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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Jeremiah 18:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/18-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/24_Jer_18_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jeremiah 18:1 - The Potter and the Clay" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/jeremiah/18-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/jeremiah/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/jeremiah/">Jeremiah</a> > <a href="/jeremiah/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/jeremiah/17-27.htm" title="Jeremiah 17:27">◄</a> Jeremiah 18:1 <a href="/jeremiah/18-2.htm" title="Jeremiah 18:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/jeremiah/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jeremiah/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The LORD told me, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD said to me, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The LORD said to Jeremiah:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The word that has been to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The word which was to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The word that came from Jeremias to the Lord, saying: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THE word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The word that was upon Jeremiah from before LORD JEHOVAH saying:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The word that came from the Lord to<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=5323" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/18.htm">The Potter and the Clay</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·dā·ḇār (Art:: N-ms) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">This is the word</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/3414.htm" title="3414: yir·mə·yā·hū (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yirmyahuw; from ruwm and Yahh; Jah will rise; Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites.">Jeremiah</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: mê·’êṯ (Prep-m:: DirObjM) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">from the LORD:</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>“Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will reveal My message to you.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-8.htm">Isaiah 64:8</a></span><br />But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-20.htm">Romans 9:20-21</a></span><br />But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-16.htm">Isaiah 29:16</a></span><br />You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-7.htm">2 Corinthians 4:7</a></span><br />Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a></span><br />Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/10-9.htm">Job 10:9</a></span><br />Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/33-6.htm">Job 33:6</a></span><br />I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-9.htm">Isaiah 45:9</a></span><br />Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/4-2.htm">Lamentations 4:2</a></span><br />How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-47.htm">1 Corinthians 15:47</a></span><br />The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/2-20.htm">2 Timothy 2:20-21</a></span><br />A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. / So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/2-9.htm">Psalm 2:9</a></span><br />You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/16-9.htm">Proverbs 16:9</a></span><br />A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-15.htm">Acts 9:15</a></span><br />“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-10.htm">Ephesians 2:10</a></span><br />For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/14-1.htm">Jeremiah</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-20.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/18-18.htm">Jeremiah</a> <a href="/jeremiah/18-5.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Under the type of a potter is shown God's absolute power in disposing of nations.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/18-11.htm">Judgments threatened to Judah for her strange revolt.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/18-18.htm">Jeremiah prays against his conspirators.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>This is the word</b><br>The phrase "This is the word" signifies a divine message or revelation. In the context of the Old Testament, "the word" often refers to a direct communication from God to His prophets. This underscores the authority and authenticity of the message that follows. The concept of "the word" is foundational in Scripture, as seen in <a href="/john/1.htm">John 1:1</a>, where Jesus is referred to as the Word, indicating the ultimate revelation of God.<p><b>that came to Jeremiah</b><br>Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," was called by God to deliver messages to the people of Judah during a tumultuous period in their history. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings, including Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. Jeremiah's role was to warn of impending judgment due to the people's unfaithfulness and to call them to repentance. His messages were often met with resistance and persecution, reflecting the hardness of the people's hearts.<p><b>from the LORD:</b><br>The use of "LORD" in all capital letters indicates the translation of the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenant name of God. This emphasizes the personal and relational aspect of God's communication with His people. Yahweh is the God who made a covenant with Israel, and His messages through Jeremiah are rooted in this covenant relationship. The authority of the message is underscored by its divine origin, reminding the audience of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. Known for his perseverance and faithfulness amidst persecution and rejection.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates His will and purposes to His people through His prophets.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_word_of_the_lord.htm">The Word of the LORD</a></b><br>Represents God's direct communication and revelation to His chosen messenger, Jeremiah, emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the message.