Jeremiah 18:4

2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

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.

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

    Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 18:6

    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.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 45:9

    Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

    Read in context