Jeremiah 11:16

The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

The LORD {H3068} called {H7121} thy name {H8034}, A green {H7488} olive tree {H2132}, fair {H3303}, and of goodly {H8389} fruit {H6529}: with the noise {H6963} of a great {H1419} tumult {H1999} he hath kindled {H3341} fire {H784} upon it, and the branches {H1808} of it are broken {H7489}.

ADONAI once called you an olive tree, beautiful, full of leaves and good fruit. Now with the roar of a violent storm, he has set it on fire; and its branches will be consumed.

The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree, beautiful with well-formed fruit. But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire, and its branches will be consumed.

Jehovah called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

Context

Jeremiah 11:16 is part of a prophetic message delivered by Jeremiah to the people of Judah during a critical period leading up to the Babylonian exile. Chapters 11-12 specifically focus on God's covenant with Israel, highlighting how Judah has broken this covenant through idolatry and disobedience. The Lord, through Jeremiah, reminds them of their privileged beginnings and warns of impending judgment for their unfaithfulness. This verse vividly illustrates the reversal of God's blessing due to the nation's spiritual apostasy.

Key Themes

  • God's Original Blessing and Israel's Identity: The initial description of Israel as "A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit" signifies God's loving establishment of His people. The olive tree symbolizes prosperity, peace, fruitfulness, and divine favor, representing how God intended Israel to be a source of blessing and a witness to the nations.
  • Consequences of Covenant Breach: The imagery of "kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken" depicts the severe judgment that comes from breaking God's covenant. This judgment is a direct result of Judah's persistent idolatry and refusal to obey God's commands, despite His repeated warnings.
  • Divine Judgment and Devastation: The "noise of a great tumult" points to the chaos and destruction of warfare, specifically the impending invasion by Babylon. The fire symbolizes God's wrath and the complete devastation of the nation, leading to the loss of its fruitfulness and existence as a sovereign entity.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "green olive tree" (Hebrew: zayit ra'anan) powerfully conveys vitality, freshness, and enduring life. Olive trees are known for their longevity and continuous fruitfulness, making this a poignant metaphor for Israel's intended spiritual and national health. The stark contrast between this initial state and the subsequent imagery of fire and broken branches emphasizes the tragic downfall from a divinely blessed condition to one of utter ruin. The "great tumult" (Hebrew: hamon gadol) often refers to the clamor of a large crowd or the noise of battle, underscoring the violent nature of the impending judgment.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 11:16 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises, both in blessing and in judgment. It underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant and purposes. For ancient Judah, it was a warning of impending doom due to their idolatry and disobedience. For believers today, this verse offers several insights:

  • It highlights the value God places on spiritual fruitfulness and obedience. Just as Israel was called to bear good fruit, believers are called to abide in Christ, the true vine, and bear much fruit.
  • It illustrates that persistent rebellion against God's will leads to severe consequences. God's patience is great, but His justice is certain.
  • The metaphor of the olive tree is also picked up in the New Testament, particularly in Romans 11:17-24, where Paul uses it to explain the relationship between Israel and Gentile believers, emphasizing that all who are grafted into God's family must remain in His goodness or risk being cut off.

Ultimately, this verse is a somber reflection on the consequences of spiritual decline and a call to return to the Lord with sincerity and obedience to avoid the destructive fire of His judgment.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 11:17

    And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

  • Romans 11:24

    For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?

  • Psalms 52:8

    But I [am] like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

  • Isaiah 27:11

    When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, [and] set them on fire: for it [is] a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

  • Psalms 80:16

    [It is] burned with fire, [it is] cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

  • Ezekiel 15:4

    Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for [any] work?

  • Ezekiel 15:7

    And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from [one] fire, and [another] fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back