Jeremiah 18 11

Jeremiah 18:11 kjv

Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

Jeremiah 18:11 nkjv

"Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." ' "

Jeremiah 18:11 niv

"Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'

Jeremiah 18:11 esv

Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: 'Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.'

Jeremiah 18:11 nlt

"Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.'"

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 11 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:11 is a direct and urgent prophetic declaration from God through Jeremiah to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. It states that God is actively in the process of "fashioning disaster" and "devising a plan" against them. This is not an arbitrary act but a direct consequence of their persistent sin. However, this declaration of impending judgment is immediately followed by a profound offer of divine mercy: an imperative call to repentance. God commands each individual to turn away from their evil ways and actively change their conduct and character to what is good. The verse emphasizes divine justice balanced with the ever-present opportunity for humanity to avert judgment through genuine transformation and obedience.

Jeremiah 18 11 Context

Jeremiah 18:11 is a pivotal verse within the narrative of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry. It directly applies the theological principles illustrated in the "potter and clay" analogy (Jeremiah 18:1-10). In the preceding verses, God instructed Jeremiah to visit a potter's house, where the prophet witnessed the potter remaking a marred vessel into another. God then declared that, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are nations in His hand. He has the sovereign right to decree good or evil upon a nation, but these decrees are conditional: if a nation turns from evil, He will relent; if a nation chosen for blessing turns to evil, He will rethink His good intentions. Jeremiah 18:11 specifically targets Judah and Jerusalem, revealing that God is currently acting as the divine Potter, preparing a "disaster" for them due to their consistent wickedness. This prophetic message occurs during a critical period of Judah's history, characterized by deep-seated idolatry, moral decay, social injustice, and defiance of God's covenant, leading them closer to the impending Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah 18 11 Word analysis

• Now therefore (וְעַתָּה - və‘attāh): An adverbial conjunction signaling an urgent and logical consequence. It transitions from the general divine principle (potter and clay) to its direct, immediate application to Judah and Jerusalem. It heightens the urgency of the impending message.
• say (אֱמֹר - ’ěmōr): Imperative verb. A direct command from God to Jeremiah, emphasizing the prophetic responsibility to deliver this specific divine word.
• to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Specifies the target audience, encompassing the entire Southern Kingdom. "Judah" represents the broader nation, while "Jerusalem" denotes the capital and religious center, highlighting both collective and individual accountability.
• Thus says the Lord (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - kōh ’āmar YHWH): The quintessential prophetic formula, asserting the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. It underscores that this is a direct pronouncement from the covenant God, YHWH.
• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An interjection, designed to arrest attention and emphasize the profound significance and certainty of the following declaration. It introduces an unfolding, critical reality.
• I am fashioning disaster (אָנֹכִי יוֹצֵר עֲלֵיכֶם רָעָה - ’ānōḵī yôṣēr ‘ăleyḵem rā‘āh):
  • אָנֹכִי (’ānōḵī - I (emphatic)): Stresses God's personal and direct agency in the matter.
  • יוֹצֵר (yôṣēr - fashioning, forming): Present participle. This is the very word used for "potter" (yôṣer) in the earlier verses (18:3-6), directly linking God's activity to the analogy. It denotes a deliberate, ongoing process, showing God actively shaping a negative outcome.
  • רָעָה (rā‘āh - disaster, calamity, evil): Here refers to punitive evil, adverse events, or misfortune sent by God as judgment, distinct from moral evil. It is the tangible consequence of their spiritual rebellion.
• and devising a plan (וְחֹשֵׁב עֲלֵיכֶם מַחֲשָׁבָה - vəḥōšēḇ ‘ăleyḵem maḥăšāvāh):
  • וְחֹשֵׁב (vəḥōšֵḇ - and devising, planning): Another present participle, indicating a deliberate, well-considered, and purposeful intention behind the disaster. It is a strategic judgment, not an impulsive act.
  • מַחֲשָׁבָה (maḥăšāvāh - plan, thought, design): Underscores God's premeditation. The calamity is a calculated act of divine justice, not random chance.
• Turn back (שׁוּבוּ - šūḇū): Imperative. The pivotal verb shuv signifies a complete reversal or return, the core of biblical repentance. It implies abandoning the current sinful course and reorienting one's life towards God.
• each of you (אִישׁ - ’îš): Emphasizes individual accountability. While a collective warning, salvation rests on individual, personal decision to repent.
• from your evil way (מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה - middarkō hārā‘āh):
  • דֶּרֶךְ (derekh - way, path, lifestyle): Refers to the habitual conduct, moral orientation, and overall course of life.
  • הָרָעָה (hārā‘āh - the evil): Describes their wicked lifestyle, opposing God's righteousness and covenant commands. Repentance demands a complete break from this established pattern.
• and make your ways and your deeds good (וְהֵיטִיבוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶם - vəhêṭîḇū darkêḵem ūma‘ălêḵem):
  • וְהֵיטִיבוּ (vəhêṭîḇū - and make good, improve, do well): An imperative, signifying active and intentional effort. Repentance is not merely ceasing evil but proactively pursuing righteousness.
  • דַּרְכֵיכֶם (darkêḵem - your ways): Reiterates the need for a transformed lifestyle, inward character, and moral trajectory.
  • וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶם (ūma‘ălêḵem - and your deeds/doings): Focuses on the outward, visible expressions of a changed heart, emphasizing practical, ethical actions as proof of genuine repentance.

