Jeremiah 19 2

Jeremiah 19:2 kjv

And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,

Jeremiah 19:2 nkjv

And go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words that I will tell you,

Jeremiah 19:2 niv

and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There proclaim the words I tell you,

Jeremiah 19:2 esv

and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you.

Jeremiah 19:2 nlt

Go out through the Gate of Broken Pots to the garbage dump in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and give them this message.

Jeremiah 19 verses

Jeremiah 19 2 Meaning

The verse commands Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house and to purchase a potter's clay vessel there. This act serves as a potent symbol and prophetic demonstration of God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem and its people for their disobedience and idolatry. The purchased pot, a common and fragile item, represents the nation itself, destined to be broken beyond repair due to its sins.

Jeremiah 19 2 Context

Jeremiah chapter 19 continues God's prophetic indictment against Judah and Jerusalem for their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness. In the preceding verses, Jeremiah had received instructions to go to the Valley of Hinnom (Topheth), a place associated with child sacrifice and desecration, to pronounce judgment. This chapter represents a further escalation of this condemnation, using a visceral and easily understood metaphor. The command to go to the potter's house signifies that God's judgment will be thorough and complete, just as a potter can break his creation beyond repair. The audience for this prophecy is not just the general populace but specifically the leadership ("kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem"), highlighting their responsibility and the impending consequences for their governance. The historical setting is a period of intense spiritual decay and imminent invasion by the Babylonian empire.

Jeremiah 19 2 Word Analysis

• And go (וְהָלַכְתָּ - wehalakhta): This is the common verb "to go," "to walk." It's a straightforward command, initiating Jeremiah's journey to enact the prophecy.
• down (מַלְקֵט – malqet): Actually, the Hebrew word is "yared" (וְרַדְתָּ - wərāḏətā) meaning "to go down." This might indicate a descent into a literal valley or a symbolic lowering into a place of judgment. The context suggests going down into the Valley of Hinnom mentioned in chapter 18.
• to the potter's house (בֵּית הַיּוֹצֵר – beit hayotser):
  • house (בֵּית – beit): Means house, dwelling, or place.
  • the potter (הַיּוֹצֵר – hayotser): The active participle of the verb "to form," "to fashion," "to create." This refers to the craftsman who shapes clay into vessels. The definite article "ha-" signifies a specific potter's house.
• and there (וְשָׁמָּה – wəshammah): Means "and to there," "and thither." It emphasizes that the prophet's action will take place at this specific location.
• proclaim (קְרָא – qera'): Means to call out, to announce, to preach. It's a direct and public declaration.
• the words (אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים – et had’varim): Refers to the specific messages God is about to reveal to Jeremiah.
• which I shall tell you (אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִי אֲדַבֵּר – asher anokhi adaber): Assures Jeremiah that he will be a conduit for God's direct communication.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "Go down to the potter's house": This phrase evokes a sense of mission and a descent into a place of significant symbolism. The potter's house represents a place of creation and formation, but here it becomes a stage for announcing destruction. The act of going down could also imply moving towards the lower parts of the city, a common place for common crafts or disposal areas, underscoring the commonality and impending destruction of the people.
• "Proclaim the words which I shall tell you": This highlights the direct, divine commission given to Jeremiah. He is not speaking his own words but God's, and the location is key to the message's impact.

Jeremiah 19 2 Bonus Section

The potter's house was a place of creation, but also potentially of destruction or recycling for flawed pieces. Jeremiah’s prophetic action grounds a divine judgment in a tangible, everyday reality understood by his audience. The act of buying the pot ensures that Jeremiah possesses it as his own, giving him the legal right to break it in public as a demonstration of God's pronouncement. This echoes God's power over His creation, as seen in Isaiah 64:8 ("But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and all we are the work of your hand."). The breaking of the vessel points to the complete demolition of the city and nation as they knew it. The location, the potter's house, also connects to the creative aspect of God, making the destruction of what He created even more poignant and significant. Scholars note that this kind of symbolic action was a common prophetic method in the ancient Near East to communicate divine messages powerfully.

Jeremiah 19 2 Commentary

Jeremiah's assignment to the potter's house is a vivid demonstration of divine sovereignty and judgment. Just as a potter shapes and molds clay, God formed Israel and Judah. However, when the clay proves unworthy or resists the potter's intent, the potter has the right to break it. Jeremiah's action vividly illustrates that Jerusalem and its people, by their persistent sin, have become like flawed clay, destined for breaking. This is not capricious destruction, but a righteous consequence for their idolatry and injustice. The purchase of the vessel signifies the certainty of the judgment; it is as good as done. The purchased pot will be broken "beyond repair," meaning God's judgment on this generation for their persistent rebellion will be absolute and final in its national impact.