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.
O house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, cannot {H3201} I do {H6213} with you as this potter {H3335}? saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}. Behold, as the clay {H2563} is in the potter's {H3335} hand {H3027}, so are ye in mine hand {H3027}, O house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}.
"House of Isra'el, can't I deal with you as the potter deals with his clay? - says ADONAI. Look! You, house of Isra'el, are the same in my hand as the clay in the potter's hand.
“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.
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.
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Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand. -
Romans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? -
Romans 9:21
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? -
Isaiah 45:9
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? -
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 make [it]. -
Matthew 20:15
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? -
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, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
This verse from Jeremiah 18 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereign relationship with the nation of Israel, using the vivid imagery of a potter and clay.
Context
The prophet Jeremiah is instructed by the LORD to go down to the potter's house. There, he observes the potter working with clay on the wheel. When a vessel is marred, the potter simply reshapes it into another vessel as he sees fit (Jeremiah 18:1-4). This visual serves as a direct object lesson from God to Jeremiah concerning His dealings with Israel and other nations. The LORD then uses this scenario to explain His authority and flexibility in dealing with nations based on their response to Him, emphasizing that He can build up or tear down, plant or pluck up, depending on their obedience or disobedience (Jeremiah 18:7-10). Verse 6 specifically applies the potter's power over the clay directly to God's relationship with the "house of Israel."
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "potter" is yotser (יֹצֵר), derived from a root meaning "to form" or "to fashion." It is the same root used in Genesis 2:7 for God "forming" man from the dust of the ground. This connection reinforces the theme of God as the divine Creator and fashioner of His people. The phrase "in mine hand" uses the Hebrew word yad (יָד), which often signifies power, authority, or control, emphasizing the LORD's complete dominion.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 18:6 serves as a vivid reminder that God is sovereign over His people, both corporately (the Church) and individually. Just as the clay has no power or will independent of the potter, we are entirely dependent on God. This truth can be both comforting and challenging. It's comforting to know we are in the hands of a loving and skilled Potter who desires to make us into vessels for His glory. It's challenging because it calls us to yield our will and desires to His shaping hand, even when the process is difficult or involves being "reshaped." This aligns with Paul's later teaching about God's sovereign will and our role as the clay in Romans 9:20-21.
For believers today, this verse encourages trust in God's plan and process for our lives. It calls us to be pliable clay, willing to be molded by His Word, His Spirit, and the circumstances He allows. When we feel "marred" by sin or failure, the promise is that the Divine Potter is able to reshape us, to make us into the vessel He intends, if we humble ourselves and remain in His hand. This requires faith and submission to the one who alone knows the perfect design for our lives, much like the prophet Isaiah also declared, "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."