Words-group analysis:

• "Now therefore say... Thus says the Lord": This phrase group signifies the profound authority and immediacy of God's message, indicating a direct application of universal principles to a specific, urgent situation for His covenant people. It is a critical prophetic moment requiring unwavering attention.
• "Behold, I am fashioning disaster against you and devising a plan against you": This powerfully communicates God's active and deliberate judgment. It underscores divine sovereignty—God is not passive but intentionally shaping a negative destiny for them, echoing the potter's control over the clay, a pre-meditated response to their sin. This is a divine declaration of impending punitive action.
• "Turn back, each of you, from your evil way, and make your ways and your deeds good": This comprehensive phrase group encapsulates God's merciful offer and the nature of true repentance. It demands both an internal and external transformation—a personal reorientation away from sin ("turn back from your evil way") and a proactive commitment to righteous living ("make your ways and your deeds good"). It's a call to holistic transformation impacting character, lifestyle, and observable actions, underscoring God's desire for reconciliation.

Jeremiah 18 11 Bonus section

The active present participles יוֹצֵר (yôṣēr) and וְחֹשֵׁב (vəḥōšēḇ) highlight the immediacy and dynamic nature of God's interaction with human choices. He is not merely observing, but actively involved in shaping outcomes in real-time, based on human conduct. This challenges any notion of a distant or unconcerned deity. Furthermore, the inclusion of "each of you" (’îš) alongside addressing "Judah and Jerusalem" underscores a crucial biblical principle: while nations bear collective responsibility, the ultimate demand for change is profoundly individual. National repentance is always built upon the repentance of its people. This reflects a persistent emphasis across the prophets that systemic societal sin stems from the unrighteousness of individuals. The divine flexibility concerning plans for judgment (and blessing) detailed in Jer 18:7-10 and applied in this verse, shows that God's justice is never mechanistic, but always responsive, providing hope for the humble while ensuring consequences for the hardened.

Jeremiah 18 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:11 functions as God's stark warning and a lifeline simultaneously. Using the potent "potter" imagery from the preceding verses, God asserts His absolute sovereignty over Judah's destiny, indicating that the nation's spiritual stubbornness has initiated a process of divine judgment, which He describes as actively "fashioning disaster" and "devising a plan." These are not idle threats but a description of divine justice at work, directly responsive to human sin. Critically, this impending judgment is not irreversible. God's declaration is immediately coupled with an earnest invitation to těšuvāh, or repentance, which encompasses both an individual ( "each of you") turning away from wickedness ("evil way") and an active, conscious effort to embody goodness ("make good your ways and deeds"). This demonstrates God's persistent grace and patience even when justice looms, providing a clear path for avert the prophesied calamity. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that divine pronouncements of judgment are frequently conditional, serving as calls to change course, not as final, unalterable sentences, until a point of no return is reached. This verse highlights the profound theological balance between God's absolute power and His relational desire for humanity to choose life through active, genuine repentance.