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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 18:7 | "If at any time I speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it," | God's decree and establishment |
| Jeremiah 18:8 | "if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it." | Condition of repentance for grace |
| Jeremiah 18:10 | "if it does evil in my sight, so that it does not obey my voice, then I will think on the good that I have promised to do to it." | God's prerogative in judgment |
| Genesis 6:6 | "And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and grieved to his heart." | God's sorrow over sin |
| Deuteronomy 28:13 | "And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them," | Blessings for obedience |
| Deuteronomy 28:43 | "The sojourner who is among you shall rise higher and higher over you, and you shall go down lower and lower." | Consequences of disobedience |
| 1 Samuel 2:7 | "The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts." | God's power over status |
| Psalm 75:6-7 | "For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west and nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another." | Divine sovereignty in exaltation |
| Proverbs 14:34 | "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." | National righteousness and shame |
| Isaiah 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff that is in their hands is my indignation!" | God using nations as instruments |
| Isaiah 14:12-15 | "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high..." | Example of prideful downfall |
| Daniel 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 discernment." | God's control over earthly powers |
| Daniel 4:17 | "... to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men. He gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men." | God's rule over kingdoms |
| Daniel 4:32 | "... and the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth..." | God's absolute authority |
| Acts 17:26 | "and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling places," | God's orchestration of nations |
| Romans 9:19-21 | "You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who resists his will? You have no right, O man, to answer back to God. Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'" | God as potter, man as clay |
| Revelation 1:12-13 | "then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands," | Symbolic representation of churches |
| Revelation 17:12-17 | "And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast." | Nations and their judgment |
| Matthew 11:23 | "And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades." | Consequences for rejection |
| 1 Peter 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." | Humility and exaltation |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 9 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's sovereign power over nations. He can elevate a nation to prominence and power, or bring it down to ruin and disgrace. This is a conditional declaration, dependent on the actions and repentance of that nation. It underscores God's justice and His right to judge.
Jeremiah 18 9 Context
Jeremiah chapter 18 is known as the "Potter and Clay" chapter. God instructs Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house and observe him at work. There, Jeremiah sees the potter skillfully shaping clay on his wheel. However, if the vessel being made was flawed or spoiled, the potter would re-shape it into another vessel according to his will. This illustrates God's relationship with Israel. He is the divine Potter, and Israel is the clay. God can choose to build up a nation and establish it, demonstrating His power and purpose. Conversely, if that nation turns to evil and rejects His voice, He has the sovereign right to bring judgment upon them and "un-make" the good He had intended for them. This verse encapsulates God's power to both establish and to cast down, depending on a nation's obedience and response to His word. It is a clear declaration of divine sovereignty and justice.
Jeremiah 18 9 Word Analysis
- "If at any time": Hebrew: "im" (אם) meaning "if," and "min yom" (מן יום) meaning "from a day," signifying "at any time" or "on some occasion." It denotes possibility and the broad scope of God's interaction with nations.
- "I speak concerning": Hebrew: "dabarti" (דברתי) from "dabar" (דבר), meaning "to speak" or "to declare." This indicates a divine utterance or decree regarding a specific nation.
- "a nation": Hebrew: "goy" (גוי), referring to a people or a nation.
- "concerning a kingdom": Hebrew: "mamlachah" (ממלכה), signifying a realm, a sovereignty, or a kingdom. It emphasizes both the people and the ruling structure.
- "to build and to plant it": Hebrew: "lebon" (לבנות) from "banah" (בנה) meaning "to build," and "li'yten" (ליטן) from "yaten" (יתן) meaning "to plant" or "to establish firmly." This signifies establishing a nation in a place and causing it to grow and prosper, bringing stability and a future.
- "and it shall be": Hebrew: "vehayah" (והיה) from "hayah" (היה) meaning "to be" or "to happen."
- "if that nation": Hebrew: "im shoav hagoy" (אם ישוע הגוי) indicating "if that people," and referencing back to the nation previously mentioned.
- "concerning which I have spoken": Hebrew: "asher dabarti" (אשר דברתי), a reiteration that this declaration is in response to God's previous word.
- "turns from its evil": Hebrew: "yashuv me`ir" (ישוב מרע) from "shuv" (שוב) meaning "to turn back," "repent," or "return," and "ra`" (רע) meaning "evil," "wickedness," or "calamity." This is the conditional element, emphasizing repentance as the catalyst for averting judgment.
Group analysis: The phrase "to build and to plant it" speaks to foundational establishment and continued growth. "Turns from its evil" highlights active repentance, a deliberate change of direction from wrongdoing. The conjunction of "nation" and "kingdom" emphasizes God's overarching authority over both the collective people and their governance.
Jeremiah 18 9 Bonus Section
The "building and planting" imagery is also seen in the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land, as described in Joshua. The re-shaping of the clay by the potter serves as a powerful metaphor for God's ability to transform, judge, or bless according to His divine will, highlighting the dynamic and responsive nature of His relationship with humanity, both individually and corporately. This principle of conditional judgment and potential restoration is a recurring theme throughout scripture. The same God who can lift up can also cast down, demonstrating that true security rests in obedience and submission to His word, not in autonomous power or perceived divine favor apart from righteousness. This concept aligns with the New Testament teaching on the believer's transformation by God's grace (Rom 12:1-2) and the consequences of rejecting God's mercy (Heb 10:26-31).
Jeremiah 18 9 Commentary
This verse articulates God's power to bring about both prosperity and destruction upon a nation. The foundational idea is God's sovereignty in national affairs, mirroring His sovereignty in the lives of individuals. He has the inherent right and ability to elevate any people or political entity to a position of prominence, bestowing upon them stability, prosperity, and influence, signified by "building and planting." However, this elevation is not permanent or guaranteed apart from adherence to divine principles. The crucial condition hinges on the nation's response. If the nation that God has established or intended to bless turns away from its wicked ways, demonstrating genuine repentance ("turns from its evil"), God, in His mercy and faithfulness, will reconsider His judgment. The emphasis here is on God's active involvement in history and His responsiveness to the moral condition of peoples and nations. It’s a principle that spans biblical narrative, from the establishment of Israel to the judgment of surrounding empires. The conditional nature underscores that divine favor is contingent upon faithfulness, not on an immutable decree that disregards human accountability.