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 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 18:11 | "Say now to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am fashioning disaster against you..." | Jeremiah 18:11 |
| Isaiah 29:16 | "Shall the potter be counted as the clay, that the thing made should say 'He who made me..." | Isaiah 29:16 (Contrast) |
| Isaiah 45:9 | "Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay..." | Isaiah 45:9 (God's sovereign power) |
| Isaiah 64:8 | "But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all..." | Isaiah 64:8 (Humility before God) |
| Romans 9:20 | "Will what is molded say to him who molded it, 'Why have you made me like this?'" | Romans 9:20 (God's sovereignty) |
| Romans 9:21 | "Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for hon..." | Romans 9:21 (God's prerogative) |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." | Jeremiah 1:5 (God's foreknowledge) |
| Psalm 100:3 | "Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his..." | Psalm 100:3 (Creator and owned) |
| Psalm 139:13 | "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." | Psalm 139:13 (Personal creation) |
| Job 10:9 | "Remember that you fashioned me like clay..." | Job 10:9 (Acknowledging creator) |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | Genesis 1:1 (Ultimate Creator) |
| Deuteronomy 32:6 | "Do you thus repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who..." | Deuteronomy 32:6 (Disdain for creation) |
| Jeremiah 18:1-17 | The entire passage describes God's judgment and restoration of Israel as potter to clay. | Jeremiah 18:1-17 (Thematic) |
| Jeremiah 19:1-15 | Similar imagery of the potter's jar for judgment. | Jeremiah 19:1-15 (Judgment) |
| Jeremiah 51:62-64 | Babylon, a symbol of opposition, to be cast down like a stone in the sea. | Jeremiah 51:62-64 (Judgment imagery) |
| Amos 3:8 | "The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?" | Amos 3:8 (God's authority) |
| Ezekiel 37:1-14 | The valley of dry bones resurrected, God breathing life into them. | Ezekiel 37:1-14 (God's power) |
| 1 Samuel 2:6 | "The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up." | 1 Samuel 2:6 (Life and death) |
| Psalm 33:9 | "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." | Psalm 33:9 (God's word) |
| Ephesians 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared..." | Ephesians 2:10 (New creation) |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 4 Meaning
The Lord is the divine Craftsman who created all things, including humanity. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign power as the Maker, holding authority and the right to act upon His creation. The potter and the clay metaphor illustrates His absolute dominion over Israel, which He formed as His people. He can reshape, destroy, or reconstruct them according to His will and purposes.
Jeremiah 18 4 Context
Jeremiah 18:4 is situated within the broader narrative of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, specifically a divine oracle delivered to Jeremiah concerning the pottery works. God commands Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house and observe the potter at work. This personal demonstration serves as a vivid illustration of God's dealings with His people, Israel. The prophet's personal encounter at the pottery is a foundational element for understanding God's sovereignty and His prerogative to judge and redeem. This chapter occurs during a period of significant apostasy and impending judgment for Judah.
Jeremiah 18 4 Word Analysis
- וְאִם (ve'im) - "And if" (conjunction of continuation and condition). Connects to previous instructions or statements.
- תֶּאֱסֶה (te'eseh) - "thou marred" or "thou didst mar" (verb from 'asah - to make, do, fashion, destroy; 2nd person feminine singular qatal perfect). Indicates the potter's action upon the clay.
- בַּכְּלִי (bak'li) - "in the vessel" (preposition 'b' - in, with, by + 'keliy' - vessel, instrument, property). Refers to the object the potter is working with.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) - "which" or "that" (relative pronoun). Connects the preceding clause to the following description of the vessel.
- הוּא (hu') - "it" or "he" (pronoun, masculine singular). Refers to the clay, the material being worked.
- עֹשֶׂה ('oseh) - "maketh" or "is making" (participle from 'asah - to make, do, fashion; masculine singular). Describes the continuous action of the potter.
- בַּמַּחְצֵב (bamach'tzev) - "in the mill" or "at the place of working/breaking" (preposition 'b' - in, with, by + 'mach'tzev' - place of crushing, shaping, or cutting; often translated "at the place of working" or similar for the potter's bench). Signifies the location of the potter's work. The underlying root means to hew or cut.
- סוּר (sur) - "turn back" or "turn aside" (verb, 2nd person feminine singular imperative from sur). A command to stop or turn away.
- שׁוּבִי (shuvi) - "return" or "turn back" (verb, 2nd person feminine singular imperative from shuv - to return, turn again). Another command, emphasizing a redirection.
- שָׁם (sham) - "there" (adverb). Points to the specific location of the potter.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "And if the vessel which he maketh in the mill should be marred": This phrase encapsulates the concept of imperfection or destruction in God's created plan for His people (the vessel). "Mill" ('mach'tzev') can also imply the raw material, the process of preparation, or the place where shaping occurs, suggesting damage even in the initial stages of creation or formation.
- "turn again, and make it a vessel again as it seemeth good unto thee": The Lord, like the potter, possesses the authority to "turn again" (surob-Shuvi) and remodel the damaged vessel. The phrase "as it seemeth good unto thee" ('kaharesh-'elekh' - 'ka' meaning "according to" or "as," and ''elekh' potentially a singular of opinion or desire, akin to "thy good pleasure") highlights God's absolute right to decide the form and purpose according to His divine will, not human desire or capability.
Jeremiah 18 4 Bonus Section
The concept of God as the Divine Potter is ancient and widespread in biblical literature. This imagery frequently appears in both Old and New Testaments, consistently emphasizing God's absolute authority and the creature's humble submission. It is also important to note the slight distinction in emphasis between verses where God makes from clay (Genesis, Job) and verses where God re-makes or judges the clay (Jeremiah 18). Jeremiah 18:4 specifically focuses on the latter – the potter's right to deal with flawed or damaged material, mirroring God's sovereign right to judge and restore His people, or even to set aside disobedient elements to fulfill His will through others. The feminine imperative forms ("te'eseh," "sur shevi") might indicate that Jeremiah is being addressed as if he were the potter, receiving direct instruction. This is typical of prophetic communication where the prophet embodies the action commanded. The prophet was instructed to observe the process closely and derive a theological lesson from it. The Hebrew root 'asah' is rich, encompassing creation, action, and making. In 'bamach'tzev', the root meaning of "cutting" or "breaking" is significant; it speaks to the initial preparation of the clay, and thus, the "marring" could have occurred even in this foundational stage.
Jeremiah 18 4 Commentary
This verse is a powerful metaphor for God's absolute sovereignty over His creation, particularly His people, Israel. The potter (God) has complete control over the clay (Israel). If the clay is marred or damaged during the initial shaping process (representing the nation's sinfulness or God's judgment), the potter is not limited. He can re-form it into a different, potentially more suitable vessel, or even destroy it, as it pleases Him. This illustration underscores that human rebellion and flaws do not negate God's ultimate authority and ability to bring His purposes to fruition, though the manner might change due to disobedience. It prefigures the concept of God's faithfulness to His promises despite Israel's failings, a theme further developed in the New Testament through God's work in Christ.
- God can take ruined plans or lives and repurpose them.
- Human action (like marred clay) does not thwart God's ultimate sovereign will.
- God's perspective of what is "good" and "purposeful" is the final word.