Jeremiah 11 16

Jeremiah 11:16 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 11:16 nkjv

The LORD called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are broken.

Jeremiah 11:16 niv

The LORD called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken.

Jeremiah 11:16 esv

The LORD once called you 'a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.' But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed.

Jeremiah 11:16 nlt

I, the LORD, once called them a thriving olive tree,
beautiful to see and full of good fruit.
But now I have sent the fury of their enemies
to burn them with fire,
leaving them charred and broken.

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 16 Meaning

Jeremiah 11:16 uses a potent agricultural metaphor to describe the nation of Judah (Israel). The Lord likens His people to a "green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit," symbolizing their initial prosperity, health, and blessed state under the covenant He established with them. This image conveys the favor and special purpose God had for Israel. However, the verse abruptly shifts, declaring that because of their persistent disobedience and covenant infidelity, the Lord Himself will bring a "great sound of tumult" (chaos and battle) and kindle fire upon this very tree, resulting in its branches being broken. This signifies the imminent divine judgment, a severe devastation that would befall Judah, consuming their blessings and breaking their nationhood, ultimately leading to destruction and exile.

Jeremiah 11 16 Context

Jeremiah chapter 11 details a covenant lawsuit (Heb. riv) initiated by God against Judah for their unfaithfulness. The Lord reminds Israel of the covenant He made with their ancestors at Mount Sinai (Jer 11:2-5), emphasizing His demand for obedience. He instructed Jeremiah to proclaim these words in the cities of Judah, highlighting the people's persistent refusal to obey (Jer 11:6-8). The people had abandoned the covenant and gone after other gods (Jer 11:10), engaging in idolatry and rebellion despite warnings. Jeremiah 11:16 specifically appears in the midst of God's declaration of impending judgment (Jer 11:11-17), where He states He will bring a disaster that they cannot escape, and will not hear their cries for help. The historical context is Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, largely during the reign of Josiah's successors (Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah) and leading up to the Babylonian exile, a period marked by deep apostasy following a brief revival under Josiah. The metaphor here signifies the severe reversal of fortunes due to Judah's covenant-breaking behavior.

Jeremiah 11 16 Word analysis

• The LORD (Yahweh, יְהוָה): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness to His promises, both of blessing and judgment. It is the personal, revealed name of the God of Israel, indicating a relational context.

• called (qara', קָרָא): Implies designation, naming, or proclamation. It denotes God's act of establishing Israel's identity and status. Not merely labeling, but investing meaning and purpose.

• your name: Refers to Israel's identity and character as designated by God. This "name" is synonymous with their existence and status among nations, set apart and blessed.

• 'A green olive tree (zeyit raanan`, זַיִת רַעֲנָן): The olive tree symbolizes life, prosperity, longevity, and vitality in ancient Israel. "Green" signifies freshness, health, and a flourishing condition, indicating an abundance of oil (light, anointing, sustenance). This imagery often points to Israel as a blessed, productive nation, a source of blessing to the world.

• beautiful (yefe, יְפֵה): Conveys aesthetic pleasantness, excellence, and desirable quality. God perceived His chosen people as not only productive but also glorious and pleasing in His sight, especially when faithful.

• with good fruit (p'ri tov, פְּרִי טוֹב): Fruitfulness implies productivity, purpose, and the fulfillment of God's intended output. "Good fruit" denotes righteous living, obedience to the covenant, and worship of Yahweh alone, yielding beneficial outcomes.

• With a great sound of tumult (b'qol hamulah gedolah, בְּקוֹל הֲמוּלָה גְדֹלָה): This phrase describes a loud, chaotic noise, typically associated with war, invasion, or destruction. It indicates an impending, overwhelming, and violent disaster that God orchestrates.

• He has kindled fire (hithil esh, הִצִּית אֵשׁ): Fire in biblical prophecy is a powerful symbol of divine judgment, purification, and destruction. Here, it is not accidental but deliberately "kindled" by God, indicating His direct action in bringing wrath. The imagery suggests rapid and comprehensive destruction.

• on it: Directly upon the "green olive tree," Israel. God's judgment is specifically targeting the people who had once been so blessed.

• and its branches are broken (v'nutashu dalliyyotav, וְנֻתְּשׁוּ דַלִּיּוֹתָיו): "Branches" (often representing leaders, groups, or portions of the people) being "broken" signifies splintering, scattering, destruction, and removal. This denotes the destruction of the nation's structure, strength, and integrity, mirroring the exile and the dismantling of the societal order.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The LORD called your name, ‘A green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit’": This entire phrase encapsulates God's initial benevolent and creative act towards Israel. It establishes their chosen status, their purpose for productivity and beauty in the world, and the immense potential for blessings under the covenant. It speaks to God's vision for His people.
  • "With a great sound of tumult He has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken": This second part drastically contrasts the first. It depicts God's sovereign and violent act of judgment. The "great sound of tumult" represents the instrument (often enemy invasion), but the "kindled fire" is explicitly from God, demonstrating that the calamity is divine judgment, not merely natural disaster. The "broken branches" symbolize the comprehensive devastation of Israel's national existence and spiritual vitality.

Jeremiah 11 16 Bonus section

The olive tree metaphor is particularly significant because it emphasizes sustainability and deep roots. An olive tree can live for hundreds, even thousands, of years, enduring difficult conditions and continuing to bear fruit. For Israel to be likened to such a tree by God speaks volumes about the longevity and endurance God intended for His covenant people. Therefore, the phrase "kindled fire on it" and "its branches are broken" signifies an abrupt, unnatural, and premature end to a deeply rooted and inherently resilient entity, underscoring the severity of God's judgment in light of Israel's persistent and deep-seated sin that brought such a cherished entity to ruin. This also carries a polemical edge, countering any presumption that their chosen status provided absolute immunity from judgment. The judgment is not merely a pruning but a destructive force aimed at dismantling their very existence as an independent nation in the land.

Jeremiah 11 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 11:16 is a poignant lament wrapped in a judgment oracle. It profoundly contrasts Israel's God-given glorious identity with its self-inflicted tragic fate. God’s choice and initial blessing made Israel (Judah) like a "green, beautiful, and fruitful olive tree," a vibrant source of blessing and testimony to the world, reflecting His own beauty and provision. This highlights the high standard and potential that Israel possessed under the covenant. However, the subsequent imagery of a "great sound of tumult," "kindled fire," and "broken branches" graphically portrays the severe consequences of their sustained covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals that the very God who established and nurtured them would be the one to bring forth the consuming judgment, illustrating His justice and holy anger against idolatry and rebellion. This is not arbitrary destruction but the unavoidable outcome of forsaking the Source of life, turning beauty into desolation. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that privilege brings responsibility, and covenant blessings are contingent upon obedience.