Jeremiah 18:4

2 “Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will reveal My message to you.”

3 So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel.

But the vessel that he was shaping from the clay became flawed in his hand; so he formed it into another vessel, as it seemed best for him to do.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 “O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the vessel that he was shaping from the clay became flawed in his hand; so he formed it into another vessel, as it seemed best for him to do.
KJV
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.
WEB
When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
ASV
And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
DARBY
And the vessel that he made was marred, as clay, in the hand of the potter; and he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make.
BLB
And the vessel that he was making with the clay was marred in the hand of the potter; and he went back and he made it into another vessel, as seemed right in the eyes of the potter to make.
ÅB
og når det kar han gjorde, ble mislykket, som det kan gå med leiren i pottemakerens hånd, så gjorde han det om igjen til et annet kar, slik som han ville ha det.
OTB
Men karet han formet av leiren var mislykket i pottemakerens hånd; så han omformet det til et annet kar, slik det syntes godt for pottemakeren å lage.
B1930
og når det kar han gjorde, blev mislykket, som det kan gå med leret i pottemakerens hånd, så gjorde han det om igjen til et annet kar, slik som han vilde ha det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Romans 9:20–23

    But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 18:6

    “O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 45:9

    Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?

    Read in context