And the Lord said to me: Thou hast seen well: for I will watch over my word to perform it.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י הֵיטַ֣בְתָּ לִרְא֑וֹת כִּֽי־שֹׁקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עַל־דְּבָרִ֖י לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
As I find myself in a state of slumber. When sleep is referenced in connection with God, it represents patience and forbearance, as expressed in the phrase, 'Whence thou shalt sleep, O Lord' (Psalm 43:24). Similarly, the passages from Jeremiah convey the message, 'I am already on the path to judgment. I do not persuade through mere words; let visions and signs guide you. My actions speak louder than my words.'
Instead of interpreting the phrase "rod of the awake Seventy" as "a stick of nourishment," we should strive to convey the Hebrew origins to Latin readers succinctly. The term "Seced" refers to nut, while "soced" denotes a watchman or one who is awake. This word also represents the awake leopard mentioned further in the text. Thus, a wordplay arises from the similarity of the words for nut and guard, akin to what is stated in Theodotion's translation of Daniel, where the cutting and chopping of the adulterous elders are linked to the trees πρίνου and σχίνου, the oak and the mastic tree. In Genesis, the term for husband in Hebrew leads to the woman being referred to as "issa," suggesting her origin from man.
Instead of translating to "stick of nuts," Aquila and Symmachus rendered it as "rod awake," while Theodotion chose "almond." This rod is attentive, observing the transgressions of the people to punish those who sin. Consequently, the apostle addresses sinners by asking, “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21). This rod corresponds to what David describes, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me" (Psalms 22:4). The Lord disciplines to amend our behavior, and just as a nut or almond has a bitter outer shell that must be broken to access its delicious fruit, each act of correction or temperance, although initially harsh, ultimately yields sweetness. This mirrors the well-known saying, "the roots of learning are bitter, but its fruits are sweet." Some interpret the rod of vigilance and nourishment as representative of the Lord, as Isaiah states, “A rod shall come forth from the root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1). Additionally, the rod of Aaron is said to have blossomed, which signifies the resurrection of the Lord.
When the prophet was inquired about what he had witnessed, the Lord responded, "Well done, you have observed correctly, for I have been attentive to my words and deeds." However, He refers to His readiness for correction as vigilance, and His patience as slumber. As the blessed David proclaims, "Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord?" (Ps. 43:24). Additionally, he states, "Awake, O Lord!" (Ps. 77:65). The almond branch symbolizes the swiftness of retribution, as it blooms earlier than other trees. According to the Septuagint's rendering, it should be comprehended that the hazelnut bears a tough and bitter shell, concealing its sweetness; likewise, discipline may initially appear unpleasant and distressing, yet it ultimately yields beneficial outcomes.
The almond tree rouses from its winter dormancy sooner than other trees, blooming in January and bearing fruit by March. For this reason, the Jews referred to it as awake.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS