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Selected Verse: Jeremiah 18:6 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Jer 18:6 |
Strong Concordance |
O house [01004] of Israel [03478], cannot [03201] I do [06213] with you as this potter [03335]? saith [05002] the LORD [03068]. Behold, as the clay [02563] is in the potter's [03335] hand [03027], so are ye in mine hand [03027], O house [01004] of Israel [03478]. |
| |
King James |
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| Refuting the Jews' reliance on their external privileges as God's elect people, as if God could never cast them off. But if the potter, a mere creature, has power to throw away a marred vessel and raise up other clay from the ground, a fortiori God, the Creator, can east away the people who prove unfaithful to His election and can raise others in their stead (compare Isa 45:9; Isa 64:8; Rom 9:20-21). It is curious that the potter's field should have been the purchase made with the price of Judas' treachery (Mat 27:9-10 : a potter's vessel dashed to pieces, compare Psa 2:8-9; Rev 2:27), because of its failing to answer the maker's design, being the very image to depict God's sovereign power to give reprobates to destruction, not by caprice, but in the exercise of His righteous judgment. Matthew quotes Zechariah's words (Zac 11:12-13) as Jeremiah's because the latter (Jer. 18:1-19:15) was the source from which the former derived his summary in Zac 11:12-13 [HENGSTENBERG]. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| So are ye in mine hand - When a vessel was ruined, the potter did not throw it away, but crushed it together, dashed it back upon the wheel, and began his work afresh, until the clay had taken the predetermined shape. It was God's purpose that Judaea should become the proper scene for the manifestation of the Messiah, and her sons be fit to receive the Saviour's teaching and carry the good tidings to all lands. If therefore at any stage of the preparation the Jewish nation took such a course as would have frustrated this purpose of Providence, it was crushed by affliction into an unresisting mass, in which the formative process began again immediately. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
In Jer 18:6-10 the Lord discloses to the prophet the truth lying in the potter's treatment of the clay. The power the potter has over the clay to remould, according to his pleasure, the vessel he had formed from it if it went wrong; the same power God possesses over the people of Israel. This unlimited power of God over mankind is exercised according to man's conduct, not according to a decretum absolutum or unchangeable determination. If he pronounces a people's overthrow or ruin, and if that people turn from its wickedness, He repeals His decree (Jer 18:7.); and conversely, if He promises a people welfare and prosperity, and if that people turn away from Him to wickedness, then too He changes His resolve to do good to it (Jer 18:9.). Inasmuch as He is even now making His decree known by the mouth of the prophet, it follows that the accomplishment of Jeremiah's last utterances is conditioned by the impression God's word makes on men. רגע, adv., in the moment, forthwith, and when repeated = now...now, now...again. Ng. maintains that the arrangement here is paratactic, so that the רגע does not belong to the nearest verb, but to the main idea, i.e., to the apodosis in this case. The remark is just; but the word does not mean suddenly, but immediately, and the sense is: when I have spoken against a people, and this people repents, then immediately I let it repent me. נחם על as in Joe 2:13, etc. With "to pluck up," etc., "to build," etc., cf. Jer 1:10. "Against which I spake," Jer 18:8, belongs to "that people," and seems as if it might be dispensed with; but is not therefore spurious because the lxx have omitted it. For הרעה the Keri has הרע, the most usual form, Jer 7:30, Num 32:13; Jdg 2:11, etc.; but the Chet. is called for by the following הטּובה and מרעתו. להיטיב הטּובה, to show kindness, cf. Num 10:32.
The emblematical interpretation of the potter with the clay lays a foundation for the prophecy that follows, Jer 18:11-17, in which the people are told that it is only by reason of their stiffnecked persistency in wickedness that they render threatened judgment certain, whereas by return to their God they might prevent the ruin of the kingdom. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Cannot I do - That God hath an absolute sovereign power to do what he pleases with the work of his hands: but he acts as a just judge, rendering to every man according to his works. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Cannot I do with you as this potter? - Have I not a right to do with a people whom I have created as reason and justice may require? If they do not answer my intentions, may I not reject and destroy them; and act as this potter, make a new vessel out of that which at first did not succeed in his hands?
