Jeremiah 1:13

And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof [is] toward the north.

And the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} came unto me the second time {H8145}, saying {H559}, What seest {H7200} thou? And I said {H559}, I see {H7200} a seething {H5301} pot {H5518}; and the face {H6440} thereof is toward {H6440} the north {H6828}.

A second time the word of ADONAI came to me, asking, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a caldron tilted away from the north, over a fire fanned by the wind."

Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”

And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a boiling caldron; and the face thereof is from the north.

In Jeremiah 1:13, the prophet Jeremiah receives his second symbolic vision as part of his divine commission. God directly asks him what he sees, and Jeremiah responds by describing a "seething pot" whose face or opening is "toward the north." This imagery is a powerful prophetic warning about impending judgment upon the kingdom of Judah.

Context

This verse follows immediately after Jeremiah's first vision of the almond tree (Jeremiah 1:11-12), which symbolized God's watchfulness over His word to perform it. The "seething pot" vision further clarifies the nature of the message Jeremiah is to deliver. It sets the stage for the severe warnings and prophecies of judgment that will dominate much of the book of Jeremiah, particularly concerning the coming Babylonian invasion and exile. This vision confirms to Jeremiah the reality and urgency of his prophetic calling to the people of Judah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Communication: The Lord initiates the conversation, prompting Jeremiah to observe and articulate what he sees. This highlights God's active involvement in revealing His will and purposes to His chosen prophets.
  • Impending Judgment and Calamity: The "seething pot" vividly symbolizes a disaster that is intensely brewing and about to spill over. It represents a period of great turmoil, suffering, and divine wrath that will soon engulf Judah.
  • Threat from the North: The specific detail that the pot's opening is "toward the north" is crucial. Historically, major invading forces, particularly the Assyrians and later the Babylonians, approached Judah from the north. This detail unmistakably points to the source of the coming judgment, signifying a foreign power God would use to execute His righteous judgment on His disobedient people. This concept is further elaborated in Jeremiah 1:14-15.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "seething pot" is sir napuach (סִיר נָפוּחַ). The word sir refers to a cooking pot or cauldron, while napuach means "blown upon," "inflated," or "boiling." Together, it paints a picture of a pot intensely heated, bubbling, and perhaps overflowing, creating a sense of violent, uncontrollable activity. This imagery powerfully conveys the idea of a brewing storm of judgment that is about to erupt and pour out its contents—misfortune and destruction—upon the land.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 1:13 reminds us that God often uses understandable, even vivid, imagery to convey profound spiritual truths and warnings. For believers today, this verse underscores several points:

  • God Communicates: The Lord still speaks, though perhaps not always through literal visions, but through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and circumstances. We are called to be attentive to His voice.
  • Warnings for Repentance: Just as God warned Judah of impending judgment, He provides warnings and opportunities for repentance today. His desire is always for His people to turn back to Him (Ezekiel 33:11).
  • God's Sovereignty: The vision highlights God's absolute control over nations and events. Even when using foreign powers as instruments of judgment, He remains sovereign, working out His ultimate purposes for His people and the world.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 11:3

    Which say, [It is] not near; let us build houses: this [city is] the caldron, and we [be] the flesh.

  • Ezekiel 11:7

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they [are] the flesh, and this [city is] the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.

  • Genesis 41:32

    And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

  • Ezekiel 24:3

    And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set [it] on, and also pour water into it:

  • Ezekiel 24:14

    I the LORD have spoken [it]: it shall come to pass, and I will do [it]; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    ¶ This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:2

    I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

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