Jeremiah 1:11
in Jeremiah 1And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree.
KJV
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
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This verse in Jeremiah 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIt is written in the book of the prophet, "Take a branch from a nut tree." So we must consider why the Lord said this to the prophet, for it is not written without a purpose, since we also read in the Pentateuch that the nut tree of Aaron, the priest, blossomed after it had been laid away for a long while.
This site's exposition
I see a branch of an almond tree
on Jeremiah 1:11-12
The first sign turns on a Hebrew wordplay: the almond, shaqed, is the tree that wakes first in spring. The LORD answers, “I am watching over My word to accomplish it”, where watching is shoqed. The almond branch is a pledge that the word will not lie dormant.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Now our rod is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, as Jeremiah saw him as an almond rod. So everyone that spares his son a word of rebuke hates his son. Therefore teach your sons the word of the Lord. Punish them with lashes. Subdue …
(Verse 11, 12.) And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What do you see, Jeremiah? And I said, I see a watching rod. And the Lord said to me: You have seen well, for I will watch over my word to perform it. For the watching rod, the Septuagint translated it as a nut-stick. Therefore, we must work so that the Latin reader understands the Hebrew etymology briefly. Seced is called a nut: but watching or watch or to watch is called Soced. And in the later [books], the leopard is placed in this position as a vigilant guardian. From this, therefore, because it is called a nut, due to the similarity of the word to the understanding of 'watchful', it alluded to the name: which indeed is also written in Daniel according to Theodotion, so that the dividing and cutting of the trees (namely oak and mastic) is appointed to adulterous priests. Likewise, in the beginning of Genesis, from the man who is called Is (), the woman is called Issa (), as some kind of mannish woman, because she is taken from man. For the nutcracker staff, the vigilant rod, the Eagle and Symmachus; but they transferred the almond to Theodotius. The rod, however, keeps watch, considering all the sins of the people, in order to strike and rebuke the transgressors. Therefore the Apostle writes to the sinners: What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and the spirit of gentleness? (1 Corinthians 4:21). This is the rod, or staff, that David speaks of: Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4). Beautifully he placed, they were consoled. For in this way the Lord corrects, so that he may amend. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In the mystery of prophetical revelation, Christ is symbolized especially by means of sight. The prophet saw "a branch of the watching-tree." Christ is symbolized through prophetical visions, and this in different ways: for one saw Christ as "a branch of the watching-tree," another saw …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me,.... At the same time as before: saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? The Septuagint version leaves out the word "Jeremiah": and I said, I see a rod of an almond tree; a dry stick, without leaves or fruit upon it, and yet he knew it to be an almond tree stick; though some think it had leaves and fruit on it, by which it was known. The Targum is, "and I said, a king hastening to do evil I see;'' meaning Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, hastening to bring destruction upon the Jews.
Came unto me - This and the boiling caldron, ver. 13, is thought to be at the same time, and in the same vision, when he was first appointed to the work.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
What seest thou? - If we admit a supernatural element in prophecy, visions would be the most simple means of communication between God and man. A rod of an almond tree - Many translate “a staff of almond wood.” The vision would thus signify that God - like a traveler, staff in hand - was just about to set forth upon His journey of vengeance. But the rendering of the King James Version is supported by Gen 30:
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2678: “The Lesson of the Almond Tree” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
OBSERVE, first, dear Friends, that before Jeremiah becomes a speaker for God, he must be a seer. The name for a Prophet, in the olden time, was a "seer"—a man who could see—one who could see with his mind's eye, one who could also see with spiritual insight, so as vividly to realize the Truth of God which he had to deliver in the name of the Lord. Learn that simple lesson well, O you who try to speak for God! You must be seers before you can be speakers.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2678: “The Lesson of the Almond Tree” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
OBSERVE, first, dear Friends, that before Jeremiah becomes a speaker for God, he must be a seer. The name for a Prophet, in the olden time, was a "seer"—a man who could see—one who could see with his mind's eye, one who could also see with spiritual insight, so as vividly to realize the Truth of God which he had to deliver in the name of the Lord. Learn that simple lesson well, O you who try to speak for God! You must be seers before you can be speakers. The question with which God usually begins His conversation with each of His true servants is the one He addressed to Jeremiah, "What do you see?" I am afraid that there are some ministers, nowadays, who do not see much. Judging by what they preach, their vision must be all in cloudland, where all they see is smoke, mist and fog. I often meet with persons who have attended the same ministry for years—and when I have asked them even very simple questions about the things of God, I have found that they do not know anything. It was not because they were not able to comprehend quickly when the Truth was set forth plainly before them, but I fear that it was, in most cases, because there was nothing that they could learn from the minister to whom they had been accustomed to listen. The preacher had seen nothing and, therefore, when he described what he saw, of course it all amounted to nothing. No, my Brother, before you can make an impression upon another person's heart, you must have an impression made upon your own soul. You must be able to say, concerning the Truth of God, "I see it," before you can speak it so that your hearers shall also see it.
A rod of an almond tree - שקד shaked, from שקד shakad, “to be ready,” “to hasten,” “to watch for an opportunity to do a thing,” to awake; because the almond tree is the first to flower and bring forth fruit. Pliny says, Floret prima omnium amygdala mense Januario; Martio vero pomum maturat. It blossoms in January, when other trees are locked up in their winter’s repose; and it bears fruit in March, just at the commencement of spring, when other trees only begin to bud. It was here the symbol of that promptitude with which God was about to fulfill his promises and threatening. As a rod, says Dahler, is an instrument of punishment, the rod of the almond may be intended here as the symbol of that punishment which the prophet was about to announce.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
a rod of an almond tree (amendleer in O.F.) Jonathan, however, renders: A King who hastens to do evil.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
I have appointed you I have appointed you over the heathens.
You have seen well This almond tree hastens to blossom before all other trees. I, too, hasten to perform My word. And the Midrash Aggadah (Ecc.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֤י | vayhi | and it came | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| דְבַר־ | devar- | [the] word of | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֵלַ֣י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| לֵאמֹ֔ר | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מָה־ | mah- | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| אַתָּ֥ה | ʾatah | [are] you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| רֹאֶ֖ה | roeh | seeing | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ | yirmeyahu | O Jeremiah | H3414 → | 147 times |
| וָאֹמַ֕ר | vaomar | and I said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מַקֵּ֥ל | makel | a branch of | H4731 → | |
| שָׁקֵ֖ד | shaked | an almond tree | H8247 → | |
| אֲנִ֥י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| רֹאֶֽה׃ | roeh | [am] seeing | H7200 → | 1300 times |
וַיְהִ֤יand it came
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
דְבַר־[the] word of
devar-H1697 →1440 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֵלַ֣יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
מָה־what?
mah-H4100 →752 times
אַתָּ֥ה[are] you
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
רֹאֶ֖הseeing
roehH7200 →1300 times
יִרְמְיָ֑הוּO Jeremiah
yirmeyahuH3414 →147 times
וָאֹמַ֕רand I said
vaomarH559 →5305 times
מַקֵּ֥לa branch of
makelH4731 →
שָׁקֵ֖דan almond tree
shakedH8247 →
אֲנִ֥יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
רֹאֶֽה׃[am] seeing
roehH7200 →1300 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Amos 7:8“Amos, what do you see?” asked the LORD. “A plumb line,” I replied. “Behold,” said the Lord, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:
it leads to
- Amos 8:2
“Amos, what do you see?” He asked. “A basket of summer fruit,” I replied. So the LORD said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel; I will no longer spare them.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Lamentations 2:8
The LORD determined to destroy the wall of the Daughter of Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withdraw His hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls lament; together…
- Jeremiah 15:6
You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back. So I will stretch out My hand against you and I will destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion.
- Amos 8:2
Through
Amos 8:2“Amos, what do you see?” He asked. “A basket of summer fruit,” I replied. So the LORD said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel; I will no longer spare them.”
it leads to
- Amos 7:8
“Amos, what do you see?” asked the LORD. “A plumb line,” I replied. “Behold,” said the Lord, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Amos 7:8
Through
Jeremiah 24:3“Jeremiah,” the LORD asked, “what do you see?” “Figs!” I replied. “The good figs are very good, but the bad figs are very bad, so bad they cannot be eaten.”
it leads to
- Jeremiah 1:11–14
And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Zechariah 4:2
“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 1:11–14
Through
Zechariah 4:2“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
it leads to
- Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God.
- Revelation 1:12
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
- Revelation 4:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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On this verse
About Jeremiah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, LETTER 62; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14; Carl Friedrich Keil, The Prophecies of Jeremiah; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2678: “The Lesson of the Almond Tree” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Didascalia Apostolorum, DIDASCALIA 22.[4:11]; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.