Jeremías 18:1-10

Parábola del alfarero

1 Esta es la palabra del SEÑOR, que vino a Jeremías:

2 «Baja ahora mismo a la casa del alfarero, y allí te comunicaré mi mensaje».

3 Entonces bajé a la casa del alfarero, y lo encontré trabajando en el torno.

4 Pero la vasija que estaba modelando se le deshizo en las manos; así que volvió a hacer otra vasija, hasta que le pareció que le había quedado bien.

5 En ese momento la palabra del SEÑOR vino a mí, y me dijo:

6 «Pueblo de Israel, ¿acaso no puedo hacer con ustedes lo mismo que hace este alfarero con el barro? —afirma el SEÑOR—. Ustedes, pueblo de Israel, son en mis manos como el barro en las manos del alfarero.

7 En un momento puedo hablar de arrancar, derribar y destruir a una nación o a un reino;

8 pero si la nación de la cual hablé se arrepiente de su maldad, también yo me arrepentiré del castigo que había pensado infligirles.

9 En otro momento puedo hablar de construir y plantar a una nación o a un reino.

10 Pero si esa nación hace lo malo ante mis ojos y no me obedece, me arrepentiré del bien que había pensado hacerles.

Jeremías 18:1-10 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.