Jeremiah 18 4

Jeremiah 18:4 kjv

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Jeremiah 18:4 nkjv

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

Jeremiah 18:4 niv

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Jeremiah 18:4 esv

And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Jeremiah 18:4 nlt

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 4 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:4 portrays a pivotal moment in the potter's workshop, symbolizing God's sovereign authority over humanity and nations. When a clay vessel being formed by the potter becomes marred or misshapen in his hands, he does not discard it but reworks it into a new, different vessel as he sees fit. This act illustrates God's right and ability to tear down and rebuild, to destroy and restore, depending on the moral condition and responsiveness of His people, and always according to His divine will and wisdom.

Jeremiah 18 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 18 opens with God commanding Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house. The specific historical context is during the late 7th century BCE, a time of significant political turmoil and moral decline in Judah, shortly before its eventual Babylonian exile. The nation of Judah had become "marred" by idolatry, injustice, and disobedience to the Mosaic covenant. God uses the tangible, immediate lesson of the potter and clay as a powerful object lesson, not just for Jeremiah, but for the nation of Judah. Verses 1-12 establish a divine analogy: God is the potter, and Israel (or any nation) is the clay. Jeremiah 18:4, specifically, is the observable action that becomes the basis for God's message in the subsequent verses. It illustrates God's prerogative to respond to the condition of the "clay." If the "clay" (the nation) hardens or becomes marred by sin, God has the right to reform or even discard it, yet this verse specifically highlights His option to refashion it, implying a second chance contingent on repentance.

Jeremiah 18 4 Word analysis

• And the vessel (כְּלִי - keli)
  • Word: כְּלִי (keli)
  • Meaning: Article, implement, utensil, container, weapon. Here, refers to the object being fashioned from clay.
  • Significance: It is something made or intended to be made for a purpose. In this metaphor, it represents Israel or any nation that God is actively shaping for His purposes. Its original form isn't specified, but it was being made.
• that he made
  • Word: יָצַר (yatsar) - Piel participle.
  • Meaning: To form, fashion, create, mold, shape. This is the root for 'potter' (יוֹצֵר yotser).
  • Significance: Emphasizes the potter's creative and purposeful act. The vessel exists solely by his shaping.
• of the clay (בַּחֹ֕מֶר - bachomer)
  • Word: חֹ֕מֶר (chomer)
  • Meaning: Clay, earth, mud, mortar. The raw, pliable material.
  • Significance: Represents humanity in its fundamental dependence and malleability before God. It implies potential but also weakness and a lack of inherent form until shaped by the potter. Its very nature means it can be marred.
• was marred (נִשְׁחַ֣ת - nishkhat)
  • Word: שָׁחַת (shachat) - Nifal stem.
  • Meaning: To be spoiled, ruined, corrupted, to go to ruin, made worthless or unusable. The Nifal stem suggests an internal state of being corrupted or damaged.
  • Significance: This is a crucial word. It means the clay became imperfect or damaged in the potter's hands—during the process of its creation. It wasn't the potter's intent but an issue with the clay itself or the interaction during formation, often interpreted as the clay (Israel) resisting or being imperfect, leading to the vessel not turning out as initially planned. It implies unsuitability for its original intended purpose.
• in the hand of the potter (בְּיַד הַיּוֹצֵֽר - b'yad hayyotser)
  • Word: יוֹצֵר (yotser)
  • Meaning: Potter, one who forms, maker. From the same root as 'made' (yatsar).
  • Significance: The "hand of the potter" emphasizes not only the potter's control but also his immediate interaction with the clay. The marring happened under his direct oversight, but the clay still yielded an undesirable result.
• so he made it again (וַיָּשָׁב וַיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ - vayyashav vayya'asehu)
  • Meaning: Lit. "and he returned and he made it." The phrase וַיָּשָׁב וַיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ emphasizes repetition or continuation of the action. He didn't just remake it, but turned back to the task of making it again, suggesting deliberate, intentional action after the initial failure.
  • Significance: This is a powerful statement of the potter's patience, expertise, and sovereign will. He doesn't give up on the clay entirely when it's marred; he gives it a "second chance" to be refashioned. This is the core message of hope for Judah.
• another vessel (כְּלִי אַחֵר - keli acher)
  • Meaning: A different utensil/object.
  • Significance: The new vessel might not be what was originally intended, but it is still a vessel and serves some purpose according to the potter's will. This highlights God's adaptability and willingness to change His plans concerning a nation or individual if their condition (the clay) changes or the original design is not achieved. It underscores His prerogative to assign new purposes or reshape outcomes.
• as seemed good (כַּאֲשֶׁר יָשַׁר - ka'asher yashar)
  • Meaning: As was right/straight, as was pleasing, fitting, or desirable. Expresses the potter's subjective judgment and absolute discretion.
  • Significance: This phrase asserts the potter's ultimate authority and wisdom. He acts according to his own good pleasure and discerning eye. There is no external force dictating his action, nor any mistake on his part; his will is supreme.
• to the potter to make it
  • Significance: This phrase re-emphasizes the potter's complete autonomy and reinforces that the entire process, including the remaking and the new form, is entirely within his decision-making power.

