Jeremiah 19 1

Jeremiah 19:1 kjv

Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;

Jeremiah 19:1 nkjv

Thus says the LORD: "Go and get a potter's earthen flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests.

Jeremiah 19:1 niv

This is what the LORD says: "Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests

Jeremiah 19:1 esv

Thus says the LORD, "Go, buy a potter's earthenware flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests,

Jeremiah 19:1 nlt

This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and buy a clay jar. Then ask some of the leaders of the people and of the priests to follow you.

Jeremiah 19 verses

Jeremiah 19 1 Meaning

The LORD commanded Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house. This action was not for personal or routine matters, but a divine directive for a prophetic act. It signifies a pivotal moment in Jeremiah's ministry, initiating a powerful symbolic demonstration of God's judgment upon Judah.

Jeremiah 19 1 Context

This verse initiates the prophet Jeremiah's powerful symbolic oracle against Judah, occurring during a period of intense spiritual and political decline. The setting is Jerusalem, just before the Babylonian siege. God directs Jeremiah to go to a specific, well-known location – the house of a potter. This directive immediately signals that a significant prophetic demonstration is about to unfold. The previous chapter (Jeremiah 18) detailed God's imagery of Himself as the divine potter and Israel as the clay, emphasizing His sovereignty and power to mold or destroy nations based on their obedience or disobedience. This new instruction in chapter 19 directly links to that established imagery, preparing to illustrate its stark consequences. The historical context is crucial: Jerusalem is steeped in idolatry and injustice, despite Jeremiah's persistent warnings. The people have turned away from God and His covenant, leading to an impending, devastating judgment.

Jeremiah 19 1 Word Analysis

• וְ (v' / we): Conjunction, "and." Connects this command to previous or surrounding actions, indicating a progression of divine instruction or prophecy.
• צַו (tzav / tzaw): Imperative verb, "command." Emphasizes the direct, authoritative nature of God's word to Jeremiah. It's not a suggestion but a clear, inescapable order.
• יְהוָה (Yhwh / Yehovah): The personal covenant name of God. Reinforces that this command originates from the LORD Himself, the one with whom Israel had a unique relationship.
• לֵךְ (lech / lekh): Imperative verb, "go." A simple but direct command to initiate movement.
• קְנֵה (k'neh / kenah): Imperative verb, "buy" or "acquire." This implies obtaining something specific.
• סַ֫מְּךַּת (samchat / sammakhath): Noun, "potter" (from the root meaning "to knead" or "to mold"). The focus is on the craftsman who works with clay.
• יֶ֫צֶר (yetzer / yetser): Noun, "potter's wheel" or "working place." The context strongly suggests the location of the potter's work, likely the place where clay is prepared and shaped. Other interpretations include "potter's storehouse" or the place where pots are formed. However, "potter's house" is the most accepted reading here.
• חָ֫רֶשׁ (charesh / kharesh): Noun, "earthen vessel" or "pot." Refers to the product of the potter's labor.

Group of words analysis:

• "And the LORD commanded Jeremiah": Highlights the divine initiation and authority behind Jeremiah's mission. It is God who is acting through His prophet.
• "Go, buy yourself a potter's [earthen vessel]": This instruction is specific and action-oriented. It's not merely observation but procurement of an object that will serve as a visual aid. The reflexive "yourself" suggests personal involvement and responsibility in obtaining the symbolic item. The choice of an "earthen vessel" connects directly to the imagery of pottery, vulnerability, and fragility, paralleling the state of Judah.

Jeremiah 19 1 Bonus Section

The directive to "buy" emphasizes that this action is not theft or simply taking something; it is an intentional acquisition, marking Jeremiah's full engagement with God's prophetic task. The potter’s craft itself speaks volumes in Hebrew thought. It embodies creation, shaping, purpose, and the inherent vulnerability of the created object. The chosen vessel would serve as a tangible, relatable symbol for the common people, making God's abstract message of judgment concrete and immediate. The action sets the stage for a prophetic drama played out in the very public space of the Hinnom Valley (Gehenna), a place already associated with pagan worship and sacrifice, further intensifying the symbolic meaning.

Jeremiah 19 1 Commentary

The instruction to "go and buy a potter's earthen vessel" is a prelude to a devastating prophetic message. God isn't just telling Jeremiah what to say, but how to show it through action. The potter's house is a place of creation and transformation, but also of potential breakage. Just as a potter shapes clay, God shapes nations. Judah, like a flawed pot, was nearing its breaking point due to persistent sin. Jeremiah's purchase of this vessel, likely a common, perhaps already broken, clay jar, symbolizes the fragile state of Jerusalem and its people, who are destined for shattering judgment by a foreign power, analogous to how a potter's vessel can be broken beyond repair. This act prepares the people for the grim message that will follow in the subsequent verses concerning their impending destruction.