Jeremiah 19 11

Jeremiah 19:11 kjv

And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.

Jeremiah 19:11 nkjv

and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury them in Tophet till there is no place to bury.

Jeremiah 19:11 niv

and say to them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.

Jeremiah 19:11 esv

and shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, so that it can never be mended. Men shall bury in Topheth because there will be no place else to bury.

Jeremiah 19:11 nlt

Then say to them, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: As this jar lies shattered, so I will shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair. They will bury the bodies here in Topheth, the garbage dump, until there is no more room for them.

Jeremiah 19 verses

Jeremiah 19 11 Meaning

The verse declares that the potter's vessel, representing Jerusalem and its inhabitants, will be shattered beyond repair, signifying the absolute and irreversible destruction of the city and its people. This judgment comes because they have forsaken the LORD and filled the place with the innocent blood of their children.

Jeremiah 19 11 Context

Jeremiah 19 is set within the broader context of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry in Judah, a time when the nation was spiraling deeper into sin and idolatry. King Josiah's reforms had waned, and subsequent rulers led the people back to their old ways. Chapter 19 vividly depicts a symbolic act by Jeremiah, commanded by the LORD, at the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), a place associated with child sacrifice and impurity. This valley, specifically the "Potter's Field" mentioned here, becomes a backdrop for a stark prophecy of complete and utter destruction as divine judgment for the nation's persistent disobedience and shedding of innocent blood. The chapter signifies the end of hope for a repentant nation and the inevitable consequence of their rebellion.

Jeremiah 19 11 Word Analysis

• And you shall break: The Hebrew verb "shaphar" (שָׁבַר) means "to break," "to break in pieces," or "to shatter." It emphasizes a thorough and complete destruction.

• this people: Refers to the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, who have repeatedly turned away from God.

• and this city: Specifically points to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, which has become a focal point of sin.

• as one breaks: The comparative particle "ka" (כּ) introduces a simile, likening the destruction to a common, yet devastating, act.

• a potter's vessel: The Hebrew word "ye`esepheth" (יֶצֶר) from the root "yatsar" (יָצַר) relates to shaping or forming, directly connecting to the potter's craft. This imagery is potent as it contrasts the vulnerability of a crafted item with the power of the One who shapes and judges. It signifies something carefully made, now rendered useless by a destructive force.

• that cannot be mended: "loyuchal lemerappo" (לֹא־יוּכַל לְרַפֹּאת). This phrase emphasizes the finality of the destruction. The verb "rapha'" (רָפָא) means "to heal" or "to mend." The utter inability to repair highlights the totality of the judgment.

• again: "od" (עוֹד) reiterates the irreversible nature of the breaking.

• they shall be buried: "qubtem" (קֻבְּטוּ), passive plural of "qabar" (קָבַר), meaning "to bury." This points to a final disposition, being put into the ground because they are worthless.

• in Topheth: A specific location in the Valley of Hinnom, notorious for idolatrous child sacrifice (Jer 7:31). Its association with bloodshed and defilement makes it the appropriate place for this ultimate act of judgment.

• because they have forsaken: The reason for the destruction. "Sharpu" (שָׂרְפוּ) from "shava'" (שָׁבַע), meaning "to forsake" or "to renounce." This implies a deliberate act of abandonment of God.

• me, says the LORD of hosts: Emphasizes that the judgment originates from God Almighty, the Commander of heavenly armies, whose authority is supreme.

• and because they have provoked: "Hechpi'u" (הִכְעִיסוּ) from "ka`as" (כָּעַס), meaning "to anger" or "to provoke." This signifies their actions intentionally brought about God's wrath.

• to anger: The object of their provocation is God.

• with their doings in this place: Connects their wicked actions directly to Jerusalem.

• Word Group Analysis:

  • "break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel that cannot be mended": This entire phrase serves as a powerful, multifaceted metaphor for total annihilation. The breaking of a potter's vessel implies not only physical destruction but also the loss of its intended purpose and the impossibility of restoration, a stark contrast to the potential for repentance and restoration offered elsewhere.
  • "Topheth": The choice of this location is highly significant, directly linking the current destruction to the abominations of child sacrifice previously committed there, showing God's remembrance and judgment of such atrocities.
  • "forsaken me... and have provoked me to anger with their doings": This pair of phrases succinctly articulates the root cause of God's judgment: active rebellion and intentional defiance of His will, displayed through their continued sinful practices within the city itself.

Jeremiah 19 11 Bonus Section

The imagery of God as a potter and humanity as clay is recurrent throughout Scripture (e.g., Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:20-21). While often used to illustrate God's sovereignty and power to create and shape, here it is employed to underscore His right to judge and destroy what has become corrupted beyond repair. The choice of a "potter's vessel" also carries a sense of intrinsic value and purpose given by the potter. When such a vessel is broken, it signifies not just physical destruction but a perversion of its intended form and function. This ultimate breakage underscores the severity of Judah's rebellion, transforming a people intended to glorify God into something worthless and an object of His wrath. The act of burying the broken pieces in Topheth is the ultimate desecration, binding the people's judgment to the very site of their worst transgressions.

Jeremiah 19 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 19:11 is a chilling pronouncement of absolute judgment upon Jerusalem. The metaphor of the potter's shattered vessel vividly conveys the totality of the destruction. It’s not just breaking; it’s irrecoverable shattering. This image contrasts sharply with the gentle mending a potter might do for a small flaw, highlighting that this damage is catastrophic. The specified location, Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom, is steeped in the horror of child sacrifice. By burying the shattered "vessel" there, God visually equates Jerusalem's impending doom with the very abominations it practiced. The sin leading to this judgment is clearly stated: abandoning the LORD and provoking Him with their deeds, particularly the "innocent blood" spilled in the valley. This verse serves as a stark reminder that God’s judgment, when finalized due to persistent rebellion, is complete and without remedy. The irrecoverable nature of the shattered vessel mirrors the lost opportunity for repentance and restoration.