◄ Almonds ►
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Topical Encyclopedia
Botanical and Historical Context

The almond tree, known scientifically as Prunus dulcis, is a deciduous tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. It is one of the earliest flowering trees in the region, often blooming in late winter or early spring. The almond is highly valued for its edible seeds, which are encased in a hard shell. In biblical times, almonds were a significant agricultural product and were considered a symbol of watchfulness and divine favor due to their early blooming.

Biblical References

Almonds are mentioned several times in the Bible, often symbolizing vigilance and the fulfillment of God's promises. The Hebrew word for almond, "shaqed," is related to the word "shaqad," meaning "to watch" or "to be alert," reflecting the tree's early blooming.

1. Genesis 43:11 · In the account of Joseph, almonds are listed among the choice products of the land that Jacob's sons were to take to Egypt as a gift: "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 down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.'"

2. Numbers 17:8 · Almonds play a significant role in the confirmation of Aaron's priesthood. After a dispute over leadership, God instructed Moses to collect staffs from the leaders of the twelve tribes, including Aaron's staff. The next day, Aaron's staff had miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds: "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 men fear the heights and dangers of the road, 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 the certainty of His word: "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 Theological Significance

In biblical symbolism, the almond tree represents watchfulness and the swift fulfillment of God's promises. Its early blooming is a reminder of God's vigilance and readiness to act. The miraculous budding of Aaron's rod with almonds served as a divine confirmation of his chosen leadership and priesthood, emphasizing God's authority and the legitimacy of His appointed leaders.

The almond's appearance in the context of gifts and offerings, as seen in Genesis, also highlights its value and desirability in ancient times. It was considered a luxury item, suitable for presenting to dignitaries and as a token of goodwill.

Cultural and Religious Practices

In Jewish tradition, the almond tree is associated with the festival of Tu BiShvat, the "New Year of the Trees," which celebrates the renewal of nature. The almond's early bloom is often seen as a herald of spring and a symbol of hope and renewal.

Overall, almonds in the Bible serve as a multifaceted symbol, representing divine watchfulness, the legitimacy of God's chosen leaders, and the promise of new beginnings.
Strong's Hebrew
8246. shaqad -- to be shaped like almonds
... to be shaped like almonds. Transliteration: shaqad Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kad')
Short Definition: almond. ... make like unto, after the fashion of almonds. ...
/hebrew/8246.htm - 6k

8247. shaqed -- almond (tree)
... Definition: tree. Word Origin from shaqad Definition almond (tree) NASB
Word Usage almond tree (2), almonds (2). almond tree. From ...
/hebrew/8247.htm - 6k

Library

Chapter xliii
... of the land in your receptacles and take a present down for the man, a little balm,
and a little honey, gum, laudanum, pistachio nuts and almonds; and take ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xliii.htm

The Mystery of the Lost Brother
... must. But take a present to the man, some of the choicest fruits of the
land, some spices, and perfumes, and nuts, and almonds. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the mystery of the lost.htm

Second Commandment
... to them, nor serve them." In Exodus we are told that God ordered the bowls of the
golden candlestick for the tabernacle to be made "like unto almonds, with a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/second commandment.htm

What Happened to the Hebrews During Thirty-Eight Years in the ...
... them, in that they saw them still; but they also saw buds and branches grown out
of Aaron's rod, with ripe fruits upon them; they were almonds, the rod having ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 what happened to.htm

The Testing of Joseph's Brothers
... take some of the fruits of the land in your jars and carry a present to the man,
a little balsam, a little syrup, spices, ladanum, pistachio nuts, and almonds. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the testing of josephs brothers.htm

Cast Your Eye Round the Room in which You Sit...
... tune from the words of a song, on the ground that they spoil each other; and I did
once meet a man who openly advocated the separation of almonds and raisins. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 17 cast your eye.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... It is surrounded with little shops or booths, in which all kinds of dry fruits,
such as dates, raisins, almonds, and walnuts are exposed for sale, and also ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 62.htm

Scripture the Criterion by which Truth and Heresy are ...
... And as those almonds are called empty in which the contents are worthless, not those
in which there is nothing; so also we call those heretics empty, who are ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvi scripture the criterion by.htm

Peter of Chelcic, 1419-1450.
... to eat every day. They have fish, spices, brawn, herrings, figs, almonds,
Greek wine and other luxuries. They generally drink good ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter iv peter of chelcic.htm

Sanctification
... Ezekiel 16:6. Those trees of righteousness that blossom and bear almonds, can remember
when they were like Aaron's dry rod, not one blossom of holiness growing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/5 sanctification.htm

Thesaurus
Almonds (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Almonds (6 Occurrences). Genesis 43:11 Their father,
Israel, said to them, "If it must be so, then do this. ...
/a/almonds.htm - 8k

Bowls (47 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one
branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and ...
/b/bowls.htm - 21k

Calyxes (6 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three calyxes made like almonds in the one branch, a knop and a flower,
and three calyxes made like almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; so ...
/c/calyxes.htm - 8k

Shaped (10 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups shaped like almonds in the one branch, a knob and a flower:
and three cups shaped like almonds in the other branch, a knob and a flower ...
/s/shaped.htm - 9k

Almond (7 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/a/almond.htm - 14k

Knob (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups shaped like almonds in the one branch, a knob and a flower:
and three cups shaped like almonds in the other branch, a knob and a flower ...
/k/knob.htm - 8k

Knop (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one
branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and ...
/k/knop.htm - 9k

Lamp-stand (17 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 three cups shaped like almonds in the one branch, a knob and a flower:
and three cups shaped like almonds in the other branch, a knob and a flower ...
/l/lamp-stand.htm - 11k

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one
branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and ...
/c/candlestick.htm - 27k

Knobs (9 Occurrences)
... same. (DBY WBS). Exodus 25:34 And in the lamp-stand four cups shaped like
almonds, its knobs and its flowers; (DBY WBS). Exodus 25 ...
/k/knobs.htm - 8k

Resources
What was inside the ark of the covenant? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the lampstand in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of Aaron's rod? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus
Concordance
Almonds (6 Occurrences)

Genesis 43:11
Their father, Israel, said to them, "If it must be so, then do this. Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:33
Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 25:34
And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 37:19
Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 37:20
And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:
(KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Numbers 17:8
It happened on the next day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Almonds

Related Terms

Almond (7 Occurrences)

Flourish (26 Occurrences)

Almonds (6 Occurrences)

Uncovering (13 Occurrences)

Luz (7 Occurrences)

Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)

Rod (138 Occurrences)

Drags (5 Occurrences)

Maple (1 Occurrence)

Mourners (13 Occurrences)

Blossoms (16 Occurrences)

Blossom (23 Occurrences)

Caperberry (1 Occurrence)

Stripes (19 Occurrences)

Almost (27 Occurrences)

Fails (35 Occurrences)

Drag (19 Occurrences)

Hazel (1 Occurrence)

Fears (40 Occurrences)

Streets (83 Occurrences)

Seest (52 Occurrences)

Branch (60 Occurrences)

Heights (75 Occurrences)

Proper (62 Occurrences)

Fail (130 Occurrences)

Burden (111 Occurrences)

Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)

Names (133 Occurrences)

Almon-Diblathaim: Probably Identical With Beth-Diblathairn
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