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_authority_of_god's_word.htm">The Authority of God's Word</a></b><br>God's word to Jeremiah underscores the authority and reliability of divine revelation. As believers, we are called to trust and obey God's word as the ultimate guide for our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_prophet.htm">The Role of the Prophet</a></b><br>Jeremiah's role as a prophet reminds us of the importance of being faithful messengers of God's truth, even when faced with opposition or indifference.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_personal_communication.htm">God's Personal Communication</a></b><br>The personal nature of God's communication with Jeremiah encourages us to seek a personal relationship with God, where we are attentive to His voice through prayer and Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consistency_of_god's_message.htm">The Consistency of God's Message</a></b><br>The continuity of God's message through different prophets highlights His unchanging nature and the consistency of His purposes throughout history.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/responding_to_god's_call.htm">Responding to God's Call</a></b><br>Just as Jeremiah responded to God's call, we are challenged to be open and responsive to God's leading in our own lives, ready to fulfill His purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_events_in_jeremiah_18.htm">What archaeological or historical evidence supports the specific events or setting described in Jeremiah 18?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_jer._18_align_with_predestined_judgment.htm">How does Jeremiah 18 align with other passages that depict God’s judgment as predetermined, creating a seeming contradiction about free will?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_potter's_house_church.htm">What is Potter's House Christian Fellowship Church?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_jer._18_fit_with_god's_omniscience.htm">Jeremiah 18 portrays God as learning from people's actions; how does that reconcile with the belief in His omniscience?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XVIII.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">The word which came to Jeremiah.</span>--The message that follows comes in close sequence upon that of the preceding chapter, <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>probably before the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim. It has the character of a last warning to king and people, and its rejection is followed in its turn by the more decisive use of the same symbol in Jeremiah 19<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1-6.</span> - The simple and familiar craft of the potter becomes a parable of religious truth (comp. <a href="/isaiah/29-16.htm">Isaiah 29:16</a>; <a href="/isaiah/45-9.htm">Isaiah 45:9</a>; <a href="/isaiah/64-8.htm">Isaiah 64:8</a>; Ecclus 33:13; <a href="/romans/9-20.htm">Romans 9:20</a>; and the account of man's creation in <a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a>, which has doubtless given rise to the figure). God has the sovereign right to do as he wills with his own handiwork; thus much can be expressed by the figure. But the moral element in Jeremiah's teaching stands outside this, viz. that the Divine action is governed, not by mere caprice, but a regard for character. "The thought is not so much the arbitrariness as the patience of God, who will bring men to be what he would have them be in the end, as the potter eventually twists the clay to the shape he originally intended, stubborn as the clay may <span class="accented">be</span>." But whether Jeremiah meant the lesson which Mr. Maurice deduces from his words may be gravely doubted. It is not of individuals that the prophet is thinking, but of the <span class="accented">nation</span>, and not of the nation as destined to be all but certainly saved, but as placed before a serious and awful decision. (For different lessons derived from the same figure, see the ' Rabbi Ben Ezra' of Browning.) Egypt and Palestine were, as it seems, at one in the extreme simplicity of the potter's art. Dr. Birch has given us an account of the Egyptian potter at his work, as he appears in the pictorial representations at Beni Hassan ('Ancient Pottery,' pp. 33-35), and Dr. Thomson has described the procedure of a potter in modern Palestine ('The Land and the Book,' p. 520). The chief difference between them seems to be that in Egypt the wheel was turned with the left hand, and the vase shaped with the right, while in modern Palestine the wheel is turned with the fool "Taking a lump in his hand," says Dr. Thomson, "he placed it on the top of the wheel (which revolves horizontally), and smoothed it into a low cone, like the upper end of a sugar-loaf; then thrusting his thumb into the top of it, he opened a hole down through the center, and this he constantly widened by pressing the edges of the revolving cone between his hands. As it enlarged and became thinner, he gave it whatever shape he pleased with the utmost ease and expedition." It should be observed that in ver. 3 the "wheels," or rather "two wheels," spoken of are simply the two round plates which formed the horizontal lathe of the potter. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">This is the word</span><br /><span class="heb">הַדָּבָר֙</span> <span class="translit">(had·dā·ḇār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A word, a matter, thing, a cause</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">הָיָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶֽל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jeremiah</span><br /><span class="heb">יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yir·mə·yā·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3414.htm">Strong's 3414: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the LORD:</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/18-1.htm">Jeremiah 18:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/18-1.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/17-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 17:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 17:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/18-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 18:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 18:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>