John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 1:11-12

"Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree. Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it." — Jeremiah 1:11-12 (ASV)

God confirms in this passage what He had previously said of the power of His word. These two verses, then, are to be taken as explanatory, for no new subject is introduced; but the former part is confirmed—that the Prophets did not speak in vain, or to no purpose, because they were invested with celestial power to plant and to build, and, on the other hand, to pull down and to root up, according to what we have quoted from Paul, who says that true teachers are armed with such power (2 Corinthians 10:5, 6).

We have in readiness, he says, vengeance against all the unbelieving, however proud they may be; and though their height may terrify the whole world, yet we have a sword in our hands which will stop them. For God’s word has sufficient power to destroy the rebellious.

God then proceeds with the same subject when He says, What do you see, Jeremiah? He had set before him a staff or a rod of almond, as some render the word. And שקר, shaked, means an almond; but as it comes from a verb meaning to watch or to hasten, we cannot appropriately translate it here as "almond."

I do not, however, deny that the Hebrew word has this meaning. But it is written here with Kamets; the participle that afterwards follows has Holem: We therefore see what affinity there is between the two words. The word שקר, shaked, an almond, is derived from the verb שקר, shakad, to watch.

It has been thought that this tree is so called because it brings forth fruit earlier than other trees, for almonds, as is well known, flower even in winter and in the coldest seasons.

Now, if we were to say in Latin, "I see a rod or a staff of almond," and if the answer given were, "You have rightly seen, for I watch," the allusion in the words would not appear, the sentence would lose its beauty, and there would indeed be no meaning.

It is therefore necessary to give another translation, unless we wish to pervert the passage and involve the Prophet’s meaning in darkness. It should be, "I see the rod," or "the staff, of a watcher." Let us grant that the almond is intended; yet the tree may be called watchful, according to what etymology requires, and also the sense of the passage, as all must see.

God then caused His servant to see the staff of a watcher. For what purpose? The answer is given: You have rightly seen the staff of a watcher, because I watch over My word to execute (or, fulfill) it.

Interpreters seem to have unwisely confined this to the punishments afterwards mentioned: they think that what is intimated is that the threatenings which the Prophet announced would not be without effect, because God was prepared to inflict whatever He would denounce. But this, as I think, is too restricted a view. For God, I have no doubt, extols here His own word and speaks of its accomplishment, as though He had said that He did not speak by His servants so that what they said might vanish into air or fall to the ground, but that power would accompany it, according to what is said in Isaiah,

Not return shall my word to me empty, but shall prosper in all things, (Isaiah 55:11).

That is, "I will cause the prophetic doctrine to take effect, so that the whole world may know that I have not spoken in vain, and that My word is not an empty sound, but that it has real power, which in due time will appear."

Therefore, I have said that these verses ought to be connected with the last, in which God said that He sent His Prophet to root up and to plant, to demolish and to build. He then gives a proof of this in other words, and says that He would watch over His word, that He might execute whatever He had announced by His servants.

It is as though He had said, "I indeed allot their parts (so to speak) to the prophets; but as they speak from My mouth, I am present with them to fulfill whatever I command them." In short, God intimates that the might and the power of His hand would be connected with the word, of which the prophets were ministers among men.

Thus it is a general declaration which refers not only to punishments, but also to promises. Rightly, then, have you seen, He says; for I am watching.

God does not here resign His own office to Jeremiah, though He employs him as His teacher; for He shows that the power to accomplish what the Prophet would declare remained with Him. God indeed does not here ascribe to Jeremiah anything as his own, or apart from Himself, but sets forth only the power of His word, as though He had said, "Provided you are My faithful minister, I will not frustrate your hope, nor the hope of those who shall obey you; for I will fulfill whatever you and they may justly hope for. Nor shall they escape unpunished who shall resist you; for I will in due time bring on them the punishment they deserve."

He therefore uses the word to watch, or to hasten, in order to show that He stood ready to give effect to His word at the appointed time. The effect does not indeed always appear to us: it is on this account said by Habakkuk, that if prophecy delays, we are to wait;

For it will not be, he says,
beyond its time; but coming it will come (Habakkuk 2:3).

God then bids us with quiet minds to wait for the accomplishment of His word. But He afterwards adds, in order to modify what He had said, coming it will come; that is, "I will accomplish and really perform whatever My prophets have spoken by My command."

So there will be no delay, for the suitable time depends on God’s will and not on the judgment of men. It then follows—but as the clock strikes, I cannot proceed further today.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that since You are pleased kindly to invite us to Yourself, and have consecrated Your word for our salvation—O grant that we may willingly, and from the heart, obey You, and become so teachable, that what You have designed for our salvation may not turn to our perdition; but may that incorruptible seed by which You regenerate us into a hope of the celestial life so drive its roots into our hearts, and bring forth fruit, that Your name may be glorified. May we be so planted in the courts of Your house, that we may grow and flourish, and that fruit may appear through the whole course of our life, until we at length enjoy that blessed life which is laid up for us in heaven, through Christ our Lord.—Amen.