Jeremiah 18:4

4 Whenever a clay pot he was working on was ruined, he would rework it into a new clay pot the way he wanted to make it.

Jeremiah 18:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 18:4

And the vessel that he made of clay
Which is the matter the vessel is made of: was marred in the hand of the potter;
while he was working it; either it fell, as the Septuagint version renders it, out of his hands, or from the beam on which it was laid; or was spoiled by some means or other, so that it was not fit for the purpose he first intended it: or the words should be read, according to some copies, "and the vessel was marred which he made, as clay in the hand of the potter" ^F18; while it was clay; or moist, as Jarchi interprets it; and while it was in his hands, forming and fashioning it: so he made it again another vessel;
put it into another form and shape it would better serve: as seemed good to the potter to make [it];
just as he pleased, and as his judgment in his art directed him; he having power over the clay to mould it as he would, and as it best answered so to do.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (ruwyh dyb rmxk hve awh rva ylkh txvnw) "sed corruptum est vas quod ille ficiens (erat) sicud lutum (solet) in manu figuli", Schmidt, Montanus. So Abarbinel; and thus it is read in the margin of our Bibles.

Jeremiah 18:4 In-Context

2 "Go to the potter's house. There I will give you my message."

3 I went to the potter's house, and he was working there at his wheel.

4 Whenever a clay pot he was working on was ruined, he would rework it into a new clay pot the way he wanted to make it.

5 The LORD spoke his word to me. The LORD asked,

6 "Nation of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter's hands.