Words-Group Analysis

• "And the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter": This phrase sets the scene for God's divine flexibility and response. The marring wasn't due to the potter's incompetence, but an issue arising with the material (the clay representing rebellious Israel) during the formative process under his direct oversight. It represents Judah's current spiritual corruption rendering them unfit for God's initial ideal purpose.
• "so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it": This is the redemptive or judgmental turning point. It shows that marring does not necessarily lead to discarding. God, the Potter, retains His sovereign power and compassion. He can destroy and rebuild, judging what is best for the marred vessel. This signifies that God offers Judah a path of repentance and reformation, allowing Him to reshape them into a different (perhaps humbler, or more obedient) vessel. It unequivocally emphasizes God's supreme authority, will, and wisdom in dealing with His creation.

Jeremiah 18 4 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "potter," יוֹצֵר (yotser), is the same root used for "Creator" in Gen 2:7, where God formed (וַיִּיצֶר - vayyitser) man from the dust of the ground. This connection strongly reinforces the idea that the potter is a direct analogy for God as the ultimate Creator and Designer, emphasizing His ownership and prerogative over humanity.

The marring in the potter's hand could be due to several reasons: an air bubble in the clay (representing hidden sin or corruption), uneven consistency of the clay (uneven devotion or moral standing), or the potter's foot slipping on the wheel, causing a jolt. While the text attributes it to the vessel being marred in the hand, scholarly interpretations lean towards issues originating from the clay itself, symbolizing the people's hardened hearts and resistance to God's shaping. This prevents any implication of God being an imperfect potter and squarely places responsibility on the clay's condition.

The concept of "another vessel" (כְּלִי אַחֵר) does not necessarily imply a lesser vessel. It simply means different. God might intend a people for glory, but due to their marring, they are reshaped for humility or service, which is still a valuable purpose in His design. This teaches about God's adaptable wisdom in deriving purpose even from compromised situations.

Jeremiah 18 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:4 is the lynchpin of the entire potter analogy. It presents God, the divine Potter, as having ultimate sovereignty over His creation. The marring of the clay vessel in the potter's hands signifies the spiritual corruption of Israel (or humanity) through disobedience and sin, thwarting God's original intention for them. This marring is not a failure on God's part but a consequence of the "clay's" condition or actions. Yet, crucially, the potter does not immediately discard the marred clay. Instead, with skill and purpose, he reshapes it into "another vessel," as he deems "good" or fitting.

This act beautifully illustrates God's attributes: His patience, His willingness to grant second chances, His right to alter a divine "plan" based on humanity's response, and His unassailable wisdom and authority. It underscores the concept of conditional covenants and the hope for national repentance. While God's ultimate plan remains steadfast, the specific form or fate of the "vessel" (nation/individual) is flexible, determined by the "clay's" response and the Potter's righteous judgment and mercy. It shows that even a damaged purpose can be reformed for a new, God-honoring function, emphasizing both divine sovereignty and the call for human responsiveness. Practically, it encourages self-examination and repentance, reminding us that even when we feel broken or flawed, God is capable and willing to reshape us for His glory.