Symbolism of the Almond in
The Lamp of the Presence
By Samuel Bonaya Buya
(An article that appeared on Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange)
Exodus 25:9
According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
Exodus 25:40
And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
Exodus 37:20
And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. What is the significance, meaning or symbolism attached to the presence of the almonds on the lamp of the Presence?
To get a picture of almonds let’s go to Numbers 17.
Numbers 17:8
8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
In this case the almond is a testimony of the life projected by the quickening power when the dead sinner is brought into the presence of the Shekinah glory, in type The Holy Ghost. Note here an almond is a nut and a nut is a seed. The reproductive life is in the seed, the almond seed. To get a beautiful picture of this life after death let us go to
Ephesians 2:1-6
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
You see the way to the Holy of Holies was opened at the cross of Calvary, to make way for the sinner to enter in and bud, bloom, blossom, and yield almonds. The almonds testify of the work and fruit of Grace, through the sanctification that is by Faith in His name.
Paul puts it this way:
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
An almond is a present of honour given to an honourable person. When Jacob sent presents to the man of honour in Egypt, he sent almonds. In this case an almond is an acceptable offering, acceptable service.
Genesis 43:11
11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
We read again in the scriptures:
Romans 12:1
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Paul puts it this way:
Romans 15:15-16
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
In Exodus we read:
Exodus 25:31-34
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
The candlestick is a type of the redeemed Church standing before his presence fashioned and glorified with Gold, (representing his Divinity), almonds, knops and flowers, a token of the work of His grace.
In order to see what the almonds on the Menorah represent in Exodus 37:20 we really have to wander a little bit inside the Bible and more.
First about the fruit: in Israel, the flowering of the almond marks the beginning of the agricultural season. It is the first fruit tree to flower, often even in January / February, and can tolerate aridity better than many other trees. It is also very drought resistant tree. However, it seems that it takes quite a while until the fruit is good to eat.
See more in Lytton John Musselman, A Dictionary of Bible Plants, Cambridge University Press, 2011, p. 17
The word for almond (שָׁקֵד) [H8247] is related to the stem sh-k-d [H8245], which means “to be watchful, wakeful, vigilant”; thus, the almond flower is a symbol of life renewed and sustained.
See N. M. Sarna, Exodus. English and Hebrew; commentary in English in The JPS Torah commentary, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1991, p. 165
Basically, we could stop here. Almond = life renewed and sustained by God's power at work. Yet there is some more.
Now the full description of the Menorah is in Exodus 37:17-22. And there is another one, almost alike, in Exodus 25:31-34.
Exodus 25:31-34
You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almond blossoms…. (ESV)
Exodus 37:19-20
....three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch - so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. In the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers…. (ESV).
We shall return to this, but let's have a ride first.
In Genesis 30:37, Jacob uses branches of almond in his attempt to influence the breeding of the flocks.
Genesis 30:37
Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond [לוּז] and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. (ESV)
The word used here is luz (לוּז) [H3869] although it meaning is still “almond”.
A very interesting Numbers 17:8 is giving us a a testimony of the work of God, who has chosen the person who is going to be the high priest.
Numbers 17:8
When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds! (ESV)
So it is a sign of God's presence among Israel. From Jeremiah 1:11-12 we can find out more about this presence:
Jeremiah 1:11-12
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond (שָׁקֵד) branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching (שָׁקַד ) over my word to perform it.” (ESV)
Here is the mysterious yet relevant play on words of שָׁקֵד (almond) and שָׁקַד (to watch, to be alert, to guard, to keep a close watch on something or someone, especially of God’s watching over His word to fulfill it). In order to encourage Jeremiah in his very difficult prophetic work, God is giving him this vision of an almond, symbolizing God’s watchfulness and constant readiness to keep his promises. Basically God is telling Jeremiah he is not to be afraid in announcing Judah’s doom, because God would strengthen and defend him (see Jeremiah 1:17–19).
It is interesting how the Talmud (TJ) is reading this, connecting two different historical events: the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (in 586 b.c.e.) and by Titus (in 70 c.e.)
Ta'an. 4:8, 68c, "Just as 21 days elapse from the time of the almond sends forth his blossom until the fruit ripens, so 21 days passed from the time the city was breached until the Temple was destroyed."
See also Ecc. Rabbah 12:8
More or less the same idea of God’s watching, in Zechariah 4:2-6, 10:
Zechariah 4:2-6, 10
And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it….And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel….These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” (ESV) / “The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.” (NLT)
Exactly, the seven lamps are a symbol of the eyes of God, watching over His word to fulfill it. Is this that the lampstand, must symbolize God’s own presence? Well, this is why it is called Lamp of the Presence, isn't it?
Isaiah 42:6
I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations….(ESV)
All these actions of God as described in Isaiah 42:6: calling, taking by the hand, keeping - can be understood as part of the work of God, watching over His word to fulfill it. And this work as symbolized by the almond.
