Jeremiah 18 1

Jeremiah 18:1 kjv

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Jeremiah 18:1 nkjv

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:

Jeremiah 18:1 niv

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

Jeremiah 18:1 esv

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

Jeremiah 18:1 nlt

The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:1 serves as a clear declaration that the subsequent message originated directly and authoritatively from the LORD God. It marks the commencement of a new divine revelation specifically delivered to the prophet Jeremiah, emphasizing its supernatural origin and the prophet's role as a faithful recipient and deliverer of God's truth. The "word" signifies not just speech, but a concrete divine directive or declaration about a matter of critical importance that carries inherent power.

Jeremiah 18 1 Context

Jeremiah 18:1 serves as a pivotal hinge, initiating a new segment of divine revelation within the book of Jeremiah. Judah, steeped in idolatry and moral decline, had become complacent, mistakenly believing their covenant with God and the Temple's presence guaranteed immunity from divine judgment. This verse interrupts previous calls to repentance and warnings (Chapters 16-17), preparing the audience for the profound teaching from the "potter's house." Historically, Judah faced imminent destruction by Babylon. False prophets consistently offered delusive promises of peace, challenging Jeremiah's stark messages. Against this background of spiritual deception and national peril, Jeremiah 18:1 underscores the singular, irrefutable authority of the forthcoming message, stressing that it proceeds from God Himself, the sovereign one who could truly shape and reshape their destiny.

Jeremiah 18 1 Word analysis

• The word (הַדָּבָר, ha-davar):

  • ha-: The definite article "the," denoting a specific, authoritative message, not just any utterance.
  • davar: Encompasses more than just speech; it signifies a concrete "thing," "matter," or "deed." God's davar is dynamic and effectual, carrying the power to create and bring about what it proclaims.
  • Significance: Implies a definitive divine pronouncement, often connected to a divine act or plan, establishing its weighty importance and potent nature.

• which came (אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה, asher-hayah):

  • asher: A relative pronoun, "which" or "that."
  • hayah: The verb "to be," "to become," or "to come into being." Here, it describes the actual occurrence or realization of the word's arrival.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the active and objective transmission of the divine message from its source to its recipient, underscoring its reality and not being a figment of Jeremiah's imagination.

• to Jeremiah (אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ, el-Yirmĕyahu):

  • el: A preposition meaning "to" or "towards," specifying the recipient.
  • Yirmĕyahu: The prophet Jeremiah's name, meaning "Yahweh lifts up" or "Yahweh casts/establishes." He is God's chosen channel and spokesman.
  • Significance: Designates the prophet as the specific, divinely appointed vessel for this communication, affirming his legitimacy in delivering an often unpopular message.

• from the LORD (מֵאֵת יְהוָה, mē-ēt Yĕhovah):

  • mē-ēt: "From the presence of," "from the very hand of," denoting the immediate and ultimate source.
  • Yĕhovah: The personal, covenantal name of God ("the LORD," often in small capitals in English Bibles), revealing Him as the eternal, sovereign, and relational God of Israel.
  • Significance: Establishes the divine origin and supreme authority of the message, distinguishing it from human opinions and demanding reverence and obedience from the audience.

• saying (לֵאמֹר, lē'mor):

  • An infinitive construct of the verb "to say," commonly used in Hebrew to introduce direct speech.
  • Significance: It functions as a direct quotation marker, signaling that the subsequent verses are the literal, exact words of the LORD Himself, as spoken through Jeremiah. This accentuates the veracity and direct divine origin of the oracle.

Jeremiah 18 1 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of "The word... came to... from the LORD, saying," a recurring prophetic formula, serves to constantly re-establish the legitimacy and divine mandate of Jeremiah, particularly amidst constant opposition. For a prophet whose message was often contrary to popular desire and political expedience, this continual re-authentication from "the LORD" was essential to distinguish his divine words from the prevailing false prophecies. This intro emphasizes not only that God speaks, but that He is active in history, revealing His will and intentions to humanity through chosen vessels. The word's nature as "davar" underscores that it's not inert but living, capable of altering circumstances and demanding a response, forming the very foundation for the powerful imagery to be revealed in the potter's house.

Jeremiah 18 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:1, while seemingly a straightforward introduction, is packed with theological import, anchoring the subsequent message of the potter and the clay in divine authority. It stresses that the coming revelation is neither human speculation nor personal opinion but the precise, active "word" originating from Yahweh, the covenant God. This formula safeguards against the prevalent danger of false prophecy and challenges any dismissive attitudes toward Jeremiah's messages of judgment and hope. By explicitly identifying "the LORD" as the source, the verse ensures that what follows carries absolute weight, demanding a hearing and demanding action. This divine utterance will reveal God's sovereign prerogative to shape nations according to their repentance or rebellion, mirroring a potter's work with clay.