Thomas Aquinas 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)

1. Here, the prophet identifies the subject matter he was specifically appointed to prophesy about: the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the people.

He lays this out in two parts. First, he shows the certainty of the prophecy. Second, he shows the captivity itself, which begins with the phrase and the word of the Lord came (Jeremiah 32:26).

Regarding the first part, the certainty of the prophecy, there are three points:

1. The prompting of the prophet to see: What do you see? It is as if God were saying, “Since you are a prophet, it is your duty to see.” As Scripture says, He who is now called a prophet was once called a seer (1 Samuel 9:9).
2. The vision itself: and I said, “I see…” He sees images in a vision: a rod, as if in the hand of the Lord, ready to strike. The yoke of my iniquities has kept watch; they are wrapped up in his hand and put upon my neck (Lamentations 1:14). Some understand the watching rod as the tool of thieves, inserted through windows to take plunder from houses while they keep watch and others sleep. But the first interpretation is better.
3. The explanation: and the Lord said, “You have seen well.” It is as if he were saying, “These things are in accord with the truth.” When the Lord says, I will keep watch, it means He will be attentive, as supported by the verse: The word which will come forth from my mouth… (Isaiah 55:11).