Interesting enough, we meet this up in a NT prophetic fragment:
Revelation 1:12-13
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man….(ESV)
Very similar to Jeremiah 1:11-12 and Zechariah 4:2-6, isn't it? If there is any connection among these, I would dare to go further and read them both in connection with Deuteronomy 7:9.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations….(ESV)
It is all about the same idea of God, watching over His word to fulfill it. As we got here, perhaps we can add that the almond may be understood as a symbol of the Covenant too.
Now to conclude: the almonds on the Lampstand as described in Exodus 37:20 would represent:
The work of God continually watching over His word in order to keep and fulfill the Covenant,
The Covenant in itself,
Israel and its mission to be “a light unto the nations”, and
The life of man renewed and sustained by God's power at work.
Last but not least, there is one more text, revealing a possible 5th meaning of the almond:
Ecclesiastes 12:5
Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street (ESV).
Here, the almond describes the short cycle of human life. Therefore the almonds on the Lampstand can be a symbol of the human being too, who is called to preserve the light of God in order not be afraid "of a high place and of terrors on the road".
If you stay with me a little more on this, I quote a such a beautiful interpretation of Philo of Alexandria. It is rather related to Numbers 17, yet I think it is relevant for your question anyway:
Philo, On the Life of Moses, II. XXXIV.180-186
XXXIV. (180) And the fruit were almonds, which is a fruit of a different character from any other. For in most fruit, such as grapes, olives, and apples, the seed and the eatable part differ from one another, and being different are separated as to their position, for the eatable part is outside, and the seed is shut up within; but in the case of this fruit the seed and the eatable part are the same, both of them being comprised in one species, and their position is one and the same [*see my footnote below], being without, strongly protected, and fortified with a twofold fence, consisting partly of a very thick bark, and partly of what appears in no respect short of a wooden case, (181) by which perfect virtue is figuratively indicated. For as in the almond the beginning and the end are the same [“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end”] the beginning as far as it is seed, and the end as far as it is fruit; so also is it the case with the virtues; for each one of them is at the same time both beginning and end; a beginning, because it proceeds not from any other power, but from itself; and an end, because the life in accordance with nature hastens towards it. (182) This is one reason; and another is also mentioned, more clear and emphatic than the former; for the part of the almond which looks like bark is bitter, but that which lies inside the bark, like a wooden case, is very hard and impenetrable, so that the fruit, being enclosed in these two coverings, is not very easily to be got at. (183) This is an emblem of the soul which is inclined to the practice of meditation, from which he thinks it is proper to turn it to virtue by showing it that it is necessary first of all to encounter danger. But labour is a bitter, and distasteful, and harsh thing, from which good is produced, for the sake of which one must not yield to effeminate indolence; (184) for he who seeks to avoid labour is also avoiding good. And he, again, who encounters what is disagreeable to be borne with fortitude and manly perseverance, is taking the best road to happiness; for it is not the nature of virtue to abide with those who are given up to delicacy and luxury, and who have become effeminate in their souls, and whose bodies are enervated by the incessant luxury which they practice every day; but it is subdued by such conduct, and determined to change its abode, having first of all arranged its departure so as to depart to, and abide with, the ruler of right reason. (185) But, if I must tell the truth, the most sacred company of prudence, and temperance, and courage, and justice seeks the society of those who practice virtue, and of those who admire a life of austerity and rigid duty, devoting themselves to fortitude and self-denial, with wise economy and abstinence; by means of which virtues, the most powerful of all the principles within us, namely, reason, improves and attains to a state of perfect health and vigour, overthrowing the violent attacks of the body, which the moderate use of wine, and epicurism, the likes of which licentiousness and other insatiable appetites excite against, engendering a fulness of flesh which is the direct enemy of shrewdness and wisdom. (186) Moreover, it is said, that of all the trees that are accustomed to blossom in the spring, the almond is the first to flourish, bringing as it were good tidings of abundance of fruit; and that afterwards it is the last to lose its leaves, extending the yearly old age of its verdure to the longest period; in each of which particulars it is an emblem of the tribe of the priesthood, as Moses intimates under the figure of this tree that this tribe shall be the first of the whole human race to flourish, and likewise the last; as long as it shall please God to liken our life to the revolutions of the spring, destroying covetousness that most treacherous of passions, and the fountain of all unhappiness.
Philo of Alexandria, The works of Philo. Complete and unabridged, C. D. Yonge (ed.), Hendrickson, Peabody, 1996, p. 507
Website Authors Note:
“. . .but in the case of this fruit the seed and the eatable part are the same, both of them being comprised in one species, and their position is one and the same” - to me, this speaks of the almond as a type of the Word, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. What also comes to mind is, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed”, the pomegranate being the other fruit adorning the Tabernacle, as well as the hem of the garments of the High Priest, the pomegranate being alternated with pure, golden bells. This imagery reminds me of Zechariah 14:20.
Zechariah 14:20
"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar."
Here, the word “horses” is Strong’s Concordance # H5483 meaning, "the swiftness of the swallow", or “the leaping of horses” - i.e., “the swiftness of horses” as to their galloping, and not the actual animals themselves! Thus, this verse could be rendered, “In that day shall there be upon the bells of the swift. . .”
