Jeremiah 18:1-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 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.?... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 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. I. God was now speaking concerning them to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy; for it is that part of the rule of judgment that their case agrees with (Jer. 18:11): ?Go, and tell them? (saith God), ?Behold I frame evil against you and devise against you. Providence in all its operations is plainly working towards your ruin. Look... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:1

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying. The word of prophecy, as the Targum: this is a distinct prophecy from the former, though it may be connected with it; it referring to the destruction threatened in the latter part of the preceding chapter. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:2

Arise, and go down to the potter's house ,.... Which, no doubt, was well known to the prophet; but where it was is not certain. Some think Jeremiah was in the temple, and this house was beneath it, and therefore he is bid to go down to it; but of this there is no certainty, nor even probability: it is most likely that this house was without the city, perhaps near the potter's field, Matthew 27:10 ; and which lying low, he is ordered to go down to it: and there I will cause thee to hear... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:3

Then I went down to the potter's house ,.... He did as the Lord commanded him; he was obedient to the divine will; he went to hear what the Lord had to say to him there, and to observe such things, from whence he might learn instruction for himself and others: and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels ; the Targum renders it "upon a seat"; or "his seats", as Junius and Tremellius; but it signifies not the instrument on which the potter sat while he worked, but that on which he did his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:4

And the vessel that he made of clay ,.... Which is the matter the vessel is made of: was marred in the hand of the potter ; while he was working it; either it fell, as the Septuagint version renders it, out of his hands, or from the beam on which it was laid; or was spoiled by some means or other, so that it was not fit for the purpose he first intended it: or the words should be read, according to some copies, "and the vessel was marred which he made, as clay in the hand of the potter" ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:5

Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. While he was in the potter's house, and after he had observed his manner of working, and the change he had made in his work, the Lord spoke to him, and applied it in the following manner. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:6

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord ,.... Make, and mar, and remake at pleasure? certainly he could. God is a sovereign Being, and has a sovereign and uncontrollable power over his creatures; he has an indisputable right unto them, and can dispose of them as he pleases; he has as good a right to them, and as great power over them, as the potter has to and over his clay, and a better and greater; since they are made by him, and have their all from him, their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:7

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom ,.... By way of threatening: or, "the moment I shall speak" F19 רגע אדבר "momento loquor", Schmidt; "momento eloquor", Junius & Tremellius; "momento ut loquutus fuero", Tigurine version. , &c; as soon as ever I have declared concerning any people whatever, Jews or Gentiles; that if they go on in their sins, and remain impenitent, and do not turn from them, that they must expect I will quickly come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 18:8

If that nation against whom I have pronounced ,.... Such a sentence as this, should immediately, upon the above declaration, do as Nineveh did: turn from their evil ; their evil of sin, their evil ways and works, as an evidence of the truth of their repentance for former sins: I will repent of the evil that one thought to do unto them ; as they change their course of life, God will change the dispensations of his providence towards them, and not bring upon them the evil of punishment... read more

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