The Hebrew word egoz refers to a nut, most likely the walnut (Juglans regia), which was cultivated in ancient Israel. It is a rare word appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the Song of Solomon, where the beloved descends into 'the garden of nuts' (nut-garden).
The singular occurrence of egoz in the Song of Solomon (6:11) places it in the rich symbolic garden of the beloved. The nut-garden becomes a place of encounter, anticipation, and blossoming love. Early Jewish interpreters took this garden as an allegory for Israel and the Torah, while Christian interpreters saw it as a symbol of the church in fruitful season. The nut's hard outer shell protecting tender fruit within was used by the rabbis as a metaphor for the Torah — difficult on the outside, sweet within. The rarity of the word heightens its significance, as a single gem placed precisely to evoke abundance and delight.