Jeremiah 18:1-17

The Potter and the Clay

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, {saying},

2 "Stand up and go down [to] the house of the potter, and there I will let you hear my words."

3 So I went down [to] the house of the potter and look, there he was doing work at the potter's wheels.

4 And the vessel that he [was] making with the clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter, so {he made again} another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make.

5 And the word of Yahweh came to me, {saying},

6 "Like this potter, am I not able to do to you, O house of Israel?" {declares} Yahweh. "Look, like the clay in the hand of the potter, so [are] you in my hand, O house of Israel.

7 One moment I speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, to uproot, and to tear down, and to destroy [it].

8 But [if] that nation turns back from its evil that I have threatened against it, then I will relent concerning the disaster that I planned to do to it.

9 And the [next] moment I speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, to build, and to plant [it].

10 But [if] it does evil in my sight, to not listen to my voice, then I will relent concerning the good that I said I would do [to] it.

11 "So now then, say, please, to the {people} of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, {saying}, 'Thus says Yahweh, "Look, I [am] preparing evil against you, and [I am] planning a plan against you. Please turn back, each one from his evil way, and walk rightly [in] your ways and your deeds." '

12 But they will say, '[It is] hopeless, for we will go after our [own] plans, and each one of us will act [according to] the stubbornness of his evil heart.'

13 "Therefore thus says Yahweh, 'Please ask among the nations, "Who has heard {the like of this}?" The virgin of Israel has done something very horrible.

14 Does the snow of Lebanon leave from [the] crags of Sirion? Or are [the] cold waters flowing from distant mountains dried up?

15 But my people have forgotten me. They make smoke offerings to the idols, and they caused them to stumble in their ways, [the] ancient ways, to go [into] {bypaths}, not [one that] is built up.

16 To make their land a horror, [an object of] whistling for eternity. All [who] pass by it will be appalled, and he will shake his head.

17 Like the wind from the east I will scatter them {before} [the] enemy. I will show them [my] back and not [my] face in the day of their disaster.'"

Jeremiah 18:1-17 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "to say"
• [b]. Literally "he turned back and he made it"
• [c]. Literally "to say"
• [d]. Literally "a declaration of"
• [e]. Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [f]. Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [g]. Literally "man"
• [h]. Literally "to say"
• [i]. Hebrew "crag"
• [j]. Hebrew "idol"
• [k]. Literally "paths of way"
• [l]. Literally "to the face of"