The Potter's House

The words

1. Ancient Paths

   Jeremiah contrasts the ancient paths with a way not prepared as a road, in a complaint that the people have forgotten the LORD.

   Did you know?

   Earlier, Jeremiah 6:16 urges the people to seek the old paths and walk in the good way, but records their refusal.

   Jeremiah 18:15 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:15 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 6:16 (opens a new tab)

2. Build

   The LORD speaks of building a nation, but says promised good can be withdrawn if it does evil and disobeys.

   Jeremiah 18:9–10 (opens a new tab)

3. Clay

   As the potter reshapes the clay, the LORD compares Israel in his hand to the material in the craftsman’s hand.

   Jeremiah 18:4–6 (opens a new tab)

4. Cold Flowing

   The KJV asks whether “cold flowing waters” would be forsaken, contrasting with people forgetting the LORD; the NET note calls the wording uncertain.

   Jeremiah 18:14–15 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:14 (opens a new tab)

5. Frame

   Here, preparing disaster, as the NET renders it.

   The LORD says “I frame evil against you” and urges Judah and Jerusalem to turn from their evil ways.

   Did you know?

   The NET note links the word translated forming with the earlier word for potter, drawing attention to the passage’s wordplay.

   Jeremiah 18:11 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:11 (opens a new tab)

6. Hissing

   The land is foretold to become desolate and an object of hissing and head-shaking; the NET calls the reaction scorn.

   Jeremiah 18:16 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:16 (opens a new tab)

7. House

   The LORD sends Jeremiah down to the potter’s house to hear his words; Jeremiah finds the craftsman working at the wheels.

   Jeremiah 18:1–3 (opens a new tab)

8. Israel

   The LORD compares the house of Israel to clay in the potter’s hand, then calls Judah and Jerusalem to turn from their wrongdoing.

   Jeremiah 18:6 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 18:11 (opens a new tab)

9. Kingdom

   The example concerns a nation or kingdom: threatened destruction can be withheld if it turns from evil, and promised benefit can be withdrawn.

   Jeremiah 18:7–10 (opens a new tab)

10. Marred

    Jeremiah sees a clay vessel become marred while being made; the potter shapes the same clay into another vessel as he chooses.

    Jeremiah 18:4 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:4 (opens a new tab)

11. Plant

    Building and planting are paired as promises to a nation or kingdom; the passage makes their fulfillment conditional on obedience.

    Jeremiah 18:9–10 (opens a new tab)

12. Potter

    Jeremiah watches a potter at work; when a vessel is marred, the craftsman remakes the clay into another vessel as he chooses.

    Jeremiah 18:3–4 (opens a new tab)

13. Stumble

    The passage links stumbling with forgetting the LORD and, in the NET, “worthless idols”; it warns of scattering before an enemy.

    Jeremiah 18:15–17 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:15 (opens a new tab)

14. Vessel

    Pot, in the NET Bible.

    The vessel is remade after it is marred in the potter’s hand; Jeremiah then hears the comparison with the house of Israel.

    Jeremiah 18:4–6 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:4 (opens a new tab)

15. Wheel

    The KJV says the potter works on “the wheels”; the NET renders this “his wheel” and notes the literal phrase “the two stones.”

    Jeremiah 18:3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 18:3 (opens a new tab)