שָׁקֵד
𐤔𐤒𐤃
shâqêd
H8247 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Almond tree or its fruit (the almond); a deciduous tree of the genus Prunus that is notable for its early and conspicuous blossoming, often signifying watchfulness or eagerness in biblical imagery. The term can refer both to the tree and its edible nut. In poetic or symbolic contexts, sometimes used metaphorically for alertness or anticipation.
Semantic Range
almond tree, almond nut, symbol of watchfulness or vigilance, motif in ornamentation, emblem of swift blossoming or anticipation
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שׁקד, which primarily means 'to watch, be vigilant, be wakeful.' The noun שָׁקֵד ('almond') is so called due to the tree's early blossoming, typically preceding other trees, thus manifesting a sense of wakefulness or readiness. The lexical meaning derives from this association, not from direct action but from the natural characteristic of the almond tree.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁקֵד typically appears as a botanical term for the almond tree or nut (e.g., Genesis 43:11; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Jeremiah 1:11). The almond’s early flowering was culturally significant, symbolizing alertness and swift response—a connection highlighted in the wordplay of Jeremiah 1:11-12, where God’s watching (שֹׁקֵד) over his word is linked to the almond branch vision (שָׁקֵד). Almond branches also appear in cultic contexts, such as Aaron’s rod that budded (Numbers 17:8), with design motifs in Tabernacle lampstands (Exodus 25:33-34). English translations generally render שָׁקֵד as 'almond,' but may not convey the original symbolic association with watchfulness. Over time, the term’s usage remained fairly consistent; it did not develop the later connotations associated with English 'almond,' such as culinary use, and it retained strong metaphorical undertones in prophetic literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁקַד; the almond (tree or nut; as being the earliest in bloom); almond (tree).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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שׁקד (sh-q-d) — to watch, be awake, be vigilant, be alert
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8245 | שָׁקַד | I will keep watch |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8247-02 |
שָׁקֵ֖ד | shaqed | HNcmsa |
of almond | almond tree | 1 |
H8247-01 |
הַ/שָּׁקֵד֙ | hashaqed | HTd/Ncmsa |
the almond tree | the almond tree | 1 |
H8247-04 |
וּ/שְׁקֵדִֽים | usheqedim | HC/Ncmpa |
and almonds | almond trees | 1 |
H8247-03 |
שְׁקֵדִֽים | sheqedim | HNcmpa |
almonds | almonds | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8247-04 |
Genesis 43:11 | וּ/שְׁקֵדִֽים | usheqedim | HC/Ncmpa |
and almonds | almond trees |
H8247-03 |
Numbers 17:23 | שְׁקֵדִֽים | sheqedim | HNcmpa |
almonds | almonds |
H8247-02 |
Jeremiah 1:11 | שָׁקֵ֖ד | shaqed | HNcmsa |
of almond | almond tree |
H8247-01 |
Ecclesiastes 12:5 | הַ/שָּׁקֵד֙ | hashaqed | HTd/Ncmsa |
the almond tree | the almond tree |