THEOSISJerome of Stridon
They will also experience a fear of heights and trepidation along the path. In other words, they will struggle to navigate uncomfortable terrains, and with unsteady steps and relaxed posture, they will find it difficult to maintain balance even on a smooth journey, worrying about the possibility of stumbling. “And the almond will blossom, and the grasshopper will grow heavy, and the caper will be scattered; because a man will go to his eternal house, and those who weep will surround him in the street.” At this moment, the voice of Ecclesiastes speaks symbolically about humanity, indicating that as old age approaches, hair turns gray, feet become swollen, desires diminish, and ultimately death claims a man.
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He will return to the dust and to his eternal resting place in the grave, with mourners gathering around his burial.
The phrase “the almonds will blossom,” which we interpreted as referring to gray hair, might also be seen as a metaphor for the stooping posture of the elderly. This reflects how the softer tissues of the body diminish over time, leading to a greater curvature of the spine. Furthermore, regarding the phrase “the grasshopper shall be weighed down,” it is important to note that the term translated as “grasshopper” in our texts corresponds to the Hebrew “aagab,” which can mean both “heel” and “grasshopper.” Just as in the beginning of the book of Jeremiah, the Hebrew word “sosed” can denote both “nut” and “guard.” When God asks Jeremiah, “What do you see?” and Jeremiah replies, “A rod of nuts,” the Lord affirms, “You have seen well, for I will watch over my word to perform it” (Jer. 1:11). This indicates that God will observe and judge His people according to their deeds.
In a similar manner, the dual meaning of “grasshopper,” etymologically linked, might refer to the feet of elderly individuals weighed down by ailments like gout—not necessarily present in all the aged, but certainly common enough to be noted. The term “caper,” in Hebrew “a’biona,” also carries multiple meanings, including “love,” “desire,” “lust,” and “caper,” illustrating how, in older men, passions diminish, and their vital functions deteriorate. The ambiguous usage of the words “almond,” “grasshopper,” and “caper” figuratively aligns with the realities of aging. Moreover, it is noteworthy that where the Seventy interpreters wrote “almond,” they were referring to the same Hebrew term “soced,” which is noted at the beginning of Jeremiah; here it is rendered as “nut,” while elsewhere as “almond.” Symmachus, not fully grasping this context, provided a notably different translation, stating, “Except this, and from the heights they shall see, and fear shall be upon the way, and he that is awake shall fall asleep, and the strength of the spirit shall be destroyed. For a man shall go to his eternal home, and shall be surrounded in the street by those who cry.” The rendition by the Laodicean translator, who strayed from both the Hebrew understanding and the Seventy Interpreters, fails to satisfy either Jews or Christians.