the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Almond
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or 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.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Almond'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/a/almond.html. 1909.
