Jeremiah 11:16

Judgment

¹⁴ As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me in their time of disaster.

¹⁵ What right has My beloved in My house, having carried out so many evil schemes? Can consecrated meat avert your doom, so that you can rejoice?

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.

¹⁷ The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.”

¹⁸ And the LORD informed me, so I knew. Then You showed me their deeds.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
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.
WEB: The LORD called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit.” With the noise of a great roar he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: Jehovah had called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair, of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and its branches are broken.
BLB: A green olive tree, lovely and of good fruit, YHWH has called your name l with the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.

ÅB: Et grønt oljetre prydet med fager frukt kalte Herren deg; under stort og veldig bulder tenner han ild på det, og dets greiner brytes itu.
OTB: Herren kalte deg et blomstrende oliventre, vakkert i frukt og form. Men med brølet av en mektig storm vil han sette det i brann, og dets grener vil bli brutt.
B1930: Et grønt oljetre prydet med fager frukt kalte Herren dig; under stort og veldig bulder tender han ild på det, og dets grener brytes itu.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Romans 11:17–24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,
Read in context
Psalms 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
Read in context
Isaiah 27:11
When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
Read in context
Psalms 80:16
Your vine has been cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
Read in context
Matthew 3:10
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Read in context
Ezekiel 20:47–48
Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.
Read in context
Psalms 83:2
See how Your enemies rage, how Your foes have reared their heads.
Read in context
John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Read in context