1.
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jeremiah's Twelfth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
the potter's house. Note the lesson, set to Jeremiah there: that Jehovah never mends what man has marred. He always substitutes something new. The interpretation belongs to "THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL", and, that being "marred", the new "nation" is to be substituted. See Matthew 21:43 . Compare Romans 11:7 . Ezekiel 36:25-28 . The application belongs to:
(1) THE COVENANT (Deuteronomy 6:25 ), but it was marred (Jeremiah 31:32 ): for the New Covenant, see Hebrews 8:7-13 .
(2) ORDINANCES, marred (Isaiah 1:11-14 ); new (Hebrews 10:6-9 . Colossians 2:14 , Colossians 2:17 . Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:8-11 ).
(3) PRIESTHOOD (Hebrews 7:11-28 ).
(4) KING (2 Samuel 7:12-16 ). Compare Psalms 72 .Isaiah 9:6 ; Isaiah 11:1-9 ; Isaiah 32:1-8 . Luke 1:31-33 .
(5) MAN, marred (Genesis 3 , Romans 8:7 . Rom 17:9 . Psalms 14:2 ; 2 John 1:3; 2 John 1:32 John 1:3 :6 ); new (2 Corinthians 5:17 , 2 Corinthians 5:18 ).
(6) THE BODY, marred (Genesis 3 , Hebrews 9:27 ); the new ( 1Co 15:35 , 1 Corinthians 15:44 , 1 Corinthians 15:46 , 1 Corinthians 15:47 ).
(7) THE HEAVEN AND EARTH, marred (Genesis 3 , 2 Peter 3:7 ); the new (2 Peter 3:13 ). Psalms 85:10 , Psalms 85:13 .Isaiah 65:17 , &c.
(8) THE CHURCH, marred (2 Timothy 1:15 (compare Acts 19:10 ; Acts 20:29 ); Jeremiah 2:18 ; Jeremiah 3:8 ; Jeremiah 4:3 , Jeremiah 4:4 ); new (Ephesians 2:20-22 ; Ephesians 4:4 ).
wrought = was working.
3.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
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.
5.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6.
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.
Jeremiah's Thirteenth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).
house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4 .
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle,
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
7.
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
to pluck up = to declare that it should be plucked up. Hebrew idiom. Compare Jeremiah 1:10 .
pull down. Some codices, with two early printed editions and Syriac, read "tear away". Compare Jeremiah 1:10 .
8.
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a', App-44 .
I will repent. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
9.
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
to build, &c. = to declare that it should be built and planted.
10.
If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11.
Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
men . Hebrew ish.
I frame = I work (as the potter in Jeremiah 18:3 )
12.
And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
imagination = stubbornness.
13.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
heathen = nations.
14.
Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?
Will a man leave . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Erotesis and the Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6) , and render:
"Will [a man] leave the snow [water] of Lebanon for the rock of the field?
Or, shall the cold flowing waters [be forsaken] for strange waters?
snow: i.e. snow [water], used for mixing with wine; or for washing, as in Job 9:30 .
which cometh. Omit, and supply the word "leave" in the second clause from the first clause.
15.
Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
forgotten. Showing that the emphasis is on the leaving and forsaking of Jeremiah 18:14 .
vanity. Used of idols. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject).
16.
To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.
hissing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the contempt felt.
17.
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
as. Some codices, with five early printed editions, read "with", instead of "as".
wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
in the day. See App-18 .
18.
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
the law, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11 ). App-92 .
with the tongue = with hard words. "Tongue" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the hard words spoken by it.
19.
Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.
20.
Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
Shall . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-18 .
21.
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
children = sons.
22.
Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
troop = marauders.
23.
Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.
their counsel. See App-85 .
forgive not. See App-86 .
iniquity. Hebrew. 'avon. App-44 .
sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .