Bible Verse Lookup
Jer 1:17-19
Chapter 1
17
But you, get ready for action. Stand up and tell them that I command you. Do not be scared of them, or I will scare you in their presence!
18
See, I will make you a fortified city, a pillar of iron with walls of bronze, against all the nations, against the kings and princes of Judah, against the priests and the people of the land.
19
They will fight against you But shall not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you —it is the Lord who speaks.”
Commentaries
Two Visions of Jeremiah.
A pair of highly symbolic visions concludes the account of Jeremiah’s calling and, at the same time, hints at the intended essence of his mission. The first vision of the almond branch (11), which blossoms before all other trees, symbolizes the impending judgment on Israel because God keeps His word. The translator prefers to use the term “lodgepole pine” to create a Spanish pun, “alerce / alerta,” mimicking the sound similarity between “almendro” and “madrugar” in Hebrew. The second vision reveals the political origin of Israel’s troubles, depicting a boiling cauldron in the north that begins to overflow toward the south (14); this refers to Babylon, which has already begun to appear on the international stage and will soon make its presence felt through the footsteps of its troops. The prophet interprets the presence of the Chaldean forces in Canaanite and Egyptian lands as divine intervention punishing everyone for their sins and infidelities (15ff). Verses 17-19 complete the framework of Jeremiah’s calling and mission; once again, it is emphasized that it will be a challenging task, with all levels of society confronting him: the king, priests, and people of the land (18b). Still, God will be there to support him, making him invincible (19).