Jeremiah 13 12

Jeremiah 13:12 kjv

Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

Jeremiah 13:12 nkjv

"Therefore you shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Every bottle shall be filled with wine." ' And they will say to you, 'Do we not certainly know that every bottle will be filled with wine?'

Jeremiah 13:12 niv

"Say to them: 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Every wineskin should be filled with wine.' And if they say to you, 'Don't we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?'

Jeremiah 13:12 esv

"You shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every jar shall be filled with wine."' And they will say to you, 'Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?'

Jeremiah 13:12 nlt

"So tell them, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: May all your jars be filled with wine.' And they will reply, 'Of course! Jars are made to be filled with wine!'

Jeremiah 13 verses

Jeremiah 13 12 Meaning

This verse describes a prophecy given to Jeremiah about the imminent destruction and scattering of Judah, symbolized by a potter's clay jar. The destruction is so complete that even vessels used in the Lord's service will be broken beyond repair, indicating a total judgment from God. The specific reason for this severe judgment is the pervasive sin and idolatry of the people.

Jeremiah 13 12 Context

Jeremiah 13 occurs in the context of impending Babylonian exile. The chapter begins with Jeremiah instructed to buy a linen waistband and hide it by the Euphrates, symbolizing Judah's close attachment to God and then becoming useless due to sin. Following this, the prophet is commanded to go to the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), a place associated with idolatry and child sacrifice, to preach judgment. This specific verse, 13:12, follows the symbolic act of smashing a clay jar, emphasizing the totality and irreversibility of the impending judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. The nation's persistent disobedience, idolatry, and rejection of God's word have sealed their fate. The prophetic message is a severe warning that their wickedness has reached a point of no return.

Jeremiah 13 12 Word Analysis

• "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts":
  • "Therefore" ( Hebrew: עַל־כֵּן , ʿal-kēn ): Indicates a logical consequence based on preceding events or pronouncements. It links this judgment to the prior actions and prophetic symbols.
  • "thus says the LORD of hosts" ( Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת , kōh ʾāmar YHWH ṣəḇāʾôṯ ): A standard prophetic formula asserting divine authority and the source of the message. "LORD of hosts" (YHWH ṣəḇāʾôṯ) emphasizes God's supreme power as commander of celestial armies, signifying His authority to execute judgment.
• "You shall speak to them":
  • "You" ( Hebrew: אַתָּה , ʾattâ ): Jeremiah is directly addressed.
  • "speak" ( Hebrew: דִּבֶּר , dibbēr ): To communicate God's message.
• "thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel":
  • A repetition and amplification of the divine name, reinforcing God's identity and authority specifically concerning Israel, His covenant people.
• "A bottle full of wine":
  • "Bottle" ( Hebrew: כַּד , kad ): Typically a clay jar or vessel.
  • "wine" ( Hebrew: יַיִן , yayin ): Often symbolizes prosperity, joy, but also judgment and divine wrath when spoken of in the context of being poured out or drunk.
• "shall be dashed in pieces":
  • "dashed in pieces" ( Hebrew: מָתוֹץ , māṯôṣ ): A strong verb meaning to shatter violently, break utterly, implying complete destruction with no possibility of mending. This mirrors the symbolic breaking of the potter's vessel described in Jeremiah 19.
• "even the king that sits upon the throne":
  • This phrase extends the totality of judgment to include even the highest authority in the land, the monarch. No one is exempt.
  • "king" ( Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ , méleḵ ): Refers to Zedekiah at this time, but more broadly represents the leadership.
  • "sits upon the throne" ( Hebrew: הַיּוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסְאוֹ , hayyōwēš ʿal-kisʾô ): A metonymy for the office and power of kingship.
• "and the priests":
  • Refers to the religious leaders of Judah, who were also part of the corrupt system.
  • "priests" ( Hebrew: הַכֹּהֲנִים , hakōhănîm ): Those appointed to serve God in the Temple. Their corruption was a significant aspect of Judah's sin.
• "and the prophets":
  • This group also faced judgment, implying even those who should have been conduits of God's truth had failed.
  • "prophets" ( Hebrew: הַנְּבִיאִים , hanĕḇîʾîm ): Those who claimed to speak for God, but often proclaimed false peace.
• "and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem":
  • This signifies that the judgment extends to the entire population of the capital city, leaving no one untouched.
  • "inhabitants" ( Hebrew: יֹשְׁבֵי , yōšəḇê ): Those who dwell in.
• "shall be dashed in pieces likewise":
  • "likewise" ( Hebrew: גַּם־בְּדֶרֶךְ־זֶה , gam-bəḏereḵ-zeh ): Emphasizes that the same absolute destruction applies to all mentioned groups, just as the hypothetical bottle of wine. It underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment.

Jeremiah 13 12 Bonus Section

The imagery of the potter and the clay, referenced by the "bottle" or jar, is a recurring theme with God. Jeremiah 18:1-10 describes God as the potter, and Israel as the clay, showing His power to shape and remold. However, when the clay becomes stubborn and unusable, the potter can discard it or smash it. This verse, 13:12, illustrates the latter—Israel's corruption has made them beyond salvaging in their present state, leading to complete destruction. The "wine" within the bottle can also be seen as representing the nation's sins and corruptions, which, when poured out in judgment, lead to total ruin. The targeting of the king, priests, and prophets shows that spiritual and political leadership failures are often precursors to national disaster. This theme of comprehensive judgment for systemic corruption is echoed in Jesus' parables and judgments upon Jerusalem in the New Testament.

Jeremiah 13 12 Commentary

The verse declares that Jerusalem and its people will be utterly shattered, comparable to a clay jar violently broken beyond repair. This comprehensive destruction will affect every level of society, from the king and priests to the common inhabitants. The symbol of a full wine bottle being dashed signifies the culmination of divine wrath. The wine can represent either God's anger poured out upon a sinful people or their own corruption being completely emptied. The phrase "dashed in pieces" suggests a finality to the judgment, a brokenness that cannot be mended by human effort. This dire prediction stems from their persistent disobedience and idolatry, which rendered them like a corrupted vessel. Even the religious and leadership classes are included in this judgment, highlighting the widespread spiritual decay. The totality of the brokenness leaves no hope for repair within the current covenant framework, pointing to a severe purging and exile as ordained by God. The message serves as a stark warning that when God's patience is exhausted, His judgment is absolute.