Jeremías 18:19-23

19 SEÑOR, mira por mí, y oye la voz de los que contienden conmigo

20 ¿Se da por ventura mal por bien para que caven hoyo a mi alma? Acuérdate que me puse delante de ti para hablar bien por ellos, para apartar de ellos tu ira

21 Por tanto, entrega sus hijos a hambre, y hazlos escurrir por manos de espada; y queden sus mujeres sin hijos, y viudas; y sus maridos sean puestos a muerte, y sus jóvenes heridos a espada en la guerra

22 Oigase clamor de sus casas, cuando trajeres sobre ellos ejército de repente; porque cavaron hoyo para tomarme, y a mis pies han escondido lazos

23 Mas tú, oh SEÑOR, conoces todo su consejo contra mí que es para muerte; no perdones su iniquidad, ni borres su pecado de delante de tu rostro, y tropiecen delante de ti; haz así con ellos en el tiempo de tu furor

Jeremías 18:19-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 18

This chapter expresses the sovereign power of God ever his creatures, and his usual methods of dealing with them; it threatens destruction to the Jews for their idolatry; and is closed with the prophet's complaint of his persecutors, and with imprecations upon them. The sovereign power of God is expressed under the simile of a potter working in his shop, and making and marring vessels at pleasure, Jer 18:1-4; the application of which to God, and the house of Israel, is in Jer 18:5,6; and is illustrated by his usual dealings with kingdoms and nations; for though he is a sovereign Being, yet he acts both in a kind and equitable way; and as the potter changes his work, so he changes the dispensations of his providence, of which two instances are given; the one is, that having threatened ruin to a nation, upon their repentance and good behaviour he revokes the threatening, Jer 18:7,8; and the other is, that having made a declaration of good to a people, upon their sin and disobedience he recalls it, and punishes them for their wickedness, Jer 18:9,10; then follows a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews in particular, in which they are exhorted to repentance to prevent it; their obstinacy is observed; their folly in departing from God, and worshipping idols, is exposed; and they are threatened with utter ruin, Jer 18:11-17; the conspiracy and evil designs of the Jews against the prophet, their malice and ingratitude, are complained of by him, Jer 18:18-20; his imprecations upon them, and prayers for their destruction, are delivered out in Jer 18:21-23.