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.

JEREMIAH 11:16KJV
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Jeremiah 11:16 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 11:16 mean?

Jeremiah 11:16 pictures the people of Israel and Judah as an olive tree that the LORD once named beautiful and fruitful. The verse then announces a devastating change: the same LORD brings fire against the tree, and its branches are broken.

The tree’s beauty makes the damage especially striking. The “noise of a great tumult” gives the scene a sound of violent upheaval, while the fire and broken branches picture destruction.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 11:16

  • “green” — רַעֲנָן (raʿanan): This word can describe a tree as fresh or flourishing. Here it suggests more than color: the olive tree is pictured as full of life.
  • “tumult” — הֲמֻלָּה (hamullah): This word refers to a loud commotion or uproar. Alongside the fire, it gives the judgment a disturbing sound as well as a destructive image.

Why Jeremiah 11:16 matters

  • The tree represents a people, not simply a plant. Jeremiah 11:17 identifies its planter as the LORD and connects the coming trouble with “the house of Israel and of the house of Judah.”

  • The contrast between the tree’s earlier name and its later damage makes the warning personal. The LORD who “called thy name” is also the one who kindles the fire.

  • The surrounding passage gives a reason for the judgment. Jeremiah 11:17 speaks of the people’s evil in making offerings to Baal, a god they worshiped.

Where else these words appear

“tumult” Hebrew H1999 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 1:24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

“branches” Hebrew H1808 · used in 8 verses

  • Ezekiel 17:6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
  • Ezekiel 17:23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
  • Ezekiel 31:7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.

“goodly” Hebrew H8389 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
  • Deuteronomy 21:11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
  • 1 Kings 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

“green” Hebrew H7488 · used in 20 verses

  • Deuteronomy 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
  • Psalms 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
  • Jeremiah 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.