Jeremiah 18:7

7 "At one time I may threaten to tear up, break down, and destroy a nation or a kingdom.

Jeremiah 18:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 18:7

[At what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and
concerning a kingdom
By way of threatening: or, "the moment I shall speak" ^F19, &c; as soon as ever I have declared concerning any people whatever, Jews or Gentiles; that if they go on in their sins, and remain impenitent, and do not turn from them, that they must expect I will quickly come out against such a nation and kingdom in a providential way, as threatened: to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy [it];
as the proprietor of a garden, when it do not turn to his account, plucks up the plants, and pulls down the fences, and lets it go to ruin.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (rbda egr) "momento loquor", Schmidt; "momento eloquor", Junius & Tremellius; "momento ut loquutus fuero", Tigurine version.

Jeremiah 18:7 In-Context

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.

7 "At one time I may threaten to tear up, break down, and destroy a nation or a kingdom.

8 But suppose the nation that I threatened turns away from doing wrong. Then I will change my plans about the disaster I planned to do to it.

9 "At another time I may promise to build and plant a nation or a kingdom.