15 Because my people H5971 hath forgotten H7911 me, they have burned incense H6999 to vanity, H7723 and they have caused them to stumble H3782 in their ways H1870 from the ancient H5769 paths, H7635 H7635 to walk H3212 in paths, H5410 in a way H1870 not cast up; H5549
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Stand H5975 ye in the ways, H1870 and see, H7200 and ask H7592 for the old H5769 paths, H5410 where is the good H2896 way, H1870 and walk H3212 therein, and ye shall find H4672 rest H4771 for your souls. H5315 But they said, H559 We will not walk H3212 therein.
Can a maid H1330 forget H7911 her ornaments, H5716 or a bride H3618 her attire? H7196 yet my people H5971 have forgotten H7911 me days H3117 without number. H4557
But ye are departed H5493 out of the way; H1870 ye have caused many H7227 to stumble H3782 at the law; H8451 ye have corrupted H7843 the covenant H1285 of Levi, H3878 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
As they called H7121 them, so they went H1980 from them: H6440 they sacrificed H2076 unto Baalim, H1168 and burned incense H6999 to graven images. H6456
Then all the men H582 which knew H3045 that their wives H802 had burned incense H6999 unto other H312 gods, H430 and all the women H802 that stood by, H5975 a great H1419 multitude, H6951 even all the people H5971 that dwelt H3427 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in Pathros, H6624 answered H6030 Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559 As for the word H1697 that thou hast spoken H1696 unto us in the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 we will not hearken H8085 unto thee. But we will certainly H6213 do H6213 whatsoever thing H1697 goeth forth H3318 out of our own mouth, H6310 to burn incense H6999 unto the queen H4446 of heaven, H8064 and to pour out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto her, as we have done, H6213 we, and our fathers, H1 our kings, H4428 and our princes, H8269 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and in the streets H2351 of Jerusalem: H3389 for then had we plenty H7646 of victuals, H3899 and were well, H2896 and saw H7200 no evil. H7451 But since we left off H2308 to burn incense H6999 to the queen H4446 of heaven, H8064 and to pour out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto her, we have wanted H2637 all things, and have been consumed H8552 by the sword H2719 and by the famine. H7458 And when we burned incense H6999 to the queen H4446 of heaven, H8064 and poured out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto her, did we make H6213 her cakes H3561 to worship H6087 her, and pour out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto her, without H1107 our men? H582
O LORD, H3068 the hope H4723 of Israel, H3478 all that forsake H5800 thee shall be ashamed, H954 and they that depart H3249 from me H5493 shall be written H3789 in the earth, H776 because they have forsaken H5800 the LORD, H3068 the fountain H4726 of living H2416 waters. H4325
O LORD, H3068 my strength, H5797 and my fortress, H4581 and my refuge H4498 in the day H3117 of affliction, H6869 the Gentiles H1471 shall come H935 unto thee from the ends H657 of the earth, H776 and shall say, H559 Surely our fathers H1 have inherited H5157 lies, H8267 vanity, H1892 and things wherein there is no profit. H3276
A voice H6963 was heard H8085 upon the high places, H8205 weeping H1065 and supplications H8469 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 for they have perverted H5753 their way, H1870 and they have forgotten H7911 the LORD H3068 their God. H430
Your iniquities, H5771 and the iniquities H5771 of your fathers H1 together, H3162 saith H559 the LORD, H3068 which have burned incense H6999 upon the mountains, H2022 and blasphemed H2778 me upon the hills: H1389 therefore will I measure H4058 their former H7223 work H6468 into their bosom. H2436
As for my people, H5971 children H5953 are their oppressors, H5065 and women H802 rule H4910 over them. O my people, H5971 they which lead H833 thee cause thee to err, H8582 and destroy H1104 the way H1870 of thy paths. H734
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 saying; H559 Ye and your wives H802 have both spoken H1696 with your mouths, H6310 and fulfilled H4390 with your hand, H3027 saying, H559 We will surely H6213 perform H6213 our vows H5088 that we have vowed, H5087 to burn incense H6999 to the queen H4446 of heaven, H8064 and to pour out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto her: ye will surely H6965 accomplish H6965 your vows, H5088 and surely H6213 perform H6213 your vows. H5088
They have built H1129 also the high places H1116 of Baal, H1168 to burn H8313 their sons H1121 with fire H784 for burnt offerings H5930 unto Baal, H1168 which I commanded H6680 not, nor spake H1696 it, neither came H5927 it into my mind: H3820
Thine own wickedness H7451 shall correct H3256 thee, and thy backslidings H4878 shall reprove H3198 thee: know H3045 therefore and see H7200 that it is an evil H7451 thing and bitter, H4751 that thou hast forsaken H5800 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and that my fear H6345 is not in thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts. H6635
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 18
Commentary on Jeremiah 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
In this chapter we have,
Jer 18:1-10
The prophet is here sent to the potter's house (he knew where to find it), not to preach a sermon as before to the gates of Jerusalem, but to prepare a sermon, or rather to receive it ready prepared. Those needed not to study their sermons that had them, as he had this, by immediate inspiration. "Go to the potter's house, and observe how he manages his work, and there I will cause thee, by silent whispers, to hear my words. There thou shalt receive a message, to be delivered to the people.' Note, Those that would know God's mind must observe his appointments, and attend where they may hear his words. The prophet was never disobedient to the heavenly vision, and therefore went to the potter's house (v. 3) and took notice how he wrought his work upon the wheels, just as he pleased, with a great deal of ease, and in a little time. And (v. 4) when a lump of clay that he designed to form into one shape either proved too stiff, or had a stone in it, or some way or other came to be marred in his hand, he presently turned it into another shape; if it will not serve for a vessel of honour, it will serve for a vessel of dishonour, just as seems good to the potter. It is probable that Jeremiah knew well enough how the potter wrought his work, and how easily he threw it into what form he pleased; but he must go and observe it now, that, having the idea of it fresh in his mind, he might the more readily and distinctly apprehend that truth which God designed thereby to represent to him, and might the more intelligently explain it to the people. God used similitudes by his servants the prophets (Hos. 12:10), and it was requisite that they should themselves understand the similitudes they used. Ministers will make a good use of their converse with the business and affairs of this life if they learn thereby to speak more plainly and familiarly to people about the things of God, and to expound scripture comparisons. For they ought to make all their knowledge some way or other serviceable to their profession.
Now let us see what the message is which Jeremiah receives, and is entrusted with the delivery of, at the potter's house. While he looks carefully upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind these two great truths, which he must preach to the house of Israel:-
Jer 18:11-17
These verses seem to be the application of the general truths laid down in the foregoing part of the chapter to the nation of the Jews and their present state.
Jer 18:18-23
The prophet here, as sometimes before, brings in his own affairs, but very much for instruction to us.