Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
16. Here also there are probably corruptions in MT., but R.V. gives the general sense.
called thy name ] acknowledged thee to be worthy of comparison with.
green ] spreading, luxuriant. The Hebrew word does not in itself denote colour. For the figure cp. Psa 52:8; Hos 14:6.
tumult ] lit. roaring, i.e. of the tempest.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 16. The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree] That is, he made thee like a green olive-fair, flourishing, and fruitful; but thou art degenerated, and God hath given the Chaldeans permission to burn thee up.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That is, the Lord fixed thee when he brought thee first into Canaan, in a beautiful flourishing state and condition, so as thou wert in a capacity both to have done thyself much good, and to have brought him much glory, like a beautiful fair olive tree, fit to bear fair and goodly fruit. But thou hast so behaved thyself, that the Lord is altering the course of his providence to thee, he that planted thee is about to pluck thee up. God is about to kindle a fire which will burn thee up, and to break thy branches. There is nothing more usual in prophetical writings than to have things yet to come expressed as if past, because of the certainty of them; they being what shall as certainly be as if already done.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. called thy namemade thee.
olive (Psa 52:8;Rom 11:17). The “olive”is chosen to represent the adoption of Judah by the free graceof God, as its oil is the image of richness (comparePsa 23:5; Psa 104:15).
with . . . noise of . . .tumultor, “at the noise,” c., namely, at thetumult of the invading army (Isa13:4) [MAURER]. Or,rather, “with the sound of a mighty voice,” namely, that ofGod, that is, the thunder thus there is no confusion of metaphors.The tree stricken with lightning has “fire kindled uponit, and the branches are broken,” at one and the sametime [HOUBIGANT].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The Lord called thy name a green olive tree,…. That is, compared the Jewish church and people to one, and made them as one, very prosperous and flourishing in the enjoyment of privileges, civil and religious, being highly favoured with the word and ordinances: fair, and of goodly fruit; which, for a while, brought forth the fruit of good works; and, while such, was amiable and goodly to look upon; was, as the Syriac version is, “fair with fruit, and beautiful in sight”; and whereas it might have been expected she would have so continued, and been still as a green olive tree in the house of God, as David says, Ps 52:8, now it was otherwise, she was become barren, dry, and fruitless: and therefore it follows:
with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it: that is, by means of the Chaldean army, which came with a mighty rushing noise, as a numerous army does; the Lord hath destroyed it, and burnt it with fire; what the Chaldeans did is ascribed to God, because it was done according to his will, and by his direction and overruling providence:
and the branches of it are broken; the high and principal ones, the king, princes, and nobles, their palaces, and the house of God. The apostle seems to have respect to this passage in Ro 11:17. The Targum is,
“as an olive tree that is beautiful in form and comely of sight, whose branches overshadow the trees, so the Lord hath magnified thy name among the people; but now that thou hast transgressed the law, the armies of the people, who are strong as fire, shall come against thee, and helps shall be joined to them.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet says first that the Jews had indeed been for a time like a fruitful and a fair olive; then he adds, that this beauty would not prevent God from breaking its branches and entirely eradicating it. He afterwards confirms this declaration, and says, For God who had planted it, can also root it up whenever it pleases him. This is the import of the two verses.
The Prophet no doubt derides here the vain confidence by which he knew the Jews were deceived: for they were so inebriated with their privileges that they dared to despise the very giver of them. Hence the Prophet thus addressed them, “Do ye think that so many vices will be unpunished? Ye omit nothing to kindle God’s wrath against you, — ye have polluted his Temple, ye have corrupted the whole of Divine worship, ye have despised the law; and can you think that the Lord will perpetually spare you?” But when the prophets thus assailed them, they had this answer, “What! will God leave his own Temple, concerning which he has sworn, This is my rest for ever? Is not this the Holy Land? And is not this also his heritage and his rest? And further, are we not his flock? Are we not his children? Are we not a holy people?” What then the Jews were wont arrogantly to claim, the Prophet concedes to them. “So,” he says, “ye are a green olive, a fair and tall olive, a fruitful olive; all this I grant; but cannot God kindle a fire to burn the branches and to reduce to nothing the whole tree?” We now then understand the design of the Prophet.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) A green olive tree.The parable is essentially the same, though a different symbol is chosen, as that of the vine of Isa. 5:1; Jer. 2:21, or the fig-tree of Luk. 13:6. The olive also was naturally a symbol of fertility and goodness, as in Psa. 52:8; Hos. 14:6; Zec. 4:3; Zec. 4:11. In the words the Lord called thy name we have the expression of the Divine purpose in the calling and election of Israel. This was what she was meant to be.
