaning for at least 2,500 years of recorded history, and it crossed every major civilization on the way.

It entered symbolic language with Noah's dove. After the flood, the bird returned holding an olive leaf. The Ramban noted why: olive trees survive submersion. Their oil floats. When everything else sinks, the olive keeps rising.

From there the symbol moved through Greece, where Olympic victors received olive wreaths, and where carrying a branch meant "I come without weapons." Through Rome, where Peace was depicted on coins holding an olive branch. Into the Hebrew prophets. Zechariah chapter 4 describes a menorah flanked by two olive trees and delivers a sentence that would carry forward for 2,500 years: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit."

That verse is the context for Israel's emblem. The American framers drew from the same Mediterranean vocabulary. After World War II, the United Nations codified the symbol for modern diplomacy: a world map wrapped in two olive branches.

The symbol spread.

The full list

Twenty-two entities have placed olive branches on their official emblems.

The two that anchor the story

United States

The Great Seal (1782). The eagle holds an olive branch in its right talon, thirteen arrows in its left. Right leads. The eagle's head turns toward the olive branch side. The branch carries thirteen olives, one for each original state.

Israel

State emblem (1949). Menorah between two olive branches, the word Israel below. Designed by the Shamir brothers. Sourced from Zechariah 4. Both branches of Zechariah's vision: light and peace.

Americas

Colombia

The Andean condor at the top of the national shield holds an olive branch in its beak. Positioned above the shield, the branch is the bird's first statement.

Paraguay

The national seal shows a star flanked by a palm branch on the left and an olive branch on the right. The reverse carries the Treasury emblem and the motto "Paz y Justicia."

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The shield shows three women on a green background. The figure on the right holds an olive branch. Motto: "Pax et Justitia."

Uruguay

The coat of arms (1829) is encircled by a laurel branch on the left and an olive branch on the right. A traditional pairing: victory and peace.

Venezuela

The shield (2006 version) is flanked by a palm branch on the left and an olive branch on the right, tied with a ribbon in the national colors.

Europe and Mediterranean

Cyprus

The emblem (1960) shows a dove carrying an olive branch, surrounded by a two-part olive wreath. The two parts represent the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The year 1960 appears below.

Italy

The emblem (1948) shows a white star on a gear, flanked by an olive branch on the left and an oak branch on the right. Official reading: olive for peace, oak for strength.

Malta

The shield (since 1988) is flanked by a palm branch and an olive branch, tied together with a ribbon reading "Repubblika ta' Malta."

Moldova

The eagle on the Moldovan emblem holds an olive branch in its right talon and a scepter in its left.

North Cyprus (limited recognition)

A dove holding an olive branch appears above a crescent and star.

Africa

Comoros

The state seal (2001) is surrounded by two olive branches forming a wreath around the crescent moon and four stars from the national flag.

Eritrea

The emblem (adopted May 24, 1993, the date of independence) shows a camel surrounded by an olive branch wreath. The camel references the logistics of the...