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◄ Jeremiah 18:6►

New International Version
He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

New Living Translation
“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.

English Standard Version
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

King James Bible
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clayis in the potter's hand, soare ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

New King James Version
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clayis in the potter’s hand, soare you in My hand, O house of Israel!

New American Standard Bible
“Am I not able, house of Israel, to deal with you as this potterdoes?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.

NASB 1995
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

NASB 1977
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potterdoes?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potterdoes?” declares Yahweh. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Amplified Bible
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the LORD. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
“House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? ”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?"—this is the LORD’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.

American Standard Version
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
People of Israel, I, the LORD, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.

English Revised Version
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Nation of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter's hands.

Good News Translation
"Don't I have the right to do with you people of Israel what the potter did with the clay? You are in my hands just like clay in the potter's hands.

International Standard Version
"Israel, can't I deal with you like this potter?" declares the LORD. "Look, Israel, like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.

NET Bible
"I, the LORD, say: 'O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter's hand.'

New Heart English Bible
"'House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter?' says the LORD. 'Look, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.'

Webster's Bible Translation
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 my hand, O house of Israel.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

World English Bible
“House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“O house of Israel, am I not able to do to you as this potter?” A declaration of YHWH. “Behold, as clay in the hand of the potter, "" So [are] you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
As this potter am I not able to do to you? O house of Israel, an affirmation of Jehovah. Lo, as clay in the hand of the potter, So are ye in My hand, O house of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
As this potter shall I not be able to do to you, O house of Israel? says Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the hand of the potter, thus are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Cannot I do with you as this potter, saith the Lord? behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Am I not able to do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done, says the Lord? Behold, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

New American Bible
Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done?—oracle of the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? says the LORD, Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Can I not do with you, house of Israel, as this Potter, says LORD JEHOVAH? Behold, like clay in the hands of a potter, so are you in my hands, house of Israel

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in My hand, O house of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Shall I not be able, O house of Israel, to do to you as this potter? behold, as the clay of the potter are ye in my hands.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Potter and the Clay
…5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,6“O house of Israel,declares the LORD,can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?Just like clay in the potter’s hand,so are you in My hand,O house of Israel.7At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Isaiah 64:8
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.

Romans 9:20-21
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?

Isaiah 29:16
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”?

Job 10:9
Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?

2 Timothy 2:20-21
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.

Genesis 2:7
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.

Psalm 103:14
For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Isaiah 45:9
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’?

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Job 33:6
I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Lamentations 4:2
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!

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Treasury of Scripture

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? said the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Jeremiah 18:4
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to makeit.

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, thouart our father; weare the clay, and thou our potter; and we allare the work of thy hand.

Daniel 4:23
And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, andlet his portionbe with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

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Jeremiah 18

1.Under the type of a potter is shown God's absolute power in disposing of nations.
11.Judgments threatened to Judah for her strange revolt.
18.Jeremiah prays against his conspirators.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

O house of Israel, declares the LORD,
This phrase addresses the nation of Israel, emphasizing God's covenant relationship with them. The term "house of Israel" is often used in the Old Testament to refer to the collective people of Israel, highlighting their identity as God's chosen people. This declaration by the LORD underscores His authority and the seriousness of the message. The prophetic context is significant, as Jeremiah is speaking during a time of impending judgment due to Israel's disobedience. The phrase also connects to other instances where God addresses Israel directly, such as inIsaiah 1:18 andEzekiel 18:30-32, calling them to repentance.

can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?
Here, God uses the metaphor of a potter and clay to illustrate His sovereignty over Israel. The imagery of the potter is rich in biblical symbolism, representing God's creative power and authority to shape and reshape nations and individuals according to His will. This metaphor is also found inIsaiah 64:8, where God is acknowledged as the potter and the people as clay. The rhetorical question emphasizes God's right to deal with Israel as He sees fit, whether to bless or to discipline, based on their response to His covenant.

Just like clay in the potter’s hand,
This phrase highlights the malleability and dependence of the clay on the potter's skill and intention. In the ancient Near Eastern context, pottery was a common craft, and the process of shaping clay was well understood by Jeremiah's audience. The clay's lack of control over its form serves as a powerful reminder of human dependence on God. This imagery is echoed inRomans 9:21, where Paul discusses God's sovereign choice and mercy, reinforcing the theme of divine authority and human submission.

so are you in My hand,
God asserts His control and authority over Israel, likening them to clay in His hands. This statement reassures that, despite their current state, they are still under His care and subject to His purposes. The phrase implies both comfort and warning: comfort in God's ongoing involvement and warning in His ability to reshape or discipline. The concept of being in God's hand is a recurring biblical theme, seen in passages likeJohn 10:28-29, where believers are assured of their security in God's grasp.

