Almond

Almond. This word is found in Gen 43:11; Exo 25:33-34; Exo 37:19-20; Num 17:8; Ecc 12:5; Jer 1:11, in the text of the Authorized Version. It is invariably represented by the same Hebrew word, shaked meaning hasten. Jer 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.

(שָׁקֵד, shaked’, wakeful, from its early blossoming, comp. Pliny 16:25, 42) occurs as the name of a tree in Ecc 12:5: “The almond-tree (Sept. ἀμύγδαλον, Vulg. amygdalum) shall flourish, and the fruit of the caper (q.v.) droop, because man goeth to his long home." This evidently refers to the profuse flowering and white appearance of the almond-tree when in full bloom, and before its leaves appear. It is hence adduced as illustrative of the hoary hairs of age (Thomson’s Land and Book, 1, 496). Gesenius, however, objects (Thes. Heb. p. 1473) that the blossoms of the almond are not white, but roseate, like the peach-blow; but see Knobel, Ewald, Hitzig, in loc. In Jer 1:11, a “rod of an almond-tree" (Sept. καρύϊνος, Vulg. vigilans) is made an emblem of prompt vigilance and zeal, according to the inherent force of the original term (Henderson, Comment. in loc.). The produce of the tree is also denoted by the same term, evidently some species of nut, in Gen 43:11 (Sept. κάρυον, Aquila and Symmachus ἀμύγδαλον), where Jacob desires his sons to take into Egypt of the best fruits of the land, almonds, etc. As the almond-tree is a native of Syria and Palestine, and extends from thence to Afghanistan, and does not appear to have been indigenous in Egypt, almonds were very likely to form part of a present from Jacob, even to the great men of Egypt; the more especially as the practice of the Ease is for people to present what they can afford in their respective stations. In Num 17:8, the rod of Aaron is described as having “brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds" (Sept. κάρυα, Vulg. amygdalas). In Exo 25:33-34; Exo 37:19 (where the derivative verb שָׁקִדis used), bowls are directed to be made like almonds (Sept. καρυϊvσκους). The form of the almond would lead to its selection for ornamental carved work, independently of its forming an esteemed esculent, as well as probably yielding a useful oil. SEE NUT.

The word לוּז, luz, translated "hazel," also occurs in Gen 30:37, as the name of some tree, rods of which Jacob peeled and set before his ewes at the time of their conception; and was probably another term for the almond, of which the Arabic name is still luz (Forskal, Flora AEg. p. 67). Some think this was the wild almond, while shaked designates the cultivated variety (Rosenmuller, Alterth. IV, 1, 263 sq.). SEE HAZEL.

The almond-tree very closely resembles the peach-tree both in form, blossoms, and fruit; the last, however, being destitute of the pulpy flesh covering the peach-nut. It is, in fact, only another species of the same genus (Amygdalus communis, Linn.). It is a native of Asia and Africa, but it may be cultivated in the south of Europe, and the hardier varieties even in the middle portions of the United States. The flowers appear as early as February (Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 495), or even January (Pliny, 16:42; comp. Buhle, Calend. Paloest. p. 5 sq.; Schubert, Reis. 3, 114), the fruit in March (Kitto, Phys. Hist. of Palest.). For a general discussion of the subject, see Celsius, Hierob. 1, 297 sq.; Hayne, Beschreib. d. in d. Arzneikunde gebrauchlichen Gewachse, 4, No. 39; Strumpf, Handbuch der Arzneimittellehre (Berlin, 1848), 1:93 sq.; Martins, Pharmakogn. p. 254 sq.; London, Arboret. Britann. (Lond. 1838), 2:637 sq.; Penny Cyclopoedia, s.v. Amygdalus. SEE BOTANY.

():

By: George A. Barton

A term applied to a tree (Jer. i. 11, Eccl. xii. 5), to a fruit (Gen. xliii. 11, Num. xvii. 23 [A. V. 8]), and to a bud or flower (Ex. xxv. 33,xxxvii. 19). Once (Gen. xxx. 37) the same tree is called lûz, its name in Aramaic, Arabic, and Ethiopic. The almond is the Amygdalus communis (L.), of the order Rosaceœ. Its Hebrew name (sheḲed) is derived from a stem meaning to "waken" or "watch," to which Jeremiah makes reference in his use of it (Jer. i. 11). The name is said to have been given because it was the first tree to awaken from the sleep of winter; but it more probably expresses its color or some other physical quality. About January the bare tree, still devoid of leaves, is suddenly covered with blossoms an inch or an inch and a half broad. The petals, pink at the bottom, become white at the top, producing the effect of a perfectly white tree. It is a native of western Asia. The fruit was considered a delicacy (compare Gen. xliii. 11). In Eccl. xii. 5 it is used metaphorically, according to most interpreters, of an old man's gray head.

ALMOND (shâqçd).—The fruit in Gen 43:11, Exo 25:33-34; Exo 37:19-20, Num 17:8; the tree in Ecc 12:5, Jer 1:11. Luz (Gen 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 Jer 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 (Ecc 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 (Gen 43:11), as they did not grow in the latter country.

E. W. G. Masterman.

a´mund:

(1) שׁקד, shāḳēdh, Gen 43:11; Num 17:8, etc. The word shaked comes from a Hebrew root meaning to “watch” or “wait.” In Jer 1:11, Jer 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, Gen 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 Ecc 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 Gen 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 (Num 17:2, Num 17:3) was an almond rod. Also see Jer 1:11 referred to above.

3. The Blossoms

The blossoms of the almond are mentioned Exo 25:33 f; Exo 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 (Gen 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.

Exo 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.

Num 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.")

Ecc 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.

Almond. A large tree resembling the peach tree in both size and fruit. The almond was chiefly valued for the nuts it produced, which were used for making oil used in the home and as medicine. The Hebrew word for almond means "awakening," an allusion to the almond blossom, which is first to bloom in the spring. The almond’s pinkish-white blossoms always appear before its leaves.

The almond played an important role in the history of the Hebrews. Jacob included almond nuts in his gifts to Joseph in Egypt ( Gen 43:11). The decorations on the lampstands were modeled after the almond blossom ( Exo 25:33), and Aaron’s rod was an almond twig ( Num 17:8). The almond also symbolized the dependability of God ( Jer 1:11-12). Many scholars think the hazel of ( Gen 30:37) Kjv is the almond tree.