Jeremiah 1:11

11 The Lord asked me, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I answered, "A branch of an almond tree."

Jeremiah 1:11 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 1:11

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.

Jeremiah 1:11 In-Context

9 Then the Lord reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, "Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak.

10 Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

11 The Lord asked me, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I answered, "A branch of an almond tree."

12 "You are right," the Lord said, "and I am watching to see that my words come true."

13 Then the Lord spoke to me again. "What else do you see?" he asked. I answered, "I see a pot boiling in the north, and it is about to tip over this way."