Jeremiah 18 7

Jeremiah 18:7 kjv

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

Jeremiah 18:7 nkjv

The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,

Jeremiah 18:7 niv

If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,

Jeremiah 18:7 esv

If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,

Jeremiah 18:7 nlt

If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed,

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 7 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:7 declares a fundamental principle of God's sovereign governance over nations. It states that whenever the Lord pronounces a judgment of uprooting, tearing down, and destroying against a nation or kingdom, His intention and subsequent action are directly contingent upon the nation's response. This verse introduces the profound concept that God's stated judgments are not immutable decrees, but are invitations for a people to repent and turn from their wickedness.

Jeremiah 18 7 Context

Jeremiah 18:7 is the foundational statement for the "Potter's House" narrative, a crucial metaphor for God's dynamic relationship with Judah and other nations. Chapters 1-17 have delivered numerous pronouncements of judgment against Judah for their idolatry and unfaithfulness. In chapter 18, God takes Jeremiah to a potter's house (vv. 1-6) to illustrate His absolute sovereignty and freedom to shape nations according to His will, just as a potter reshapes clay. Verses 7-10 lay out a two-fold principle: if God declares judgment (v. 7), and the nation repents (v. 8), He will relent; conversely, if He declares blessing (v. 9), and the nation sins (v. 10), He will reconsider the blessing. This immediate verse (v. 7) thus sets the initial condition of threatened destruction. Historically, Judah faced the imminent threat of Babylonian invasion and exile, and this message serves as a final, urgent call for repentance, implying that even at this late stage, judgment could be averted or mitigated if they turned back to God. It confronts the people's likely assumption of an unchangeable fate and asserts divine responsiveness.

Jeremiah 18 7 Word analysis

• If (Im - אִם): This word introduces a condition, establishing a hypothetical yet practical scenario. It highlights the contingent nature of God's actions and decrees, rather than presenting them as unalterable.
• at any time (Rega - רֶגַע): Literally "a moment" or "an instant." This emphasizes the immediate, dynamic, and potentially changeable nature of God's pronouncements. It implies God is actively engaged and can alter His course based on human response, rather than operating on a fixed, pre-set timetable without consideration for present actions.
• I announce (Dibbarthi - דִּבַּרְתִּי): From the verb davar (to speak, to command, to promise, to warn). This refers to God's spoken word, His authoritative declaration or pronouncement through His prophets. It signifies a divine intention revealed, not a final, irreversible execution.
• concerning a nation (al-Goy - עַל-גּוֹי): "Goy" refers to an ethnic group, people, or nation, particularly often referring to gentile nations, but also to Israel. Here, it signifies the universal scope of God's dominion and His dealings with any corporate human entity.
• or a kingdom (o al-Mamlaka - אֶוֹ עַל-מַמְלָכָה): "Mamlaka" denotes a political entity with a king or ruler, a realm, kingdom, or dominion. The addition of "kingdom" specifies a more formalized, structured political entity, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of God's sovereign reach over both ethno-cultural groups and their governmental structures.
• that I will uproot (linţôsh - לִנְתּוֹשׁ): From the root natash meaning to pull up, pluck up, tear away, abolish. It carries an agricultural connotation, like pulling out a plant, signifying a complete removal or displacement from its established place. It often implies the destruction of what was planted.
• tear down (velihrōs - וְלִהְרֹס): From the root haras meaning to break down, demolish, overthrow, shatter. This term has architectural or military implications, referring to the destruction of a building, a city, or fortifications. It speaks of ruin and disintegration of established structures.
• and destroy it (ulhă'ăbîdâh - וּלְהַאֲבִידָהּ): From the root avad meaning to perish, to be lost, to destroy, to wipe out, to exterminate. This is the strongest term for destruction, implying utter annihilation, eradication, or making something completely cease to exist.

Jeremiah 18 7 Bonus section

The threefold destructive actions of "uproot, tear down, and destroy" (often used interchangeably with Jeremiah's commissioning in Jer 1:10) form a crescendo of increasing devastation. "Uproot" suggests losing a connection to the land and the source of life or sustenance. "Tear down" implies the breaking of social structures, institutions, and defenses. "Destroy" signifies the utter ruin of life and identity. The use of these specific terms by the potter emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the impending doom unless a change in behavior occurs. This concept counters fatalism, reinforcing the divine-human covenant framework where God's actions are not arbitrary but responsive. It also establishes a clear boundary for prophetic interpretation: prophecies of judgment often contain an implied "unless you repent" clause.

Jeremiah 18 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:7 initiates a pivotal theological concept, challenging the common understanding of divine judgment as an unalterable decree. Here, God's prophetic declaration of "uprooting, tearing down, and destroying" is presented not as an irrevocable sentence but as a conditional pronouncement, serving as a powerful warning. The choice of "nation or kingdom" highlights God's universal sovereignty and judicial oversight, applicable to all human collectives. The triadic verbs of destruction (natash, haras, avad) describe an escalating process from displacement to structural collapse to total obliteration, vividly illustrating the comprehensive nature of the judgment God can unleash. The inclusion of "at any time" (rega) underscores the immediacy and dynamic interaction of God with humanity, rather than a deterministic fate. This verse sets the stage for God's explicit revelation in verse 8, demonstrating that even such severe pronouncements of judgment can be averted by genuine national repentance, positioning prophecy as a gracious invitation to turn, not merely a predictive inevitability. This underlines God's patience, mercy, and desire for people to choose life and righteousness, reflecting His ultimate redemptive purposes amidst His righteous judgment.