It is generally supposed that St. Paul has made a very different use of this similitude from that mentioned above. See Rom 9:20, etc. His words are, "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" To this every sensible and pious man will answer, Undoubtedly he has. But would any potter make an exceedingly fair and good vessel on purpose to dash it to pieces when he had done? Surely no! And would or could, the God of infinite perfection and love make millions of immortal souls on purpose for eternal perdition, as the horrible decree of reprobation states? No! This is a lie against all the attributes of God. But does not the text state that he can, out of the same lump, the same mass of human nature, make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor? Yes. But the text does not say, what the horrible decree says, that he makes one part, and indeed the greater, for eternal perdition. But what then is the meaning of the text? Why evidently this: As out of the same mass of clay a potter may make a flagon for the table and a certain utensil for the chamber, the one for a more honorable, the other for a less honorable use, though both equally necessary to the owner; so God, out of the same flesh and blood, may make the tiller of the field and the prophet of the Most High; the one in a more honorable, the other in a less honorable employ; yet both equally necessary in the world, and equally capable of bringing glory to God in their respective places. But if the vessel be marred in his hand, under his providential and gracious dealings, he may reject it as he did the Jews, and make another vessel, such as he is pleased with, of the Gentiles; yet even these marred vessels, the reprobate Jews, are not finally rejected; for all Israel shall be saved in (through) the Lord, i.e., Jesus Christ. And should the Gentiles act as the Jews have done, then they also shall be cut off, and God will call his Church by another name. See on Rom 9:22 (note) and below. |
12 And I said [0559] unto them, If ye think [05869] good [02896], give [03051] me my price [07939]; and if not, forbear [02308]. So they weighed [08254] for my price [07939] thirty [07970] pieces of silver [03701].
13 And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, Cast [07993] it unto the potter [03335]: a goodly [0145] price [03366] that I was prised at [03365] of them. And I took [03947] the thirty [07970] pieces of silver [03701], and cast [07993] them to the potter [03335] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
12 And I said [0559] unto them, If ye think [05869] good [02896], give [03051] me my price [07939]; and if not, forbear [02308]. So they weighed [08254] for my price [07939] thirty [07970] pieces of silver [03701].
13 And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, Cast [07993] it unto the potter [03335]: a goodly [0145] price [03366] that I was prised at [03365] of them. And I took [03947] the thirty [07970] pieces of silver [03701], and cast [07993] them to the potter [03335] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
27 And [2532] he shall rule [4165] them [846] with [1722] a rod [4464] of iron [4603]; as [5613] the vessels [4632] of a potter [2764] shall they be broken to shivers [4937]: even [2504] as [5613] I [2504] received [2983] of [3844] my [3450] Father [3962].
8 Ask [07592] of me, and I shall give [05414] thee the heathen [01471] for thine inheritance [05159], and the uttermost parts [0657] of the earth [0776] for thy possession [0272].
9 Thou shalt break [07489] them with a rod [07626] of iron [01270]; thou shalt dash them in pieces [05310] like a potter's [03335] vessel [03627].
9 Then [5119] was fulfilled [4137] that which [3588] was spoken [4483] by [1223] Jeremy [2408] the prophet [4396], saying [3004], And [2532] they took [2983] the thirty [5144] pieces of silver [694], the price [5092] of him that was valued [5091], whom [3739] they of [575] the children [5207] of Israel [2474] did value [5091];
10 And [2532] gave [1325] them [846] for [1519] the potter's [2763] field [68], as [2505] the Lord [2962] appointed [4929] me [3427].
20 Nay but [3304], O [5599] man [444], who [5101] art [1488] thou [4771] that repliest against [470] God [2316]? [3361] Shall [2046] the thing formed [4110] say [2046] to him that formed [4111] it, Why [5101] hast thou made [4160] me [3165] thus [3779]?
21 [2228] Hath [2192] not [3756] the potter [2763] power [1849] over the clay [4081], of [1537] the same [846] lump [5445] to [3739] [3303] make [4160] one vessel [4632] unto [1519] honour [5092], and [1161] another [3739] unto [1519] dishonour [819]?
8 But now, O LORD [03068], thou art our father [01]; we are the clay [02563], and thou our potter [03335]; and we all are the work [04639] of thy hand [03027].
9 Woe [01945] unto him that striveth [07378] with his Maker [03335] ! Let the potsherd [02789] strive with the potsherds [02789] of the earth [0127]. Shall the clay [02563] say [0559] to him that fashioneth [03335] it, What makest [06213] thou? or thy work [06467], He hath no hands [03027]?
11 Now therefore go to, speak [0559] to the men [0376] of Judah [03063], and to the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389], saying [0559], Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, I frame [03335] evil [07451] against you, and devise [02803] a device [04284] against you: return [07725] ye now every one [0376] from his evil [07451] way [01870], and make your ways [01870] and your doings [04611] good [03190].
12 And they said [0559], There is no hope [02976]: but we will walk [03212] after [0310] our own devices [04284], and we will every one [0376] do [06213] the imagination [08307] of his evil [07451] heart [03820].
