Almond branch or watcher?
Upvote:0
Personally, I have always found this passage to be very powerful imagery indeed.
The word sqr, shaked, an almond, is derived from the verb, sqr, shakad, to watch; and it has been thought that this tree is so called, because it brings forth fruit earlier than other trees; for almonds, as it is well known, flower even in winter, and in the coldest seasons.
Calvin has three ideas on this passage. Calvin's first idea, which is probably not from Calvin because its extremely well-known, is almond blossom is the first bloom of the new year. It occurs in the winter months, this being January to March. Therefore its imagery is 'ever watching', because its blossom is symbolic of the life of the tree and that is active from the start of the year. That would fit with the theme of the book of Jeremiah. In particular it fits with the next sentence ...
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Calvin's second idea in this theme is the almond tree fruits much earlier than other trees. Thats more difficult to square with Jeremiah who prophesied exile was inevitable (Jer 1:14) and return from exile would not be quick.
Calvin's key idea is the grammatical context, almond and watching are based on the same root word. Double word meaning were common with the major prophets, e.g. Isaiah's suffering servant (Jesus) was buried "with the rich and with the wicked in his death" (Isaiah 53:9). "Rich" at this time in Hebrew and "wicked" were considered comparable root words and emphasising the complete injustice of the fate of the suffering servant.
Generally, trees must have had major spiritual metaphoric meaning per se in the ancient world: tree of life, tree of good and evil (Genesis 2: 9), cedars of Lebanon symbolising strength and human power (Isaiah 2:13; 37:24), "sacred" oaks for pagan worship, probably Asherah (Isaiah 1:29) and of course the parable of the mustard seed growing into a mighty tree (Matthew 13:31-32).
For such a simple passage it resonates earthquaking power.
Upvote:0
Almond is correct. It is a reference to the menorah made of one-piece of pure gold with cups shaped like almond flowers, buds, blossoms. (Exo 25:33-34)
The menorah symbolizes a number of things.
Bud God the Father Blossom God the Son Cup God the Spirit
66 parts of 66 books of the bible
Lit the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isa 8:20
The bible is the lamp lit with oil (Son and Spirit).
So, what do you see Jeremiah? An almond branch.
Good, God will perform as He promised/spoke/prophesied.
More post
- 📝 What did the early church believe about the "rapture"?
- 📝 How does the Eastern Orthodox Church view and understand the Eucharist/Communion that takes place in Protestant churches?
- 📝 What does Believers Eastern Church teach on the mode and subjects of baptism?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for disbelief in the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 What does it mean that "the two natures of Christ cannot be separated"?
- 📝 What prompted the change in Christian attitude towards usury?
- 📝 Why might have God allowed the burning of Jephtha’s daughter when he condemned child sacrifice as worship in Deuteronomy 12?
- 📝 Do we find any (even hazy) references in non-Jewish traditions about Jesus, as promised saviour?
- 📝 What is the meaning of the large statue of a pine cone in Vatican City?
- 📝 Did Jonah fail the test of a prophet?
- 📝 Is a baptized but not confirmed Catholic really a Catholic?
- 📝 In the Catholic Church, does the private Act of Contrition require a specific prayer?
- 📝 What did Jesus mean by saying 'to the right of the boat '?
- 📝 Who did Jesus intend to take communion?
- 📝 Is salvation in the name "Jesus", or in the person Jesus
- 📝 Why do some Advent calendars have days in random order?
- 📝 Is Satan capable of love?
- 📝 What is the Biblical definition of "prophecy"?
- 📝 Readable presentations on theodicy (problem of evil) theories?
- 📝 According to Thomas A. Bailey what does “stark but reassuring order in the divine plan” mean?
- 📝 Is there an equivalent to cantillation or tajweed in Christianity?
- 📝 Does Bible say that God created insects?
- 📝 Why does church tradition teach that one third of the angels fell with Lucifer when no verse supports that
- 📝 What are the biblical arguments against soul sleep?
- 📝 The difference between how the Holy Spirit and Son "proceed" from the Father
- 📝 St. Augustine's views on salvation through coercion
- 📝 Mormons, for how long can I be forgiven of all my sins?
- 📝 Is there biblical support for "feeling the presence of God" as reported by multiple Christian conversion testimonies?
- 📝 According to Trinitarians, can the personhood of the Holy Spirit be confirmed through personal experience?
- 📝 Jesus Christ purchased us with his blood - parties involved
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Almond branch or watcher?
- 📝 Are other religions treated differently by any major branch of Christianity?
- 📝 Is the Militia of the Immaculata a sect within the Catholic branch of Christianity?
- 📝 Is it best not to mention a denomination or branch when talking to a person who belongs to a different one?
- 📝 Historical evidence for a separate Jewish branch of Christianity?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the claim that abortion is immoral?
- 📝 How were people saved prior to 33 AD?
- 📝 Why do some Christians believe it is moral to be a h*m*sexual?
- 📝 Can there be free will in heaven?
- 📝 Can I believe in evolution and still be a Christian?
- 📝 When the Bible talks about wine does it mean alcoholic wine?
- 📝 What major translations of the Bible are in the Public Domain?
- 📝 What happens to people who have never heard about Jesus?
- 📝 How is Christ's death so significant?
- 📝 Why didn't C.S. Lewis convert to Catholicism?
- 📝 Does Jesus ever claim to be God, or the son of God?
- 📝 Why does Judaism celebrate Sabbath on Saturday and most Christians celebrate Sabbath on Sunday?
- 📝 Praying to people outside the Trinity
- 📝 The Bible seems to allow polygamy. Why doesn't the church?
- 📝 Will suicide keep me out of Heaven?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying Christians and Muslims worship the same God?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis to claim that masturbation is a sin?
- 📝 Why is Christianity considered a monotheistic religion?
- 📝 Atheism is the default position. Isn't the burden of proof on the Christian to assert that God exists?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the concept that Jesus spent time in Hell?
- 📝 How do young earth creationists reconcile the age of the universe with the speed of light, and visible distant objects?
- 📝 Why don't many churches obey Paul's command that women must be silent in church?
- 📝 How to answer "Why do evil and suffering exist?"
- 📝 Was baptism practiced before Christ?