Jeremiah 1:13

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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."

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 1:13 records the prophet Jeremiah's second prophetic vision, a direct divine revelation following his initial call. In this vision, the Lord prompts Jeremiah to describe what he sees, and Jeremiah reports observing a "seething pot" whose opening or "face" is oriented "toward the north." This potent imagery serves as a crucial symbolic warning, foreshadowing the imminent and intense judgment that is about to erupt upon the kingdom of Judah, originating from a northern power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jeremiah's first commissioning vision, where he sees an [almond tree](/jeremiah/1-11 "Jeremiah 1:11 - The Almond Tree Vision"), symbolizing God's swiftness and vigilance in fulfilling His word. The "seething pot" vision in [Jeremiah 1:13](/jeremiah/1-13 "Jeremiah 1:13 - The Seething Pot Vision") acts as a direct complement and clarification to the first, shifting from the certainty of God's word to the specific content of that word—judgment. The subsequent verses, [Jeremiah 1:14-16](/jeremiah/1-14 "Jeremiah 1:14-16 - God's Explanation of the Northern Threat"), provide God's explicit interpretation of the vision, confirming that the northern direction signifies the source of the impending calamity. Together, these initial visions establish the prophetic burden Jeremiah is to bear throughout his ministry: a message of impending doom and a call to repentance for a stubbornly disobedient people.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah's ministry began in the late 7th century BCE, a period of immense geopolitical instability. The Assyrian Empire, which had long dominated the Near East, was in decline, creating a power vacuum. This vacuum was rapidly being filled by the rising Babylonian Empire to the northeast. While Babylon was geographically to the east, invading armies from Mesopotamia typically approached Judah from the north, following the fertile crescent and avoiding the Arabian desert. This established route made the "north" a common biblical metaphor for a source of invasion and calamity (e.g., [Jeremiah 6:1](/jeremiah/6-1 "Jeremiah 6:1 - Warning of Northern Invasion")). The "seething pot" would have been a familiar domestic image, a large cauldron used for cooking, but here it is transformed into a symbol of violent, uncontrollable forces, likely familiar to an agrarian society. The imagery would have immediately evoked a sense of impending disaster, a "boiling over" of national distress.

* **Key Themes:** The vision in [Jeremiah 1:13](/jeremiah/1-13 "Jeremiah 1:13 - The Seething Pot Vision") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**. God is not merely a passive observer but actively orchestrates historical events, using nations as instruments of His righteous judgment against His own people's idolatry and unfaithfulness. Secondly, it introduces the pervasive theme of **Threat from the North**, a recurring motif throughout Jeremiah that consistently points to the Babylonian invasion as the primary means of God's chastisement (e.g., [Jeremiah 4:6](/jeremiah/4-6 "Jeremiah 4:6 - A Calamity from the North")). Thirdly, it highlights **Prophetic Revelation**, demonstrating God's method of communicating His will and future plans to His chosen messengers through symbolic visions, thereby authenticating Jeremiah's divine commission and the urgency of his message.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From H1697, meaning "word," "matter," or "thing." In this context, it signifies a divine utterance or message from the LORD, emphasizing the direct, authoritative nature of God's communication to Jeremiah. It is not merely a thought or impression, but a concrete, spoken revelation.
* **Seething (Hebrew, _nâphach'_):** From H5301, a primitive root meaning "to puff," "blow hard," "inflate," or "boil up." Here, it describes the state of the pot, intensely heated and bubbling, conveying a sense of violent, uncontrollable activity. It suggests something that is agitated, brewing, and on the verge of erupting or overflowing, signifying intense turmoil and impending disaster.
* **Pot (Hebrew, _çîyr'_):** From H5518, referring to a "caldron" or "cooking pot." While a common household item, in this prophetic context, it symbolizes a vessel of judgment. Its contents are not nourishing food but rather the impending calamity and destruction that is "boiling" and about to be poured out upon Judah.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou?"**: This opening clause emphasizes the direct and repeated nature of God's revelation to Jeremiah. The "second time" indicates a continuation and intensification of the divine commissioning begun in [Jeremiah 1:4-10](/jeremiah/1-4 "Jeremiah 1:4-10 - Jeremiah's Call"). God initiates the interaction, actively engaging Jeremiah's perception and requiring him to articulate what he observes, thereby making him a participant in the revelation rather than a passive recipient. This also serves to confirm the prophet's call and the veracity of the message.
* **"And I said, I see a seething pot;"**: Jeremiah responds immediately and accurately to the divine inquiry, describing a "seething pot." This image is central to the vision's meaning. The "seething" (or "boiling") nature of the pot suggests intense heat, pressure, and activity, symbolizing a severe, violent, and uncontrollable disaster that is brewing and about to spill over. It conveys a sense of urgency and an impending outpouring of wrath.
* **"and the face thereof [is] toward the north."**: This crucial detail specifies the direction from which the disaster will come. The "face" (Hebrew: _pânîym_) refers to the opening or mouth of the pot, indicating the direction from which its contents will "pour out." The "north" was the traditional invasion route into Judah from Mesopotamia, making it a clear and unmistakable indicator of the foreign power (Babylon) that God would use as His instrument of judgment. This detail makes the abstract imagery concrete and terrifyingly specific for the original audience.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 1:13 is rich in **Symbolism**. The "seething pot" is a powerful symbol of impending judgment and calamity. Its "seething" nature suggests intense, violent, and uncontrollable forces brewing, ready to erupt. The pot itself, a vessel typically associated with sustenance, is here inverted to represent a container of destruction. The specific detail of its "face... toward the north" employs **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where "the north" stands for the northern invading armies (specifically Babylon) that will bring this judgment. This geographical indicator serves as a **Foreshadowing** device, hinting at the specific nature and origin of the doom that will be elaborated upon throughout the book. The interaction between God and Jeremiah ("What seest thou? And I said...") is a form of **Dialogue**, which lends immediacy and personal engagement to the prophetic encounter.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 1:13 profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations and history, demonstrating His capacity to use even pagan empires as instruments of His divine will. The vision reveals that divine judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to the persistent sin and rebellion of His covenant people. It highlights the principle that God's warnings are clear and often accompanied by vivid imagery to ensure their impact, providing an opportunity for repentance before the full outpouring of His wrath. The "seething pot" from the north is a tangible illustration of the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, a theme echoed throughout the Old Testament concerning Israel's relationship with Yahweh.

* [Deuteronomy 28:49-50](/deuteronomy/28-49 "Deuteronomy 28:49-50 - Prophecy of a Nation from Afar")
* [Isaiah 45:7](/isaiah/45-7 "Isaiah 45:7 - God Creates Good and Evil")
* [Amos 3:6](/amos/3-6 "Amos 3:6 - Calamity in the City")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The vision of the seething pot in Jeremiah 1:13 serves as a stark reminder that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, and His justice is as certain as His love. For us today, this passage calls for a deep introspection into our own lives and societies. Are there areas of our lives, or aspects of our culture, that are "seething" with unrighteousness, idolatry, or injustice, inviting divine correction? God's warnings, though sometimes delivered through difficult circumstances or the convicting power of His Word, are always an invitation to repentance and a turning back to Him. This vision challenges us to cultivate spiritual discernment, to "see" what God is doing in our world, and to respond with humility and obedience. It also reassures us that even in the midst of global turmoil, God remains sovereign, orchestrating events to fulfill His ultimate purposes, which always include the redemption of His people and the establishment of His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might God be speaking to me or my community today, perhaps through "seething" circumstances, that call for repentance or a change of direction?**
* **How does the imagery of a "seething pot" impact my understanding of divine judgment? Does it evoke a sense of fear, reverence, or both?**
* **How can I cultivate greater spiritual discernment to recognize God's hand at work, even in challenging or seemingly negative events?**
* **What is my responsibility in responding to God's warnings, both personally and corporately, in light of His sovereignty over all nations?**

### FAQ
**What does the "seething pot" symbolize in Jeremiah 1:13?**

Answer: The "seething pot" symbolizes an intense, brewing disaster or calamity that is about to erupt and spill over. It represents the severe divine judgment that is coming upon the kingdom of Judah. The imagery conveys a sense of violent, uncontrollable activity, indicating a period of great turmoil, suffering, and divine wrath. It's a vivid metaphor for a nation on the brink of being overwhelmed by an external force, orchestrated by God.

**Why is the pot's "face... toward the north" significant?**

Answer: The detail that the pot's "face" or opening is "toward the north" is critically significant because it identifies the source of the impending judgment. Historically, major invading armies, particularly the Babylonians, approached Judah from the north, following the fertile crescent. This specific geographical detail unmistakably points to the foreign power that God would use as His instrument of judgment against His disobedient people, a theme explicitly confirmed by God in [Jeremiah 1:14-15](/jeremiah/1-14 "Jeremiah 1:14-15 - God's Explanation of the Northern Threat").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 1:13 directly speaks of judgment upon Judah through a northern power, its underlying theological principles find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The "seething pot" represents God's righteous wrath against sin, a wrath that, in the New Covenant, is ultimately poured out not on a nation, but on Christ Himself. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the propitiation for our sins, absorbing the full fury of divine judgment that we deserved ([Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation")). The concept of a "calamity from the north" foreshadows the ultimate spiritual invasion of sin and death, from which only Christ provides deliverance. His crucifixion, a seemingly calamitous event, was in fact the means by which the "seething pot" of God's wrath against humanity's sin was emptied, not onto us, but onto our Savior. Through His atoning sacrifice, believers are spared the judgment symbolized by the pot, finding refuge and peace in Him ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). Thus, the terrifying imagery of Jeremiah's vision ultimately points to the profound mercy and grace found in Jesus, who bore the judgment so that we might receive reconciliation and eternal life ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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: