לוּז (luz)
luz
almond
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun luz refers specifically to the almond tree or its wood in the Hebrew Bible. With only one occurrence recorded in Genesis 30:37, it appears in the narrative of Jacob’s clever breeding strategy with Laban’s flock. Jacob stripped rods from these trees to create striped patterns that influenced the sheep’s offspring.
This rare word highlights the almond tree’s significance in ancient Israel, likely due to its early blooming and durable wood. The text uses luz to describe the physical materials Jacob prepared, emphasizing the tangible nature of his agreement with Laban. The specific mention of this tree underscores the practical details of pastoral life and economic dealings in the patriarchal period.
While other trees like oak or terebinth appear more frequently, luz stands out for its singular biblical appearance. Its inclusion in Genesis provides a concrete detail about the resources available to Jacob, illustrating how he used natural elements to secure his livelihood. The word anchors the story in a specific botanical reality familiar to its original audience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word luz, meaning 'almond,' appears just once in the Hebrew Bible, anchoring a specific moment in Genesis 30:37. Here, Jacob uses rods from the almond tree to create visual patterns that influenced the breeding of Laban’s flock. This rare term highlights the practical wisdom and resourcefulness Jacob employed during a difficult season of his life.
For your faith journey, this detail reminds us that God often works through tangible, everyday means. The almond tree, known for blooming early in spring, symbolizes watchfulness and new beginnings. Even in complex human negotiations, God’s providence is present in the small, concrete details of our daily routines.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ almond1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/ל֣וּז1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:37
Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
This single occurrence identifies the specific wood Jacob used to create striped patterns, highlighting the practical nature of his agreement with Laban.