Fair, and of goodly fruit.The words point, as before, to the ideal state of Israel. She had made no effort to attain that ideal, and therefore the thunderstorm of Gods wrath fell on it. The word for tumult is used in Eze. 1:24 for the sound of an army on its march, and is probably used as combining the literal or figurative meaning.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Green olive tree As in Psa 52:8; Psa 128:3; Hos 14:6.
Tumult Used besides only in Eze 1:24. CONSPIRACY OF THE MEN OF ANATHOTH, 18-23.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jeremiah Prophesies Against The People ( Jer 11:16-17 ).
Israel had been officially named by YHWH as Zayith-ra‘anan-yephe-peri-to’ar (an olive tree green, beautiful and with luscious fruit) when He had called them by that Name as His elect people. But such had been their behaviour that He was now setting fire to it and breaking off its branches, bringing evil on them because of their own evil behaviour. This description of Israel as the olive tree with its branches being broken off would be taken up by Paul in Rom 11:15-28.
Jer 11:16
“YHWH called your name, ‘A green olive-tree,
Beautiful with goodly fruit.’
With the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it,
And the branches of it are broken.”
We must not underestimate the significance of this description. There are only a few examples in Scripture when it was said, ‘YHWH called your name –’, and in all such cases it was at a moment of huge importance in His scheme of things. In Gen 5:2, ‘YHWH called their name Man (Adam)’ which was the indication of a unique creation. In Gen 35:10 (compare Jer 32:28) ‘YHWH called his name Israel –’, an indication that Jacob was especially and uniquely set apart for YHWH in His purposes under his new name. In Jer 20:3 Jeremiah in effect says of the evil Pashur, ‘YHWH has — called your name Magor-missa-bib (terror on every side)’ as an indication of the judgment coming on his house, and on Judah. Here YHWH had called Judah/Israel’s name, Zayith-ra‘anan-yephe-peri-to’ar (an olive tree green, beautiful and with luscious fruit), presumably seen as the name given from Sinai onwards, when they were ‘planted’ (Jer 11:17). Thus YHWH is seen as having given to Israel from its defining moment the name, ‘Green, beautiful, olive tree with luscious fruit’. While therefore we may think especially of the vine as the symbol of Israel’s special status, in that that idea is often referred to Israel, YHWH from the beginning saw them especially as ‘the Olive Tree’, which may well be why Paul chose it as his symbol of Israel in Rom 11:17-28.
The olive tree was very suitable for the purpose. It was famous for its beauty and its leafy branches (Hos 14:6), and was seen as providing valuable commodities, being the source of oil for lighting, cooking, eating, medicinal purposes, and general anointing, as well as being a major source of exports (compare Hos 12:1). It was a tree at the heart of their very lives. This description thus showed YHWH’s initial high view of Israel. The ‘goodly fruit’ may be seen as indicating the fulfilling of works in accordance with the covenant, as an Israel obedient to YHWH, or as indicating the multiplying of Israel by a multiplicity of births until they were ‘as the sand by the seashore’.
But the point being made is that that beautiful tree with its spreading branches and abundance of fruit would sadly soon be caught up in the tumult of invading forces, with its trunk set alight and its branches broken off. Judah would produce no more fruit and blessing for the world for a long time to come.
Jer 11:17
“For YHWH of hosts, who planted you,
Has pronounced evil against you,
Because of the evil of the house of Israel,
And of the house of Judah,
Which they have wrought for themselves in provoking me to anger,
By offering incense to Baal.”
For YHWH, Who is over all the hosts of heaven and earth, was the One Who had planted them as a fruitful olive tree (and as a flourishing vine – Jer 2:21). But now He was pronouncing evil against them because of the evil of which they were guilty. None of either Israel or Judah would be safe, for they had wrought evil in that they had provoked YHWH to anger by offering incense to Baal. For they still crept into their mountain sanctuaries, and made their offerings, even in the time of Josiah when it would often be in sanctuaries known only to those in the know. For many would be natural rock formations, and the altar of incense would be a rock. But those who knew of them saw them as wholly sacred. By the time of Jehoiakim, of course, such secrecy would no longer be required.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
YHWH Had Planted His People As A Green Olive Tree Abundant In Fruit, But Will Now Break Off Its Branches Returning Evil Consequences On Them For Their Evil Deeds. These Words Produce A Reaction Against Jeremiah In His Home Town Of Anathoth So That They Determine To Slay Him And Consequently He Asks YHWH Why He Allows The Wicked To Continue, Only To Learn That They Will Do Even More Wicked Things Than These ( Jer 11:16 to Jer 12:6 ).
The picture of Israel/Judah as a green olive tree is found elsewhere in Hos 14:6 (note the emphasis on its branches); Psa 52:8; Psa 128:3; Rom 11:17-28. But he informs them that YHWH Who had planted them will now denude them of their fruitful branches and has pronounced evil against them, because of their evil behaviour.
