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Jeremiah 18:7

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[At what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy [it];

At what instant {H7281} I shall speak {H1696} concerning a nation {H1471}, and concerning a kingdom {H4467}, to pluck up {H5428}, and to pull down {H5422}, and to destroy {H6} it;

At one time, I may speak about uprooting, breaking down and destroying a nation or kingdom;

At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;

Commentary

Jeremiah 18:7 is a foundational verse within the profound "potter and clay" analogy, a central message delivered by the prophet Jeremiah. This verse introduces God's sovereign right and intention to intervene in the affairs of nations, setting the stage for a critical lesson on divine judgment and mercy.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophetic discourse found in Jeremiah chapter 18, where the Lord instructs Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house. There, Jeremiah observes the potter working with clay, reshaping a marred vessel. This vivid imagery illustrates God's absolute authority over His creation, particularly over nations and kingdoms. Just as a potter can mold or discard clay, so too can God "pluck up, and pull down, and destroy" a nation. This specific verse (18:7) outlines the negative aspect of God's interaction with nations, which is then balanced by the conditional promise of mercy in Jeremiah 18:8 and the positive aspect of building in Jeremiah 18:9-10.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty Over Nations: The verse powerfully asserts God's ultimate authority and control over the destiny of all human governments and peoples. He is not a passive observer but an active participant who can determine the rise and fall of kingdoms. This resonates with the truth found in Daniel 2:21, where God "removeth kings, and setteth up kings."
  • God's Declarative Word: The phrase "At what instant I shall speak" highlights the immediate and powerful effect of God's pronouncements. His word is not merely informative but performative; when He declares judgment, it begins to unfold.
  • Judgment and Destruction: The strong verbs "pluck up," "pull down," and "destroy" signify comprehensive and decisive divine judgment. These actions imply the removal of a nation's power, structure, and very existence due to its wickedness and rebellion against God's will.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verbs used here are highly descriptive:

  • natash (to pluck up/uproot): Often used for tearing down plants or structures, implying complete removal from its foundation.
  • natats (to pull down/tear down): Frequently used in the context of demolishing buildings or fortifications, signifying destruction of what has been established.
  • 'avad (to destroy/perish): A strong term indicating utter ruin, annihilation, or causing to cease to exist.
These terms collectively emphasize the severity and totality of God's potential judgment upon a disobedient nation.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 18:7 reminds us that God remains sovereign over all nations today. While His ways are just, His judgments are often conditional, as shown in the verses that follow (18:8-10). This passage serves as a timeless warning that national prosperity and peace are linked to righteousness and obedience to God's principles. It calls both leaders and citizens to consider their collective actions and to seek repentance when necessary. The ultimate message is that God's desire is not primarily for destruction, but for nations to turn from their evil ways, as seen with Nineveh in the book of Jonah, so He might relent from the declared judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 1:10 (6 votes)

    See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

  • Jeremiah 45:4 (3 votes)

    Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, [that] which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.

  • Jeremiah 12:14 (3 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

  • Jeremiah 12:17 (3 votes)

    But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

  • Amos 9:8 (2 votes)

    Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD [are] upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 25:9 (2 votes)

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • Jeremiah 25:14 (2 votes)

    For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.