King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And [at what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant [it];
Complete Jewish Bible:
Similarly, at another time, I may speak about building and planting a nation or kingdom;
Berean Standard Bible:
And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom,
American Standard Version:
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And at what instant{H7281} I shall speak{H1696} concerning a nation{H1471}, and concerning a kingdom{H4467}, to build{H1129} and to plant{H5193} it;
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 31:28
- And it shall come to pass, [that] like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:10
- See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Amos 9:11
- ¶ In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Amos 9:15
- And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.
Jeremiah 11:17
- For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
Ecclesiastes 3:2
- A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
Jeremiah 31:4
- Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
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Commentary for Jeremiah 18:9
Jeremiah 18:9 is part of a larger narrative within the book of Jeremiah, which is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," was called by God to deliver messages of warning and judgment to the people of Judah, particularly during the years leading up to the Babylonian exile. This verse is situated within a section where God illustrates His sovereignty through the metaphor of a potter and His clay.
In Jeremiah 18:1-10, God sends Jeremiah to the potter's house to observe the potter shaping the clay. If the vessel being formed turns out wrong, the potter has the power to reshape it as he sees fit. Similarly, God declares that He can shape the destiny of nations, saying, "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it." This indicates God's authority to establish or destroy nations based on His purposes and their response to His guidance.
The historical context of this verse is significant. Judah was in a state of moral and spiritual decay, and despite God's repeated calls for repentance through prophets like Jeremiah, the nation continued to rebel against Him. Jeremiah 18:9 thus carries a dual message: it underscores God's sovereignty over all nations, but it also serves as a warning to Judah. God is saying that if He decides to speak a word of building and planting—a metaphor for prosperity and growth—He has the power to do so. However, the inverse is also true; if a nation, like Judah, does not respond to His guidance with obedience, He can just as easily speak a word of judgment and uproot a nation.
In summary, Jeremiah 18:9 reflects the themes of God's sovereignty, His power to shape history, and the conditional nature of His blessings and judgments. It serves as a reminder that God's plans for nations and individuals are not static but can change based on their willingness to align with His will. This verse challenges readers to consider their own malleability and responsiveness to God's shaping in their lives.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7281
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֶגַע
Transliteration: regaʻ
Pronunciation: reh'-gah
Description: from רָגַע.; a wink (of the eyes), i.e. a very short space of time; instant, moment, space, suddenly. - Strong's Number: H1696
There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָבַר
Transliteration: dâbar
Pronunciation: daw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work. - Strong's Number: H1471
There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גּוֹי
Transliteration: gôwy
Pronunciation: go'-ee
Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H4467
There are 113 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַמְלָכָה
Transliteration: mamlâkâh
Pronunciation: mam-law-kaw'
Description: from מָלַךְ; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm); kingdom, king's, reign, royal. - Strong's Number: H1129
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּנָה
Transliteration: bânâh
Pronunciation: baw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H5193
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָטַע
Transliteration: nâṭaʻ
Pronunciation: naw-tah'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to strike in, i.e. fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively); fastened, plant(-er).