These words infuriate the men of Anathoth, Jeremiah’s home town, who determine that they too will ‘destroy the tree with its fruit’ (Jer 11:19), but in this case they are referring to Jeremiah, against whom they have devised schemes of murder. Jeremiah, taken totally by surprise by these schemes (he was after all a prophet of YHWH and should have been seen as sacrosanct, and he felt that he was only ‘doing his job’), thus sees himself as like a pet household lamb which finds itself to its total surprise unexpectedly led out to the slaughter (Jer 11:19). YHWH, however, assures Jeremiah that He will in the future punish them severely for their behaviour. He is then remonstrated by Jeremiah on the very grounds that having planted them so that they have taken root and brought forth fruit, although only hypocritically, they are still being allowed by Him to continue on in their hypocrisy, bringing devastation on the land and the life within it (Jer 12:2; Jer 12:4). And he calls on Him to take them out as sheep for the slaughter (Jer 12:3), instead of the little pet lamb (Jer 11:19). In response to these words he is called on to be patient, and is warned by YHWH that this hatred of him by his relatives is only a beginning. It is an indication that he will yet face even greater hardship than this.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jer 11:16. The Lord called thy name, A green olive-tree The Jewish nation is sometimes compared to an olive-tree, as well as to a vine. See Psa 52:8. Instead of, With the noise of a great tumult, some render it, At the sound of his voice, meaning the thunder. Compare chap. Jer 10:13.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 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.
Ver. 16. The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree. ] Green all the year long, fair and fruitful; this was thy prosperous and flourishing condition, but now thy best days are over; for,
With the noise of a great tumult.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
olive tree. The symbol of Israel’s religious privileges. See note on Jdg 9:8-12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
A green: Psa 52:8, Rom 11:17-24
with: Psa 80:16, Isa 1:30, Isa 1:31, Isa 27:11, Eze 15:4-7, Eze 20:47, Eze 20:48, Mat 3:10, Joh 15:6
Reciprocal: Job 20:18 – and he shall Psa 128:3 – olive plants Rev 11:4 – two olive
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 11:16. The olive was one of the most Important trees grown in Palestine, both because of the use made of the wood and for the fruit. The oil extracted from the olive berry was used for medicine, food and light. Hence the Lord likened his people to a green (living) olive tree and would have received their services as the most desirable fruit had they been true to tbeir illustration. But since they were not the Lord caused a tumult (by the Babylonian army) to come against the tree and burn it to the extent that the branches were broken off. Note that the entire tree was not destroyed, which agrees With other predictions that the captivity was not to make ft complete destruction of the nation.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 11:16-17. The Lord hath called thy name, A green olive-tree Perhaps Jeremiah here alludes to Hos 11:7, where Israel is compared to an olive-tree. The Jewish nation, which, in its flourishing state, is often compared by the sacred writers to a vine, is also sometimes compared to an olive-tree, chiefly because of the fruits of holiness and righteousness which God might justly have expected from them, after all the care and pains he had bestowed upon them to make them fruitful. Fair, and of a goodly fruit Amiable and serviceable, pleasant to the eye, and good for yielding food. With the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled a fire upon it, &c. The words , here rendered the noise of a great tumult, occur Eze 1:24, and are there explained to be , like the voice of a host. Here they undoubtedly signify the confused murmur, noise, and tumult of the Chaldean army, coming to desolate Jerusalem and its dependances with fire and sword, described under the image of an olive-tree, whose branches are cut down that they may be burned, or which is burned as it stands; its branches, or lofty boughs, as more properly signifies, meaning the priests and princes. For the Lord that planted thee And expected fruit from thee in vain; hath pronounced evil against thee Hath passed a condemnatory sentence upon thee, and marked thee out for destruction. For the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah The evil of whose heinous sins shall now be followed with the evil of most dreadful punishments.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
11:16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the {m} noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
(m) Of the Babylonians and Chaldeans.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Even though the Lord had compared His nation to a beautiful and fruitful green olive tree (cf. Hos 14:6; Psa 52:8; Psa 128:3), He would burn it up in a great tumult because it had proved worthless as far as fulfilling His purpose for it (cf. Jer 21:14; Psa 52:8; Psa 80:16; Isa 27:11; Rom 11:17-24). He would destroy the nation as He might destroy a tree by striking it with lightning.
"The olive [tree] was the source of oil for light, cooking, medicine, anointing for the body, and many other uses. It became the symbol of ’prosperity and divine blessing, of beauty and strength.’ Thus it is here an apt picture of the Hebrew people, blessed by God, but now rejected." [Note: Graybill, p. 667.]