2 Arise, H6965 and go down H3381 to the potter's H3335 house, H1004 and there I will cause thee to hear H8085 my words. H1697
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Go H1980 and get H7069 a potter's H3335 earthen H2789 bottle, H1228 and take of the ancients H2205 of the people, H5971 and of the ancients H2205 of the priests; H3548 And go forth H3318 unto the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 which is by the entry H6607 of the east H2777 gate, H8179 and proclaim H7121 there the words H1697 that I shall tell H1696 thee,
God, G2316 who at sundry times G4181 and G2532 in divers manners G4187 spake G2980 in time past G3819 unto the fathers G3962 by G1722 the prophets, G4396
At the same time H6256 spake H1696 the LORD H3068 by H3027 Isaiah H3470 the son H1121 of Amoz, H531 saying, H559 Go H3212 and loose H6605 the sackcloth H8242 from off thy loins, H4975 and put off H2502 thy shoe H5275 from thy foot. H7272 And he did so, H6213 walking H1980 naked H6174 and barefoot. H3182
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto me, Go H1980 and get H7069 thee a linen H6593 girdle, H232 and put H7760 it upon thy loins, H4975 and put H935 it not in water. H4325
But if they had stood H5975 in my counsel, H5475 and had caused my people H5971 to hear H8085 my words, H1697 then they should have turned H7725 them from their evil H7451 way, H1870 and from the evil H7455 of their doings. H4611
Thou also, son H1121 of man, H120 take H3947 thee a tile, H3843 and lay H5414 it before H6440 thee, and pourtray H2710 upon it the city, H5892 even Jerusalem: H3389 And lay H5414 siege H4692 against it, and build H1129 a fort H1785 against it, and cast H8210 a mount H5550 against it; set H5414 the camp H4264 also against it, and set H7760 battering rams H3733 against it round about. H5439 Moreover take H3947 thou unto thee an iron H1270 pan, H4227 and set H5414 it for a wall H7023 of iron H1270 between thee and the city: H5892 and set H3559 thy face H6440 against it, and it shall be besieged, H4692 and thou shalt lay siege H6696 against it. This shall be a sign H226 to the house H1004 of Israel. H3478 Lie H7901 thou also upon thy left H8042 side, H6654 and lay H7760 the iniquity H5771 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 upon it: according to the number H4557 of the days H3117 that thou shalt lie H7901 upon it thou shalt bear H5375 their iniquity. H5771 For I have laid H5414 upon thee the years H8141 of their iniquity, H5771 according to the number H4557 of the days, H3117 three H7969 hundred H3967 and ninety H8673 days: H3117 so shalt thou bear H5375 the iniquity H5771 of the house H1004 of Israel. H3478
Thus he shewed H7200 me: and, behold, the Lord H136 stood H5324 upon a wall H2346 made by a plumbline, H594 with a plumbline H594 in his hand. H3027
And G5037 he trembling G5141 and G2532 astonished G2284 said, G2036 Lord, G2962 what G5101 wilt thou have G2309 me G3165 to do? G4160 And G2532 the Lord G2962 said unto G4314 him, G846 Arise, G450 and G2532 go G1525 into G1519 the city, G4172 and G2532 it shall be told G2980 thee G4671 what G5101 thou G4571 must G1163 do. G4160
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.