8247. shaqed

Lexicon

shaqed: Almond

Original Word: שָׁקֵד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shaqed
Pronunciation: shah-KAYD
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kade')
Definition: Almond
Meaning: the almond

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

almond tree

From shaqad; the almond (tree or nut; as being the earliest in bloom) -- almond (tree).

see HEBREW shaqad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from shaqad
Definition
almond (tree)
NASB Translation
almond tree (2), almonds (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שָׁקֵד noun [masculine] almond (-tree) (Late Hebrew id.; so called from its early waking out of winter's sleep, according to Ki Thes Lag^{BN 45} and others; Aramaic שִׁיגְדָּא, , , whence Ethiopic compare Nö^{M 39}; compare Löw^{No. 319}); —

1 almond, i.e. the nut, plural שְׁקֵדִים Genesis 43:11 (J; +בָּטְנִים, etc.), Numbers 17:23 (P).

2 almond-tree Jeremiah 1:11 and (probably) Ecclesiastes 12:5.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root שָׁקַד (shaqad), meaning "to watch" or "to be alert."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for the Hebrew שָׁקֵד (shaqed) in the Strong's Concordance, as the almond tree is primarily a Hebrew cultural and botanical reference. However, the concept of watchfulness and alertness can be related to Greek terms such as γρηγορέω (gregoreō • Strong's Greek 1127), meaning "to watch" or "to be vigilant."

Usage: The term is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the almond tree and its blossoms, often symbolizing watchfulness or the hastening of events due to its early blooming.

Context: The almond tree, שָׁקֵד (shaqed), is noted for its early blooming, often heralding the arrival of spring. This characteristic is reflected in its Hebrew root, שָׁקַד (shaqad), which means "to watch" or "to be alert." The almond tree is mentioned in several biblical passages, symbolizing vigilance and the swift fulfillment of God's promises.

In Jeremiah 1:11-12, the almond tree is used as a metaphor for God's watchfulness: "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.'" Here, the almond tree signifies God's active and attentive oversight of His word.

The almond is also referenced in Numbers 17:8, where Aaron's rod, which had budded, blossomed, and produced almonds, served as a divine sign of his chosen priesthood: "The next day, when Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony, he saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds."

Additionally, the design of the golden lampstand (menorah) in the Tabernacle included almond blossoms, as described in Exodus 25:33-34: "Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand."

The almond tree's early bloom and its association with watchfulness and divine selection make it a significant symbol in biblical literature.

Forms and Transliterations

הַשָּׁקֵד֙ השקד וּשְׁקֵדִֽים׃ ושקדים׃ שְׁקֵדִֽים׃ שָׁקֵ֖ד שקד שקדים׃ haš·šā·qêḏ hashshaKed haššāqêḏ šā·qêḏ šāqêḏ šə·qê·ḏîm šəqêḏîm shaKed shekeDim ū·šə·qê·ḏîm ūšəqêḏîm ushekeDim

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 43:11
HEB: וָלֹ֔ט בָּטְנִ֖ים וּשְׁקֵדִֽים׃
NAS: and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
KJV: and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
INT: and myrrh pistachio and almonds

Numbers 17:8
HEB: צִ֔יץ וַיִּגְמֹ֖ל שְׁקֵדִֽים׃
NAS: and it bore ripe almonds.
KJV: blossoms, and yielded almonds.
INT: blossoms bore almonds

Ecclesiastes 12:5
HEB: בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְיָנֵ֤אץ הַשָּׁקֵד֙ וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל הֶֽחָגָ֔ב
NAS: on the road; the almond tree blossoms,
KJV: [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish,
INT: the road shall flourish the almond drags the grasshopper

Jeremiah 1:11
HEB: וָאֹמַ֕ר מַקֵּ֥ל שָׁקֵ֖ד אֲנִ֥י רֹאֶֽה׃
NAS: I see a rod of an almond tree.
KJV: I see a rod of an almond tree.
INT: saying A rod of an almond I see

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8247
4 Occurrences

haš·šā·qêḏ — 1 Occ.
šā·qêḏ — 1 Occ.
šə·qê·ḏîm — 1 Occ.
ū·šə·qê·ḏîm — 1 Occ.