These verses from Psalm 37 speak about the end of the ungodly man. The bay tree is a symbol of wealth and wickedness according to Walker. The original word in Hebrew literally means "green and vigorous in its native soil." This plant is more like a shrub than a tree. Young shoots sprout up around the main stem. It is quite bushy, has evergreen leaves, and when broken off the leaves exude a sweet scent that is used in Oriental perfumes. Its roots and shiny gray bark are used for medicinal purposes.
Creamy white flowers appear in springtime before later becoming blue-black berries. Bay laurel is native to the southern Mediterranean region, on Mount Carmel, and near Galilee. It is grown commercially for its aromatic leaves in Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, and Mexico. It can reach 60 feet, but generally is smaller. The leaves are elliptic, thick and shiny dark green.
The bay tree was found in the old gardens of Tyre and Sidon as well as North Africa and southern Europe. A chaplet of bay leaves was awarded to Olympic winners in the ancient Olympics. Roman gold coins of 342 B.C. bore a laurel wreath.
Psalms 37:35 (KJV) I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Psalms 37:36 (KJV) Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
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