The almond tree, known for its beautiful blossoms and nutritious nuts, holds significant symbolism and practical importance in the Bible. The Hebrew word for almond is "shaqed," which is derived from a root meaning "to watch" or "to be alert," reflecting the tree's early blossoming in the spring.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 43:11 · The almond is first mentioned in the context of Jacob instructing his sons to take the best products of the land, including almonds, as a gift to the Egyptian ruler, who is later revealed to be Joseph. "Then their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.'"

2. Numbers 17:8 · The almond tree is central to the account of Aaron's rod. When the Israelites questioned the legitimacy of Aaron's priesthood, God instructed Moses to place the rods of the leaders of the twelve tribes in the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's rod miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds overnight, signifying God's chosen priesthood. "The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds."

3. Ecclesiastes 12:5 · The almond tree is used metaphorically to describe the aging process. "When the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets."

4. Jeremiah 1:11-12 · The almond tree is used as a symbol of God's watchfulness and readiness to fulfill His word. The prophet Jeremiah is shown a vision of an almond branch, and God explains its significance. "And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, 'What do you see, Jeremiah?' 'I see a branch of an almond tree,' I replied. 'You have observed correctly,' said the LORD, 'for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.'"

Symbolism and Significance:

The almond tree's early blooming is a symbol of vigilance and promptness, reflecting God's readiness to act and fulfill His promises. Its use in the account of Aaron's rod underscores the divine selection and authority of the Levitical priesthood. The almond's appearance in Jeremiah's vision further emphasizes God's active watchfulness over His word and His people.

In the broader biblical context, the almond tree represents beauty, renewal, and divine favor. Its blossoms are among the first to appear in the spring, heralding new life and hope. The almond's presence in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's providence and the assurance of His promises.A native of Syria and Palestine. In form, blossoms, and fruit it resembles the peach tree. Its blossoms are of a very pale pink colour, and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, shaked, signifying "wakeful, hastening," is given to it on account of its putting forth its blossoms so early, generally in February, and sometimes even in January. In Ecclesiastes 12:5, it is referred to as illustrative, probably, of the haste with which old age comes. There are others, however, who still contend for the old interpretation here. "The almond tree bears its blossoms in the midst of winter, on a naked, leafless stem, and these blossoms (reddish or flesh-coloured in the beginning) seem at the time of their fall exactly like white snow-flakes. In this way the almond blossom is a very fitting symbol of old age, with its silvery hair and its wintry, dry, barren, unfruitful condition." In Jeremiah 1:11 "I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]...for I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it" the word is used as an emblem of promptitude. Jacob desired his sons (Genesis 43:11) to take with them into Egypt of the best fruits of the land, almonds, etc., as a present to Joseph, probably because this tree was not a native of Egypt. Aaron's rod yielded almonds (Numbers 17:8; Hebrews 9:4). Moses was directed to make certain parts of the candlestick for the ark of carved work "like unto almonds" (Exodus 25:33, 34). The Hebrew word luz, translated "hazel" in the Authorized Version (Genesis 30:37), is rendered in the Revised Version "almond." It is probable that luz denotes the wild almond, while shaked denotes the cultivated variety. 1. (n.) The fruit of the almond tree.

2. (n.) The tree that bears the fruit; almond tree.

3. (n.) Anything shaped like an almond.

4. (n.) One of the tonsils.

ALMOND

a'-mund: (1) shaqedh, Genesis 43:11 Numbers 17:8, etc. The word shaked comes from a Hebrew root meaning to "watch" or "wait." In Jeremiah 1:11, 12 there is a play on the word, "And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree (shaqedh). Then said Yahweh unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will watch (shoqedh) over my word to perform it." (2) luz; the King James Version hazel, Genesis 30:37; lauz is the modern Arabic name for "almond"-Luz was the old name of BETHEL (which see).

1. Almond Tree:

The almond tree is mentioned in Ecclesiastes 12:5, where in the description of old age it says "the almond-tree shall blossom." The reference is probably to the white hair of age. An almond tree in full bloom upon a distant hillside has a certain likeness to a head of white hair.

2. A Rod of Almond:

A rod of almond is referred to Genesis 30:37, where "Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond (luz) and of the plane-tree; and peeled white streaks in them" as a means of securing "ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted" lambs and goats-a proceeding founded doubtless upon some ancient folklore. Aaron's rod that budded (Numbers 17:2, 3) was an almond rod. Also see Jeremiah 1:11 referred to above.

3. The Blossoms:

The blossoms of the almond are mentioned Exodus 25:33; Exodus 37:19, etc. "Cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop (i.e. knob) and a flower," is the description given of parts of the sacred candlesticks. It is doubtful exactly what was intended-the most probable is, as Dillmann has suggested, that the cup was modeled after the calyx of the almond flower. See CANDLESTICK.

4. The Fruit:

Israel directed his sons (Genesis 43:11) to carry almonds as part of their present to Joseph in Egypt. Palestine is a land where the almond flourishes, whereas in Egypt it would appear to have been uncommon. Almonds are today esteemed a delicacy; they are eaten salted or beaten into a pulp with sugar like the familiar German Marzipan.

