Almond

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Almond ( shâqçd ). The fruit in   Genesis 43:11 ,   Exodus 25:33-34;   Exodus 37:19-20 ,   Numbers 17:8; the tree in   Ecclesiastes 12:5 ,   Jeremiah 1:11 . Luz (  Genesis 30:37 ), mistranslated ‘ hazel ,’ is certainly the almond; it is the name of the almond in modern Arabic. The almond ( Amygdalus communis ) is in Palestine the earliest harbinger of spring, bursting into beautiful white blossom late in January in Jerusalem, before its leaves appear. Hence its name and symbolism: shâqçd means to waken or watch, and in   Jeremiah 1:11-12 there is a play on the word ‘almond’ ( shâqçd ), and ‘I will hasten’ ( shôqçd ). Probably the whiteness of the blossom from a little distance the delicate pink at the bases of the petals being visible only on closer inspection suggested its comparison to the white hair of age (  Ecclesiastes 12:5 ). The fruit is a great favourite. It is eaten green before the shell hardens, especially by children, and the ripe kernels are eaten by themselves or with nuts and puddings, and are also made into sweetmeats with sugar, both as ‘almond icing’ and ‘burnt almonds.’ A present of Palestine almonds would be sure to be appreciated in Egypt (  Genesis 43:11 ), as they did not grow in the latter country.

E. W. G. Masterman.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Almond. This word is found in  Genesis 43:11;  Exodus 25:33-34;  Exodus 37:19-20;  Numbers 17:8;  Ecclesiastes 12:5;  Jeremiah 1:11, in the text of the Authorized Version. It is invariably represented by the same Hebrew word, shaked meaning Hasten .  Jeremiah 1:11-12.

The almond tree is a native of Asia and North Africa, but it is cultivated in the milder parts of Europe. "It resembles the peach tree in form, blossom and fruit. It is in fact only another species of the same genus." The height of the tree is about 12 or 14 feet; the flowers are pink, and arranged for the most part in pairs, the leaves are long, ovate, with a serrated margin and an acute point.

The covering of the fruit is down and succulent, enclosing the hard shell which contains the kernel. It is this but for which the tree is chiefly valued. It is curious to observe, in connection with the almond bowls of the Golden Candlestick, that, in the language of lapidaries, almonds are pieces of rock crystal, even now used in adorning branch candlesticks.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Exodus 25:33 (c) The almond on the golden candlestick in the tabernacle is a type of the fruitfulness which will characterize that one who sheds abroad the light of life in his life. Each one who dwells in the holy place, holds forth the Word of Life, and brings light to those who sit in darkness, will be a fruit-bearing Christian. This almond is connected with the flower which indicates the beauty of that life and also with the knop which represents the fullness of the Christian life.

 Numbers 17:8 (c) Only Aaron's rod yielded almonds. Israel was to learn from this miracle that the family of Aaron was to be the fruit-bearing family in the service of the GOD of Israel. The other families were to have no part in the priestly ministry. He only, as a type of Christ was to be known as the fruit-bearing priest of GOD. All others would be as intruders and thereby rejected. (See under "FLOWER" and "KNOP.")

 Ecclesiastes 12:5 (b) In this place the word represents the bitterness that often comes into the experiences of the aged. The almond plant itself is bitter, but the nut is sweet. Many as they enter old age carry with them bitter memories of former injustices and feel a spirit of hatred toward others.

King James Dictionary

AL'MOND, n.

1. The fruit of the almond tree an ovate, compressed nut, perforated in the pores. It is either sweet or bitter. It is popularly pronounced ammond. 2. The tonsils, two glands near the basis of the tongue, are called almonds, from their resemblance to that nut vulgularly, but improperly, called the almonds of the ears, as they belong to the throat. 3. In Portugal, a measure by which wine is sold, twenty-six of which make a pipe.

But in Portuguese it is written almude.

4. Among lapidaries, almonds signify pieces of rock crystal, used in adorning branch candlesticks, so called from their resemblance to this fruit.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Shaked   Ecclesiastes 12:5 Jeremiah 1:11  Genesis 43:11 Numbers 17:8 Hebrews 9:4 Exodus 25:33,34 Luz   Genesis 30:37 Luz Shaked

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 30:37 Genesis 43:11 Exodus 25:33-34 Numbers 17:8 Ecclesiastes 12:5 shaqed shoqed  Jeremiah 1:11

Webster's Dictionary

(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.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a´mund  :

(1) שׁקד , shāḳēdh ,  Genesis 43:11;  Numbers 17:8 , etc. The word shaked comes from a Hebrew root meaning to "watch" or "wait." In   Jeremiah 1:11 ,  Jeremiah 1:12 there is a play on the word, "And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree ( shāḳēdh ). Then said Yahweh unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will watch ( shōḳēdh ) over my word to perform it."

(2) לוּז , lūz  ; the King James Version hazel ,  Genesis 30:37; lauz is the modern Arabic name for "almond" - L uz 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 R od of Almond

A rod of almond is referred to  Genesis 30:37 , where "Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond ( lūz ) 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 ,  Numbers 17:3 ) 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 f;   Exodus 37:19 f, 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 shāḳēdh 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.