Jeremiah18
New Living Translation
1The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,
2“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.”
3So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.
4But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.
5Then the Lord gave me this message:
6“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.
7If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed,
8but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.
9And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom,
10but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.
11“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”
12But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.”
13So this is what the Lord says: “Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, even among the pagan nations? My virgin daughter Israel has done something terrible!
14Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Lebanon? Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry?
15But my people are not so reliable, for they have deserted me; they burn incense to worthless idols. They have stumbled off the ancient highways and walk in muddy paths.
16Therefore, their land will become desolate, a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will shake their heads in amazement.
17I will scatter my people before their enemies as the east wind scatters dust. And in all their trouble I will turn my back on them and refuse to notice their distress.”
18Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”
19Lord, hear me and help me! Listen to what my enemies are saying.
20Should they repay evil for good? They have dug a pit to kill me, though I pleaded for them and tried to protect them from your anger.
21So let their children starve! Let them die by the sword! Let their wives become childless widows. Let their old men die in a plague, and let their young men be killed in battle!
22Let screaming be heard from their homes as warriors come suddenly upon them. For they have dug a pit for me and have hidden traps along my path.
23Lord, you know all about their murderous plots against me. Don’t forgive their crimes and blot out their sins. Let them die before you. Deal with them in your anger.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 18.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's power over his creatures is represented by the potter. (1-10). The Jews exhorted to repentance, and judgments foretold. (11-17). The prophet appeals to God. (18-23).
vv1-10
While Jeremiah looks upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind two great truths. God has authority, and power, to form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. He may dispose of us as he thinks fit; and it would be as absurd for us to dispute this, as for the clay to quarrel with the potter. But he always goes by fixed rules of justice and goodness. When God is coming against us in judgments, we may be sure it is for our sins; but sincere conversion from the evil of sin will prevent the evil of punishment, as to persons, and to families, and nations.
vv11-17
Sinners call it liberty to live at large; whereas for a man to be a slave to his lusts, is the very worst slavery. They forsook God for idols. When men are parched with heat, and meet with cooling, refreshing streams, they use them. In these things men will not leave a certainty for an uncertainty; but Israel left the ancient paths appointed by the Divine law. They walked not in the highway, in which they might travel safely, but in a way in which they must stumble: such was the way of idolatry, and such is the way of iniquity. This made their land desolate, and themselves miserable. Calamities may be borne, if God smile upon us when under them; but if he is displeased, and refuses his help, we are undone. Multitudes forget the Lord and his Christ, and wander from the ancient paths, to walk in ways of their own devising. But what will they do in the day of judgment!
vv18-23
When the prophet called to repentance, instead of obeying the call, the people devised devices against him. Thus do sinners deal with the great Intercessor, crucifying him afresh, and speaking against him on earth, while his blood is speaking for them in heaven. But the prophet had done his duty to them; and the same will be our rejoicing in a day of evil.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
יָרַד: to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)
יָצַר: to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
שָׁם: there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
הִנֵּה: lo!
Cross References
Jeremiah 18Paul uses the potter and the clay imagery directly to explain divine sovereignty and election.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Isaiah uses the exact potter and clay metaphor to assert God's absolute sovereign authority.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Affirms God as the potter and Israel as the clay, appealing to His mercy as Creator.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah's original calling to pluck up, pull down, and destroy is executed through these principles.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates God's promise to repent of planned judgment if the nation turns from evil.
Supported by JFB
A concrete historical example of God repenting of threatened disaster upon a nation's repentance.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical record of prophets commanding Israel and Judah to return from their evil ways.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the hopeless, stubborn refusal to repent, choosing instead to follow foreign gods.
Supported by JFB
Parallels forsaking the cold flowing waters of Lebanon for broken, empty cisterns.
Supported by JFB
Judah's spiritual rebellion is described using the same phrase: 'a very horrible thing.'
Supported by JFB
Direct thematic connection linking the forgetting of God to stumbling from ancient paths.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah's enemies conspire against his life, paralleling the devices in verse 18.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the righteous principle that if the wicked turns, he shall surely live.
Supported by JFB
Reinforces God's desire for the wicked to turn and live rather than die.
Supported by JFB
Depicts passersby hissing and wagging their heads in astonishment at Jerusalem's destruction.
The consecutive narrative action where Jeremiah actually purchases the potter's earthen bottle.
The false confidence that instruction will not perish from the priest or counsel from the wise.
The psalmist experiences hatred and conspiracy in return for his love and prayers.