Jeremiah 18:3 kjv
Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jeremiah 18:3 nkjv
Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.
Jeremiah 18:3 niv
So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.
Jeremiah 18:3 esv
So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.
Jeremiah 18:3 nlt
So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.
Jeremiah 18 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 64:8 | But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter | God as our Potter and Maker |
| Rom 9:20-21 | Who are you to answer back to God? Does the pot question the potter? | Divine sovereignty over humanity |
| Jer 18:4 | The vessel that he was making of clay was marred in the hand of the potter | Immediate context: Potter's reshaping |
| Jer 18:6 | "Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, as this potter does?" | Direct application of parable |
| Jer 18:7-8 | If I pronounce judgment on a nation... and they turn from evil, I will relent | God's conditional judgment/mercy |
| Jer 18:9-10 | If I pronounce blessing on a nation... and they do evil, I will relent | God's conditional blessing/punishment |
| Isa 29:16 | Woe to those who would turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? | Questioning divine wisdom is foolish |
| Isa 45:9 | Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' | Humility before God's authority |
| Ps 100:3 | Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves | God is our Creator, we are His creation |
| Job 10:9 | Remember, please, that You have made me as clay; And will You turn me into dust again? | Humanity's created nature and fragility |
| Job 33:6 | Indeed in God’s presence I am as you are; I also have been formed out of clay. | Humanity's shared, fragile composition |
| Gen 2:7 | And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground | God as the original "Potter" of man |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The LORD frustrates the plans of nations... His counsel stands forever. | God's supreme authority over nations |
| Pro 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wills. | God's control over human leaders |
| Dan 4:34-35 | He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth | Universal sovereignty of God |
| Eph 1:11 | having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will | God's sovereign will and purpose |
| Rev 4:11 | "Worthy are You, O Lord... for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." | Creator's inherent right and power |
| Isa 43:7 | Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed and made | God as Creator and Shaper |
| Zeph 2:1-2 | Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth... before the day passes like chaff | Call to repentance before impending judgment |
| Mal 3:3 | He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver | God's refining and shaping process |
| 2 Tim 2:20-21 | In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay | Vessels for various uses, a choice to be honorable |
| Acts 17:26 | He made from one man every nation... having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place | God's sovereign placement of nations |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 3 Meaning
Jeremiah 18:3 describes the prophet's obedient response to God's command (v. 2) to visit a potter's workshop. This verse sets the scene for a profound parabolic teaching on God's sovereign authority over nations, likening His power to reshape or destroy them based on their moral choices, similar to how a potter handles clay on the wheel. It signifies Jeremiah's physical observation of an everyday craft to understand a deeper spiritual truth.
Jeremiah 18 3 Context
Jeremiah 18:3 is a pivotal verse within a narrative passage (Jeremiah 18:1-11) where God instructs Jeremiah to learn a vital lesson at a potter's house. The preceding verse (v. 2) directly commands Jeremiah to go to this specific location, indicating a divinely orchestrated encounter for prophetic revelation. The historical context is the kingdom of Judah under King Jehoiakim, a period marked by profound spiritual apostasy, idolatry, and political instability as Judah navigated alliances between powerful empires like Egypt and Babylon. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry during this time consistently warns of impending divine judgment if the nation does not repent. The observation of the potter directly leads to God's subsequent pronouncement (v. 5-11), where He explains how He, as the Divine Potter, deals with nations—His right to build up or pull down, to plant or pluck up, based on their moral responsiveness. The scene vividly sets the stage for understanding God's ultimate sovereignty and the conditional nature of His pronouncements over both individuals and nations.
Jeremiah 18 3 Word analysis
- Then I went down (wa-ʾērēd - וָאֵרֵד): The Hebrew construction waw consecutive plus imperfect indicates sequential action, emphasizing Jeremiah's immediate and obedient response to God's command in verse 2. "Went down" likely indicates a topographical descent within the city, as pottery workshops were often located in lower areas near water sources and clay beds, or it can metaphorically suggest a descent into humility to receive a divine lesson.
- to the potter’s house (ʾel bēt ha-yōṣēr - אֶל בֵּית הַיּוֹצֵר):
- potter's: yōṣēr (יוֹצֵר) is the active participle of the verb yāṣar (יָצַר), meaning "to form," "to fashion," "to mold." This is the same verb used in Genesis 2:7 for God "forming" man from dust. This immediate linguistic link subtly but powerfully establishes God as the ultimate Potter/Creator in the mind of the reader.
- house: bēt (בֵּית) signifies not merely a dwelling, but specifically a workshop, a designated space where the craft is performed, implying expertise, intention, and a focused environment.
- and there he was, making something (wə-hinneh-hū ʿōśeh məlāʾkhā - וְהִנֵּה הוּא עֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה):
- and there he was: wə-hinneh-hū ("and behold, he") highlights Jeremiah's immediate observation of the scene and the potter's ongoing action, capturing a specific moment in the potter's process. The "behold" serves to draw attention to the vividness of the experience.
- making something: ʿōśeh məlāʾkhā (עֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה) where ʿōśeh is an active participle "doing, making," implying continuous work. Məlāʾkhā means "work," "business," or "craft." This isn't random activity but purposeful, skilled work towards a specific end, which underscores the deliberate and intentional nature of God's work with nations.
- on the wheel (ʿal ha-ʾōbnayim - עַל הָאֹבְנָיִם): The term ʾōbnayim is a dual noun, literally "two stones" or "two wheels," referring to the two principal parts of the ancient potter's wheel: the lower disc spun by the foot, and the upper disc where the clay is placed and shaped. This detail is crucial, as it signifies constant motion, pressure, and direct control exerted by the potter. The clay is not static; it is actively undergoing a process of formation and manipulation, foreshadowing the dynamic relationship between God and His people/nations.
Jeremiah 18 3 Bonus section
The image of the potter's wheel (ōbnayim) is critical because it represents a dynamic process. The clay is always in motion, continually being acted upon and shaped by the potter's hands. This illustrates that God's work with His people and nations is not a single, static event but an ongoing, interactive relationship. The very act of the clay "marring" in the next verse is also directly on the wheel, meaning that even imperfect shaping is part of this continuous interaction and provides an immediate opportunity for the potter to respond—either by remolding or starting anew. This process is inherently purposeful, reflecting God's eternal designs and His active governance over creation. The Hebrew yāṣar for "form" implies meticulous artistic creation, connecting God's hands to those of the craftsman in a vivid, relatable way for the original audience.
Jeremiah 18 3 Commentary
Jeremiah 18:3 is more than a descriptive detail; it's a profound visual preamble to one of Jeremiah's most impactful prophetic messages. God deliberately sends Jeremiah to witness the everyday work of a potter, transforming a common craft into a powerful theological metaphor. The immediate act of "going down" shows Jeremiah's readiness to learn directly from God's object lesson. The specific detail of the potter "making something on the wheel" is key; it speaks to the active, intentional, and sovereign process of shaping. The potter has complete authority over the clay—its initial form, its marring, and the decision to reshape or discard. This sets the stage for God's declaration that He holds similar, even absolute, power over nations and individuals. The lesson conveys God's sovereign right to determine destinies, but also, significantly, His willingness to alter His plans based on a nation's repentance or defiance, offering a glimmer of hope amidst warnings of judgment.