Jeremiah 18:9 kjv
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
Jeremiah 18:9 nkjv
And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
Jeremiah 18:9 niv
And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,
Jeremiah 18:9 esv
And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,
Jeremiah 18:9 nlt
And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom,
Jeremiah 18 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 1:10 | See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down... to build and to plant." | God's prophetic mandate to Jeremiah includes both judgment and restoration. |
| Jer 24:6 | I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them." | God promises to build and plant Judah for their good, signifying restoration. |
| Jer 31:4 | Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! | Future building of Israel as an act of divine restoration. |
| Jer 31:28 | As I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the LORD. | God's consistent purpose, either to destroy or restore, based on obedience. |
| Jer 32:41 | I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul." | God's joyous commitment to plant His people securely. |
| Psa 22:28 | For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations. | God's ultimate sovereignty and rule over all nations. |
| Isa 40:23 | Who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. | God's power to nullify human authority, illustrating His supreme control. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | God's active involvement in establishing and deposing leaders and kingdoms. |
| Amos 9:11-15 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen... I will rebuild what is broken... I will plant them upon their land..." | Prophecy of restoration, building, and planting of Israel's fortunes. |
| Isa 5:1-7 | The parable of the vineyard describes God planting and tending, expecting fruit, but finding wild grapes, leading to judgment. | Illustrates God's care (planting) and subsequent judgment due to failure. |
| Psa 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. | Emphasizes God's essential role in establishing and building. |
| Prov 14:34 | Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. | Connects national well-being to righteous conduct, relevant to God's response. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | All authority, even of nations and kingdoms, is ultimately established by God. |
| Ezek 33:13 | Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered... | Warning that declared good outcomes are conditional on continued righteousness. |
| Jer 18:7-8 | If I declare concerning a nation... that I will pluck up... then if that nation... turns from its evil... I will relent of the disaster that I intended to bring upon it." | The inverse scenario: God's threats of judgment are also conditional. |
| Isa 1:19-20 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword. | Clear declaration of conditional blessings and curses. |
| Jonah 3:10 | When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that He had said He would do to them, and He did not do it. | God altering His declared intention of judgment due to a nation's repentance. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | Blessings for obedience. | Details specific conditional blessings promised by God. |
| Deut 28:15-68 | Curses for disobedience. | Details specific conditional curses for deviation. |
| Rom 9:20-21 | But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay...? | Affirmation of God's absolute sovereignty as the Potter over the clay (nations/individuals). |
| Jer 1:9-10 | Then the LORD put out His hand and touched my mouth... "See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down... to build and to plant." | Reiteration of the divine power over nations for both judgment and restoration. |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 9 Meaning
Jeremiah 18:9 elucidates a facet of God's dynamic interaction with nations. It reveals that should God declare a positive intent towards a nation or kingdom—to establish and foster its prosperity and growth, often signified by "building and planting"—His decree is not an immutable, unconditional outcome. Instead, His benevolent purpose is subject to the nation's response, implying that if they act contrary to His will, He reserves the right to reconsider and change the promised blessing. This verse highlights God's sovereign authority and His responsive nature, adapting His dealings based on the moral condition and actions of human societies.
Jeremiah 18 9 Context
Jeremiah 18:9 is nestled within the vivid analogy of the potter and the clay, introduced in Jeremiah 18:1-12. God instructs Jeremiah to visit a potter's house, where he observes the potter shaping clay on the wheel. When a vessel is marred, the potter reshapes it into another vessel, as seems good to him. This scene provides a profound theological metaphor: just as a potter has absolute discretion over the clay, God declares His sovereign authority over nations. Verses 7 and 8 describe God's intention to bring judgment upon a nation due to its evil, but He will relent if that nation repents. Verse 9 then presents the counter-scenario, elaborated upon in verse 10, completing the dual conditional promises regarding divine actions towards nations, be it for blessing or for judgment. The broader historical context is Judah's increasing idolatry and sin, prior to their Babylonian exile, as God consistently calls for their repentance, demonstrating His long-suffering and His justice.
Jeremiah 18 9 Word analysis
- And at another moment (וְרֶ֣גַע וְרֶ֧גַע - v’rega v’rega): The doubled Hebrew word `rega` (moment, instant) signifies a distinct point in time or a change in divine consideration. It emphasizes that God's actions are not rigid predestinations regardless of human behavior, but involve a dynamic, responsive sovereignty. This phrasing underscores the flexibility of divine decrees.
- I may declare (אֲדַבֵּ֛ר - adabber): From `dabar`, "to speak" or "to declare." This signifies God's authoritative pronouncement or decree. His declaration is a powerful word, establishing a divine purpose or intention concerning a nation.
- concerning a nation (עַל־גּ֣וֹי - al-goy): `Goy` broadly refers to a people, nation, or ethnic group, often the Gentile nations in distinction from Israel, but here it applies universally to any national entity under God's governance. This highlights God's universal lordship.
- or a kingdom (אוֹ־מַמְלָכָ֖ה - o-mamlakah): `Mamlakah` specifically refers to a political dominion or kingdom. This term, paired with `goy`, encompasses all forms of organized human political structures over which God exercises sovereignty.
- that I will build (לִבְנ֣וֹת - libnot): Infinitive form of `banah`, "to build," "to establish," or "to rebuild." This term denotes constructive, positive action, implying prosperity, security, strength, and firm establishment for a nation.
- and plant it (וְלִנְטֹֽעַ - v'lintoa): Infinitive form of `nata`, "to plant" or "to establish securely." This is often an agricultural metaphor, signifying growth, stability, thriving, and deeply rooting a people in their land, promising long-term prosperity and flourishing.
- "I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom": This phrase introduces the subject of God's sovereign pronouncements, affirming His absolute authority to determine the fate of human political entities. It establishes the scope of His control to all nations, not just Israel.
- "that I will build and plant it": This is a powerful pairing of terms indicating divine benevolence and an intention for enduring good. "Build" speaks of structural integrity and development, while "plant" signifies organic growth, secure rooting, and long-term fruitfulness. Together, they represent a promise of holistic prosperity and establishment. This promise implies conditions; it is not automatic, contrasting with an expectation of unconditional blessing.
Jeremiah 18 9 Bonus section
This verse, in conjunction with the preceding verses in Jeremiah 18, profoundly illustrates God's "repentance" (a common anthropomorphism, nacham, meaning to regret, console, or change one's mind/course of action). It's not a change in God's immutable character or eternal purpose, but rather a change in His declared administrative plan in response to human freedom and moral choices. God's ultimate desire for nations is often their welfare (to build and plant), but this can be overridden by their persistent evil. This passage teaches that national destinies are not solely predestined by a rigid divine decree but are shaped by a continuous interaction between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The analogy of the potter allows for reshaping the clay; the clay's ultimate form can differ from the initial intent based on how it reacts during the process, symbolizing human choice influencing divine action.
Jeremiah 18 9 Commentary
Jeremiah 18:9-10 completes the profound theological statement made in the potter's house analogy. Here, God asserts His absolute freedom and sovereignty over nations, even in His beneficent decrees. If God declares an intention to "build and plant" a nation, promising prosperity and secure establishment, this declaration is not immune to reversal if the nation's actions subsequently contradict divine principles. Just as God will relent from judgment upon repentance (v. 8), so too will He retract a blessing if a nation, originally marked for good, turns to evil and disregards His ways (v. 10). This passage powerfully underscores that God's dealings with humanity, individually and nationally, are inherently relational and responsive to moral conduct, reflecting both His justice and His long-suffering patience. It is a critical reminder of the conditional nature of divine promises of blessing and a call to continuous righteous living for sustained divine favor.