Tidbit #3 "Almond Branch"
“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
Jeremiah 1:11-12
Have you ever read this passage at the beginning of Jeremiah and just thought, what the??? Well I have, so here is my interesting bit of learning for today…
The almond branch thing is all about a play on words. The Hebrew word for almond branch is “shaqed” and in God’s reply the Hebrew word used for watching is “shoqed”. This play on words would have been particularly poignant for any Hebrew readers of Jeremiah as Hebrew is written without vowels, so the two words appear identical. The image of the almond branch is also significant as this was the first thing to blossom at the beginning of spring, i.e. if you want to know when spring is upon us watch for the blossoms on the almond tree. This image heightens the picture of God watching over his word and the imminence of him performing it.
Jeremiah 1:11-12
Have you ever read this passage at the beginning of Jeremiah and just thought, what the??? Well I have, so here is my interesting bit of learning for today…
The almond branch thing is all about a play on words. The Hebrew word for almond branch is “shaqed” and in God’s reply the Hebrew word used for watching is “shoqed”. This play on words would have been particularly poignant for any Hebrew readers of Jeremiah as Hebrew is written without vowels, so the two words appear identical. The image of the almond branch is also significant as this was the first thing to blossom at the beginning of spring, i.e. if you want to know when spring is upon us watch for the blossoms on the almond tree. This image heightens the picture of God watching over his word and the imminence of him performing it.
posted by David @ 3:17 pm
6 Comments:
You know what's amazing!!!!?? We read that passage at churh the same day you posted about it. I was following along in my Bible and when we read that verse I DID think "what the..?" How funny is that???
When I read it again on your blog I thought, "I wonder if God was testing Jeremiah's vision for the visions?" You know like God showed him a branch of an almond tree to see if he would get it right. Coz God wanted to make sure His message was correctly given. He he.
there are many of these play-on-words in the OT. that's one reason why i so want to learn Hebrew. are you studying Hebrew or Greek by any chance? thanks for sharing that informative tidbit!
Yea, I've been studying Hebrew this year and that is very true - lots of word plays. (I'm looking foreward to doing Hebrew exegesis of Psalms, should be fascinating!)
wow, i'm sure it will be! i look forward to more of these types of posts then! :)
{Part 1 of 2}...and the almond tree may hold more significance for us today than what we are aware.
In the Word of God, people are compared to trees. Please read into the following parable: The almond tree is known as the watchful tree and is the first of the fruit trees to awaken from its winter slumber. Upon awakening, it clothes itself in white garments. Following pollination, firstfruits begin to emerge from the calyx and hastily grow over a course of weeks; in the Middle East a few of these firstfruits are handpicked (chosen) during this 1st harvest. The others remain on the tree to mature in the summer heat; the heat withers the flesh and exposes the seed inside. At the final harvest (2nd harvest), the tree is beaten causing the seed to fall to the ground. The almond tree is a humble tree; with the exception of the blossoming, it has no comeliness nor form nor greatness about it. There is nothing that makes this tree desirable except for what is gained at the final harvest - after it is beaten: a seed known as one of the world’s healthiest foods.
According to the Word of God, the almond tree is associated with the priesthood and righteousness: Aaron’s rod (branch), the lampstand in the holy place (menorah), Jeremiah's vision, Mountain of Almonds (Mt. Sinai in Midian).
Visualize Moses and Aaron (the ones sent to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt) holding onto a rod (branch). As long as they were holding on to the branch, they were able to perform signs and wonders (Aaron's branch is later revealed as a blossoming almond branch). As long as they were holding onto the branch, the waters obeyed them. Through the branch in their hand, salvation was brought to the children of Israel. They were brought to Mt. Sinai in Midian also known as Mountain of Almonds (Jabal al-Lawz). There are prophecies of a Righteous Branch who would come forth (Isa 11, Jer 23, 33, Zec 3, 6). When the Righteous Branch walked on the earth, He performed signs and wonders. The waters obeyed Him. He brought salvation. If we hold on to the Righteous Branch, then we receive salvation and shall also be able to perform signs and wonders.
Regarding the timing of the exodus…something we were to remember for generations to come forever: It is interesting to note that the time that the dead and the living (dead bones of Joseph and the living children of Israel) were brought out of Egypt was on the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread during the month of Abib. Abib may indeed correspond to the awakening & blossoming of the almond tree. There is mention of another time the dead and living will be brought up. (Remember that our Heavenly Father follows cycles and patterns.)
(continued)
{Part 2 of 2} Consider the menorah: a golden blossoming almond tree. However, instead of producing the fruit of an almond, the menorah produced the fruit of light. The Righteous Branch said that He is the light of the world. Like the center branch on the menorah, if we are a branch that is grafted into Him, then we shall also produce the fruit of light. (Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.)
Consider Aaron's rod (branch): it budded, blossomed and yielded ripening almonds. This signified who the Most High chose to come near and serve Him. The almond tree can produce sweet or bitter almonds. Sweet almonds are known as one of the world's healthiest foods. Bitter almonds contain poison that may produce death if too many are ingested. In the Word of God, rebellion (unfaithfulness, disobedience) is associated with bitterness (see Strong's H4784, H4805). Faithfulness and obedience seems to be associated with sweetness as "Thy Word is sweet as honey". If the priesthood is sweet or faithful, they will lead the people to walk in faithfulness to the commands. If the priesthood is bitter, they will lead the people astray and cause spiritual death. As King & High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, the Righteous Branch will establish the kingdom of God on the earth…a government administered in justice and righteousness.
It seems that the blossoming of the almond tree marks the beginning of the cycle of a year as the light of dawn marks the beginning of the cycle of a day. Everything in the Word of God revolves around agricultural cycles. The timing of the awakening or blossoming of the almond tree is towards the end of the winter season (the night season). The Bridegroom comes like a thief in the "night". Like the almond tree, we are to remain alert and watchful...which is what the word for almond means in the Hebrew. And the shape of our eyes gives us a hint as to what we are to be watching! Also consider that the Righteous Branch is called the Prince of Peace. As the white blossoms fall to the ground 5-14 days after awakening, it is as if they are laying down a white carpet for the coming of a Righteous King. (the season of winter is a season of peace.)
May each of us continue to grow in grace and knowledge of The Righteous Branch...remain watchful and alert…and produce the fruit of light!
Link to presentation detailing the cycle of the almond tree: http://www.righteousbranch.org/prodigy-of-the-almond-tree.html
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