13 Therefore thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Ask [07592] ye now among the heathen [01471], who hath heard [08085] such things: the virgin [01330] of Israel [03478] hath done [06213] a very [03966] horrible thing [08186].
14 Will a man leave [05800] the snow [07950] of Lebanon [03844] which cometh from the rock [06697] of the field [07704]? or shall the cold [07119] flowing [05140] waters [04325] that come from another place [02114] be forsaken [05428]?
15 Because my people [05971] hath forgotten [07911] me, they have burned incense [06999] to vanity [07723], and they have caused them to stumble [03782] in their ways [01870] from the ancient [05769] paths [07635] [07635], to walk [03212] in paths [05410], in a way [01870] not cast up [05549];
16 To make [07760] their land [0776] desolate [08047], and a perpetual [05769] hissing [08292] [08292]; every one that passeth [05674] thereby shall be astonished [08074], and wag [05110] his head [07218].
17 I will scatter [06327] them as with an east [06921] wind [07307] before [06440] the enemy [0341]; I will shew [07200] them the back [06203], and not the face [06440], in the day [03117] of their calamity [0343].
32 And it shall be, if thou go [03212] with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness [02896] the LORD [03068] shall do [03190] unto us, the same will we do [02895] unto thee.
11 And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] did [06213] evil [07451] in the sight [05869] of the LORD [03068], and served [05647] Baalim [01168]:
13 And the LORD'S [03068] anger [0639] was kindled [02734] against Israel [03478], and he made them wander [05128] in the wilderness [04057] forty [0705] years [08141], until all the generation [01755], that had done [06213] evil [07451] in the sight [05869] of the LORD [03068], was consumed [08552].
30 For the children [01121] of Judah [03063] have done [06213] evil [07451] in my sight [05869], saith [05002] the LORD [03068]: they have set [07760] their abominations [08251] in the house [01004] which is called [07121] by my name [08034], to pollute [02930] it.
8 If that nation [01471], against whom I have pronounced [01696], turn [07725] from their evil [07451], I will repent [05162] of the evil [07451] that I thought [02803] to do [06213] unto them.
10 See [07200], I have this day [03117] set [06485] thee over the nations [01471] and over the kingdoms [04467], to root out [05428], and to pull down [05422], and to destroy [06], and to throw down [02040], to build [01129], and to plant [05193].
13 And rend [07167] your heart [03824], and not your garments [0899], and turn [07725] unto the LORD [03068] your God [0430]: for he is gracious [02587] and merciful [07349], slow [0750] to anger [0639], and of great [07227] kindness [02617], and repenteth [05162] him of the evil [07451].
9 And at what instant [07281] I shall speak [01696] concerning a nation [01471], and concerning a kingdom [04467], to build [01129] and to plant [05193] it;
7 At what instant [07281] I shall speak [01696] concerning a nation [01471], and concerning a kingdom [04467], to pluck up [05428], and to pull down [05422], and to destroy [06] it;
6 O house [01004] of Israel [03478], cannot [03201] I do [06213] with you as this potter [03335]? saith [05002] the LORD [03068]. Behold, as the clay [02563] is in the potter's [03335] hand [03027], so are ye in mine hand [03027], O house [01004] of Israel [03478].
7 At what instant [07281] I shall speak [01696] concerning a nation [01471], and concerning a kingdom [04467], to pluck up [05428], and to pull down [05422], and to destroy [06] it;
8 If that nation [01471], against whom I have pronounced [01696], turn [07725] from their evil [07451], I will repent [05162] of the evil [07451] that I thought [02803] to do [06213] unto them.
9 And at what instant [07281] I shall speak [01696] concerning a nation [01471], and concerning a kingdom [04467], to build [01129] and to plant [05193] it;
10 If it do [06213] evil [07451] in my sight [05869], that it obey [08085] not my voice [06963], then I will repent [05162] of the good [02896], wherewith I said [0559] I would benefit [03190] them.
22 What if [1487] [1161] God [2316], willing [2309] to shew [1731] his wrath [3709], and [2532] to make [1107] his [846] power [1415] known [1107], endured [5342] with [1722] much [4183] longsuffering [3115] the vessels [4632] of wrath [3709] fitted [2675] to [1519] destruction [684]:
20 Nay but [3304], O [5599] man [444], who [5101] art [1488] thou [4771] that repliest against [470] God [2316]? [3361] Shall [2046] the thing formed [4110] say [2046] to him that formed [4111] it, Why [5101] hast thou made [4160] me [3165] thus [3779]?