Jeremiah 19:11

And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as [one] breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury [them] in Tophet, till [there be] no place to bury.

And shalt say {H559} unto them, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}; Even so {H3602} will I break {H7665} this people {H5971} and this city {H5892}, as one breaketh {H7665} a potter's {H3335} vessel {H3627}, that cannot {H3201} be made whole again {H7495}: and they shall bury {H6912} them in Tophet {H8612}, till there be no place {H4725} to bury {H6912}.

and say to them, 'ADONAI-Tzva'ot says that this is how I will break this people and this city, just as one smashes a potter's vessel beyond the possibility of repair. The dead will be buried in Tofet, because there will be no space left for burial [anywhere else].

and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.

and shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter’s vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place to bury.

Jeremiah 19:11 delivers a powerful and sobering prophecy concerning the impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. Through the dramatic object lesson of a broken potter's vessel, the prophet Jeremiah conveys the Lord's decree of irreversible destruction and widespread death, particularly centered around the infamous Valley of Hinnom.

Context

This verse is part of a prophetic act commanded by God to Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter 19. The Lord instructs Jeremiah to take an earthen flask, gather some of the elders and priests, and go to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom (also known as Tophet) outside Jerusalem. This valley was notorious for being the site of abhorrent child sacrifices to the pagan god Molech, a practice repeatedly condemned by God (e.g., 2 Kings 23:10). The act of breaking the vessel before witnesses symbolizes the complete and devastating judgment God would bring upon Judah and Jerusalem due to their persistent idolatry, rebellion, and moral depravity. This prophecy foreshadows the Babylonian invasion and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the Babylonian exile.

Key Themes

  • Irreversible Judgment: The central message is the finality and severity of God's judgment. Just as a shattered potter's vessel "cannot be made whole again," so too would Judah and Jerusalem experience a destruction from which there would be no immediate national recovery in their existing form. This illustrates that there are points of no return when a people or nation refuses to repent of egregious sin.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Authority: The phrase "Thus saith the LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) emphasizes God's ultimate authority and power as the commander of heavenly armies and the sovereign ruler over all nations. He is not merely observing but actively bringing about this judgment.
  • Consequences of Persistent Sin: The destruction is a direct consequence of Judah's deep-seated spiritual apostasy, particularly their abominable practices in Tophet. God's justice is a natural outflow of His holy character, and He will not indefinitely tolerate rebellion and idolatry among His chosen people. The prophecy serves as a stark reminder that the wages of sin is death.
  • Prophetic Warning: Jeremiah's dramatic act was a visual aid, a powerful warning designed to shock the people into recognizing the gravity of their situation and the certainty of God's impending wrath if they did not turn from their wicked ways.

Linguistic Insights

  • "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth): This divine title underscores God's omnipotence and His command over all creation, including celestial armies. It signifies His immense power to execute His will, whether in judgment or salvation.
  • "Potter's vessel": The imagery of the potter and clay is common in Jeremiah, often used to depict God's sovereign right to shape nations as He sees fit (Jeremiah 18:6). Here, the breaking of the vessel signifies a complete undoing of His previous work due to the clay's unsuitability.
  • "Tophet": This specific place name refers to a section within the Valley of Hinnom (Hebrew: Ge Hinnom). It was a place of abhorrent child sacrifice, later defiled by King Josiah (2 Kings 23:10) and eventually became a place for burning refuse, symbolically associated with eternal punishment in later Jewish tradition (Gehenna). The prophecy indicates that so many would die in the city that their bodies would overflow into Tophet, filling it until there was no more room.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 19:11 serves as a profound warning and a timeless principle:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: This verse powerfully illustrates that sin, especially persistent rebellion and idolatry against God, carries severe consequences. God's patience is not endless, and His justice is certain.
  • Heeding Divine Warnings: The people of Judah had ample warnings through prophets like Jeremiah, yet they largely ignored them. This emphasizes the importance of listening to and responding to God's word in our own lives, lest we face the natural and spiritual consequences of disobedience.
  • God's Justice and Sovereignty: While this passage speaks of judgment, it also affirms God's absolute control and His holy character. He is just in all His ways. Even in judgment, there is a demonstration of His righteousness. For those who turn to Him, there is always hope for His mercies that are new every morning.
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.

  • Psalms 2:9

    Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

  • Isaiah 30:14

    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

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

  • Jeremiah 13:14

    And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

  • Revelation 2:27

    And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

  • Jeremiah 19:6

    Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.

  • Jeremiah 7:31

    And they have built the high places of Tophet, which [is] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded [them] not, neither came it into my heart.

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