The prophet Jeremiah was chosen and touched by God to spread the word of the Lord. Behind the prophet to the right is a rod made of almond wood and a boiling pot. The rod was the sign that God would put his words into the mouth of the prophet, while the boiling pot stands for God’s wrath at being forsaken by his people (Jeremiah 1:7-14).
Additional information:
Exodus 18:21 tells how Moses’ father-in-law Jethro advised Moses to appoint judges. He was to select men who were able, god-fearing, truthful and honest, ‘hating unjust gain’. Each of these four grisailles depicts one of these qualities. This one illustrates truthfulness. The message is that the men selected to serve in the council of the city of Amsterdam should display the same qualities as the judges appointed by Moses.