Jeremiah 19:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and [take] of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Go {H1980} and get {H7069} a potter's {H3335} earthen {H2789} bottle {H1228}, and take of the ancients {H2205} of the people {H5971}, and of the ancients {H2205} of the priests {H3548};

ADONAI then said, "Go; buy a clay jar from the potter; take some of the people's leaders and some of the leading cohanim;

This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests,

Thus said Jehovah, Go, and buy a potter’s earthen bottle, and take of the elders of the people, and of the elders of the priests;

Commentary

Jeremiah 19:1 marks the beginning of a powerful and dramatic prophetic act commanded by the LORD to the prophet Jeremiah. This verse sets the stage for a vivid object lesson illustrating God's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem due to their persistent idolatry and moral corruption.

Context

This verse is situated within Jeremiah's long and often difficult ministry in the Kingdom of Judah, primarily during the reigns of Kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, leading up to the Babylonian exile. God frequently used symbolic actions to convey His messages to a rebellious people, much like a visual sermon. Chapter 19 immediately follows Chapter 18, where God presented the imagery of a potter working with clay, demonstrating His sovereign right to shape or break nations based on their repentance or disobedience. This chapter builds on that theme, moving from the potter's ability to reshape to His intention to utterly break.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Commission: The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" underscores the divine authority behind Jeremiah's instructions. This was not Jeremiah's idea, but a direct command from God, emphasizing the seriousness and certainty of the message to be delivered.
  • Symbolic Prophecy: The "potter's earthen bottle" is the central prop for a dramatic, public demonstration. The fragility of the clay vessel would powerfully symbolize the imminent breaking and destruction of Judah, a nation that had become defiled and ripe for judgment.
  • Witnesses to Judgment: Jeremiah is instructed to gather "of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests." These were the elders and spiritual leaders of Judah, representing the entire nation. Their presence was crucial; they were to be direct witnesses to the prophetic act and the harsh message of judgment that followed, ensuring the message was heard by those in authority.
  • Impending Judgment: While only preparatory, this verse introduces the theme of God's severe judgment upon Judah for their unfaithfulness, particularly their worship of other gods and their horrific practice of child sacrifice in places like the Valley of Hinnom (Tophet), which is the setting for the subsequent verses in this chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "bottle" is bakbuk, an onomatopoeic word suggesting the gurgling sound of liquid being poured out or perhaps the sound of breaking. The term "potter's earthen bottle" (Hebrew: bakbuk yotzer cheres) specifically highlights its common, fragile nature. It reinforces the imagery from Jeremiah 18:6, where God is depicted as the sovereign potter who can shape or destroy. The "ancients" (Hebrew: ziqne) refers to the elders, respected leaders within society and the religious community.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 19:1 reminds us that God often communicates His warnings and intentions through various means, including direct instruction and symbolic acts, to ensure His message is understood. It highlights the responsibility of leaders—both spiritual and secular—to heed divine warnings and guide their people in righteousness. The fragility of the earthen bottle serves as a timeless reminder of the transient nature of human institutions and the severe consequences of persistent disobedience to God's commands. God's patience is great, but there comes a point where warnings give way to judgment, a truth applicable to individuals and nations even today.

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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 8:11 (4 votes)

    And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.

  • Ezekiel 8:12 (4 votes)

    Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

  • Jeremiah 18:2 (3 votes)

    Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

  • Jeremiah 18:4 (3 votes)

    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].

  • Isaiah 30:14 (3 votes)

    And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit.

  • Lamentations 4:2 (3 votes)

    The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

  • Numbers 11:16 (3 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.