Word Study for H8247 (שָׁקֵד)

shâqêd /shaw-kade'/ Ask about this word

Meaningthe almond (tree or nut; as being the earliest in bloom)

KJV usagealmond (tree).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâqêd — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shâqêd, represented by H8247, refers to the almond, encompassing both the tree and the nut. Its definition notes its origin from the root שָׁקַד and its characteristic of being the earliest tree to bloom. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses, indicating its specific and symbolic use in scripture.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H8247 serves multiple functions. It is listed as one of the "best fruits" H2173 of the land, carried as a valuable present from Jacob's sons to the ruler of Egypt Genesis 43:11. In a miraculous sign, Aaron's rod not only budded but also "yielded almonds," confirming God's choice of the house of Levi for the priesthood Numbers 17:8. The prophet Jeremiah is shown a "rod of an almond tree" in a divine vision Jeremiah 1:11, and in Ecclesiastes, the flourishing of the almond tree is used as a metaphor for old age Ecclesiastes 12:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the context of the almond's significance:

H2173 zimrâh (best fruit): This term classifies the almond nut as a choice and valuable product of the land, suitable as a high-quality gift Genesis 43:11.
H6524 pârach (to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom): This verb describes the miraculous life cycle that appeared on Aaron's rod, which ultimately produced almonds Numbers 17:8. It is also used to describe how the righteous will flourish.
H6525 perach (blossom, bud, flower): This noun for a bloom or bud is used in direct connection with the almond, describing the parts of the plant that miraculously grew on Aaron's rod before the almonds themselves appeared Numbers 17:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8247 is seen in its symbolic applications.

Divine Confirmation: The most direct theological use is in Numbers, where the sudden appearance of buds, blossoms, and almonds on a dead rod serves as an undeniable sign of God's chosen priesthood Numbers 17:8.
Prophetic Symbolism: As the object of Jeremiah's vision, the almond tree becomes a vehicle for God's message Jeremiah 1:11. The fact that the almond tree is known as the "earliest in bloom" underscores a theme of divine readiness and action.
Metaphor for Life: The imagery of the flourishing almond tree in Ecclesiastes provides a poignant metaphor for a stage of human life, likely the appearance of white hair in old age, connecting a natural process to a spiritual reflection on mortality Ecclesiastes 12:5.

Summary

In summary, H8247 is far more than a simple plant or nut. It functions within scripture as a symbol of value, a sign of divine authority, and a metaphor for life, aging, and prophetic revelation. From its inclusion as one of the "best fruits" to its miraculous appearance on Aaron's rod, the almond consistently points to something significant chosen or ordained by God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

שְׁקֵדִים
שָׁקֵד

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

Numbers

Ecclesiastes

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.