Bible Dictionaries
Almond

Holman Bible Dictionary

A large, nut-bearing tree and the nuts it bears. Noted as the first tree to bloom (January) and for its pretty white or pink blossoms. Jacob used the almond (KJV, “hazel”) as a breeding device to increase his herds (Genesis 30:37 ). Jacob sent almonds as one of the best fruits of the land to satisfy the Egyptian ruler (Genesis 43:11 ). The bowls for the tabernacle had almond-shaped decorations (Exodus 25:33-34 ). Aaron's rod miraculously produced ripe almonds, showing he and his tribe were the only chosen priests (Numbers 17:8 ). The early-appearing white bloom of the almond apparently serves as a picture of the early-graying of a person's hair, pointing the writer of Ecclesiastes to the certainty of death (Ecclesiastes 12:5 ). The early blossom meant for Jeremiah that the almond watched for spring and gave the prophet a wordplay on the almond (Hebrew, shaqed ) and his task to watch (Hebrew, shoqed ) (Jeremiah 1:11 ).