Now, compare this to Revelation 22:12-14, Jeremiah 4:13, Jude 14 & 15 and Revelation 19:11-16!
Revelation 22:12-14
12 And, behold, I COME QUICKLY; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Jeremiah 4:13
“Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: HIS HORSES are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.”
“Spoiled” here is synonymous with “judged”.
Jude 14 & 15
“. . . Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT upon all, AND TO CONVINCE all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Revelation 19:11-16
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [This is not a physical war, but a spiritual one!]
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And OUT OF HIS MOUTH goeth a sharp sword, THAT WITH IT he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
The Lord is going to smite the Earth with His WORD! The “horses” are symbolic of God’s Judgment and the “bells” are the Voices of His Saints! The Word they speak is HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD! as they move swiftly across the Earth; their voices drowning out all other voices, and their message soaring high above all other messages! He shall pierce the hearts and minds all men; ruling them in Righteousness and Equity! What a Day it will be when the Glory and Joy of the Lord fills the Earth!! Amen!
Also interesting, is J Preston Eby’s explanation of the “seed-plot” of the lampstands (i.e., the seven Churches) found in the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation (see From the Candlestick to the Throne - Part 30, which I have condensed here): “There is a deep truth of why the Spirit began the Book of Revelation with the messages to the seven churches and then goes on to describe to us all the horrendous scenes that follow - which the carnal mind is unable to understand because it fails to discern the difference between a seed-plot, where the seeds are planted, cultivated, and grown, and the immeasurable harvest that is to follow! The truth is, the messages to the seven churches are not something separate from, or different than, the events in the rest of the book! They are intricately related, the one grows out of the other; they are the very same images, pictures, events, and realities presented at different stages of development!
The first three chapters of Revelation are introductory, laying out in embryonic fashion the very essence of all that is to follow. Every great theme of the book is already found in compact and concise form in these opening letters to the seven churches. If one understands the introduction, one has grasped the essential ideas of the entire book, for all truth in the book of Revelation is germinative in the seed of seven churches! The seven churches are not one thing, and the events described through the seals, trumpets, and vials something else. The messages to the seven churches are given first because the church is the seed plot for the development of the seed — both the wheat and the tares! That's right! The church is the seed-bed of everything that happens in the whole book of Revelation! It all begins there! The beasts, the women, the cities, the shakings, the judgments, the glory — all the things Christ spoke about throughout the four Gospels (and more) are found in seed form in the seven churches. All the mighty things that manifest out of the sea, the earth, and the heavens are there in the seven churches in embryonic form. As a plant grows and develops, and the blossoms and fruit come, so does every seed of good and evil in the seven churches become full grown and full blown in the chapters that follow!
Notice how it is that the little seed of Jezebel, the fornicating false prophetess in the church at Thyatira, grows and increases in numbers, organization, and stature until she becomes “the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:1-2). Consider how the little seed of the doctrine of Balaam in the church at Pergamos, increases and intensifies until it brings forth in the earth the corporate beast of the false prophet who has “two horns like a lamb, and speaks as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). Then there is the little seed of the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes by which the Lord’s people are brought under the fleshly dominion of men who set themselves up as lords over God’s flock; and this group of pastors, bishops, overseers, superintendents, etc., these usurpers of Christ’s Headship over His body grows and blossoms until it becomes “that great city Babylon, that mighty city” which “is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies” (Revelation 18:2-3). Then the seed of the struggling little “overcomer” in each of the seven churches, to whom such glorious promises are given, increases in wisdom, stature, and authority in the Spirit until he becomes 144,000 sons of God standing upon the heavenly mount Zion, the very pinnacle of power and dominion in the kingdom of God!
John sees the seven golden candlesticks (the Church) later on in the Revelation, this time no longer a flickering light in the secluded darkness of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (the Church Age), but now become a glorious wonder in the heavens of God’s Spirit, clothed with the dazzling glory of Christ as the light of the noonday sun, a glittering crown of twelve stars of divine government upon her head, and the moon of the cold, reflective light of ritual, law, ceremony, and all outward religious ordinances and forms put under her beautiful feet! And not only that, but she is about to give birth to a manchild, a mature son, the manifest sons of God, who shall rule all nations from the throne of God in the Spirit. The little seed of the candlestick has now become the glorious sun-clad woman in the heavenlies! And the little seed of the overcomer has become the manchild upon the throne of the universe!
These are but a few examples to show you how the seven churches are the seed-bed of all the great events pictured in the Revelation. Every seed in the early church, good and evil, has now grown up in the earth as a mighty power to be reckoned with in this day of the harvest when the tares shall be separated from the wheat!” (End Quote)
Also, see The Union of the Soul & Spirit Parts I & II under the E.E. Brooks tab at the top of this page.
The articles on this website are made available at no cost. God’s way is, “. . .Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). As members of Christ’s Body, we do not have anything to sell, nor do we rely on donations. We trust God to lay it upon the hearts of those He chooses to provide the means for publishing these studies. God bless!