O house of Israel.
The repetition of "O house of Israel" serves to reinforce the message's focus and urgency. It calls the people to attention, reminding them of their identity and responsibility as God's covenant community. This repetition also emphasizes the personal and collective nature of the message, urging Israel to consider their relationship with God and their need for repentance. The historical context of Jeremiah's ministry, during a time of national crisis and impending exile, adds weight to this call for reflection and response.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He is known for his prophecies of judgment and restoration.

2.House of Israel
Refers to the people of Israel, God's chosen nation, who are being addressed by God through the prophet Jeremiah.

3.The Potter
Represents God, who has sovereign control over His creation, shaping and molding it according to His will.

4.The Clay
Symbolizes the people of Israel, who are subject to God's shaping and molding, reflecting their need for submission to His will.

5.The Potter's House
The location where God instructs Jeremiah to go to receive a visual lesson about His sovereignty and the relationship between God and His people.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty
Recognize that God has ultimate authority over our lives, just as a potter has over the clay. We are called to trust in His perfect plan and purpose.

Submission to God's Will
Like clay in the potter's hands, we must be pliable and willing to be shaped by God. This requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own plans.

Repentance and Restoration
The context ofJeremiah 18 emphasizes the possibility of repentance and restoration. God is willing to reshape us if we turn back to Him.

Purpose and Usefulness
Understand that God shapes us for specific purposes. Our role is to be ready and available for His use, aligning our lives with His will.

Community and Accountability
As part of the "house of Israel," we are reminded of our collective identity and responsibility. We should encourage one another to remain faithful and obedient to God.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 18

Jeremiah 18 portrays God as learning from people's actions; how does that reconcile with the belief in His omniscience?

Isaiah 64:8 depicts God as the potter shaping humanity; how does this metaphor align with modern theories of human evolution and origin?

Why would a just God hold the entire 'clay' (nation) responsible when individuals have varying degrees of guilt, per Jeremiah 18?

How does Jeremiah 18 align with other passages that depict God’s judgment as predetermined, creating a seeming contradiction about free will?

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6)Cannot I do with you as this potter?--The question implies a theory of the universe, which is neither (as some have thought) one of absolute fatalism, crushing man's freedom, nor, on the other hand, one which merges God's sovereignty in man's power of choice. The clay can resist the potter, or can yield itself willingly to his hands to be shaped as he wills. Its being "marred" is through no fault of the potter, but--in the framework of the parable--through the defect of the material, and, in its application, through the resistance of the human agents whom God is fashioning. And when it is so marred one of two courses is open to the potter. He can again re-mould and fashion it to his purpose, to a new work which may be less honourable than that for which it was originally designed; or, if it be hopelessly marred, can break it and cast it away, and with fresh clay mould a fresh vessel. The history of nations and churches and individual men offers many examples of both processes. They frustrate God's gracious purpose by their self-will, but His long-suffering leads them to repentance, and gives them, to speak after the manner of men, yet another chance of being moulded by His hands. Here the prophet invites the people, as the clay, to accept the former alternative. St. Paul, taking the same analogy, looks forward to the time when the marred vessel of Israel shall be restored to the Master's house and be honoured in His service (Romans 9:21;Romans 11:26). The closing verses of Browning's poem, "Rabbi Ben-Ezra," inMen and Women,may be referred to as embodying the same thought :--

"But I need Thee, as then,

Thee, God, who mouldest men;

And since, not even while the whirl was worst,

Did I--to the wheel of life,

With shapes and colours rife,

Bound dizzily--mistake my end, to slake Thy thirst,

"So take and use Thy work! . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“O house
בֵּ֥ית(bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A house

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל(yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

can
אוּכַ֨ל(’ū·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3201:To be able, have power

I not
לֹא־(lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, no

treat
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת(la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213:To do, make

you
לָכֶ֛ם(lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

as this
הַזֶּ֜ה(haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, that

potter treats his clay?
הֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨ר(hă·ḵay·yō·w·ṣêr)
Preposition-k, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335:To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

declares
נְאֻם־(nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002:An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Just like clay
כַחֹ֙מֶר֙(ḵa·ḥō·mer)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2563:A bubbling up, of water, a wave, of earth, mire, clay, a heap, a chomer, dry measure

in the potter’s
הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר(hay·yō·w·ṣêr)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335:To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

hand,
בְּיַ֣ד(bə·yaḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027:A hand

so
כֵּן־(kên-)
Adverb
Strong's 3651:So -- thus

are you
אַתֶּ֥ם(’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859:Thou and thee, ye and you

in My hand,
בְּיָדִ֖י(bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027:A hand

O house
בֵּ֥ית(bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A house

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃(yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 18:6 House of Israel can't I do (Jer.)