The almond is Amygdalus communis (N.O. Rosaceae), a tree very similar to the peach. The common variety grows to the height of 25 feet and produces an abundant blossom which appears before the leaves; In Palestine this is fully out at the end of January or beginning of February; it is the harbinger of spring. This early blossoming is supposed to be the origin of the name shaqedh which contains the idea of "early." The masses of almond trees in full bloom in some parts of Palestine make a very beautiful and striking sight. The bloom of some varieties is almost pure white, from a little distance, in other parts the delicate pink, always present at the inner part of the petals, is diffused enough to give a pink blush to the whole blossom. The fruit is a drupe with a dry fibrous or woody husk which splits into two halves as the fruit ripens. The common wild variety grows a kernel which is bitter from the presence of a substance called amygdalon, which yields in its turn prussic (hydrocyanic) acid. Young trees are grafted with cuttings from the sweet variety or are budded with apricot, peach or plum.

E. W. G. Masterman

3869. luz -- almond tree, almond wood
... 3868, 3869. luz. 3870 . almond tree, almond wood. Transliteration: luz
Phonetic Spelling: (looz) Short Definition: almond. Word ...
/hebrew/3869.htm - 5k

8247. shaqed -- almond (tree)
... 8246, 8247. shaqed. 8248 . almond (tree). Transliteration: shaqed Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-kade') Short Definition: tree. ... almond tree. ...
/hebrew/8247.htm - 6k

8246. shaqad -- to be shaped like almonds
... 8245, 8246. shaqad. 8247 . to be shaped like almonds. Transliteration: shaqad
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kad') Short Definition: almond. ...
/hebrew/8246.htm - 6k

May the Fifteenth God is Wide-Awake
... "Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree." "Jeremiah
1:7-19. ... The almond tree is the first to awake from its wintry sleep. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/may the fifteenth god is.htm

Letter Xli. St. Ambrose in this Letter to his Sister Continues the ...
... 2. In the book of the prophet it is written: "Take to thyself the rod of an almond
tree." [3571] We ought to consider why the Lord said this to the prophet ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/letter xli st ambrose in.htm

The Conclusion of the Matter
... the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5. Also when they shall be afraid
of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the conclusion of the matter.htm

Why Miracles are not Usual Works.
... supernatural products. Aaron could no more have made an almond rod blossom
and fructuate on an almond tree, than off it. That a ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 5 why miracles are not.htm

The Ancestral Home
... In November, 1865, Dr. T. De Witt Talmage preached a sermon on "The Beauty of Old
Age"[*] from the words in Ecclesiastes 12:5, "The Almond Tree shall flourish ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/i the ancestral home.htm

Monos
... building, which is tenanted mostly by lizards and creeping flowers; some twenty
or thirty coconut trees; and on the very edge of the sea an almond-tree, its ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vi monos.htm

Sailors' Hymns.
... from some source, and might have continued to scoff at religion to the last but
for the experience of his intimate friend, a youth named Almond, whose life was ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter x sailors hymns.htm

Rondelet, {7} the Huguenot Naturalist {8}
... The great almond orchards, each one sheet of rose- colour in spring; the mulberry
orchards, the oliveyards, the vineyards, cover every foot of available upland ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/rondelet 7 the huguenot naturalist.htm

God.
... In the inaugural visions of Jeremiah there is none of this Awfulness"only What art
thou seeing Jeremiah? the branch of an almond tree ... a caldron boiling. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 god.htm

Index of Names.
... Emperor), 515 AIBLINGER, Johan Caspar, 357 ALDRICH, Jonathan, 287 ALEXANDER, Mrs.
CF, 414 ALLEN, George N., 412 ALLEN, JO, 129 ALMOND, "", 364, 365 ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/index of names.htm

Almond (7 Occurrences)
... There are others, however, who still contend for the old interpretation here. "The
almond tree bears its blossoms in the midst of winter, on a naked, leafless ...
/a/almond.htm - 14k

Almond-blossoms (4 Occurrences)
Almond-blossoms. Almond, Almond-blossoms. Almondiblathaim .
Multi-Version Concordance Almond-blossoms (4 Occurrences). ...
/a/almond-blossoms.htm - 7k

Almond-tree (3 Occurrences)
Almond-tree. Almonds, Almond-tree. Almost . Multi-Version Concordance
Almond-tree (3 Occurrences). Genesis 30:37 And ...
/a/almond-tree.htm - 7k

Blossoms (16 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower;
and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a ...
/b/blossoms.htm - 11k

Flower (33 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower;
and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a ...
/f/flower.htm - 18k

Bud (23 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower;
and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a ...
/b/bud.htm - 14k

Cups (28 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower;
and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a ...
/c/cups.htm - 15k

Flourish (26 Occurrences)
... of na'ats, meaning properly "to pierce or strike," hence, to slight or reject, is
translated "flourish"; it is said of the old man "The almond tree shall ...
/f/flourish.htm - 18k

Extending (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower;
and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a ...
/e/extending.htm - 11k

Buds (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB BBE NIV). Exodus 25:33 Every branch having three cups made like almond flowers,
every cup with a bud and a flower, on all the branches. (See NIV). ...
/b/buds.htm - 12k

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