Jeremiah 18:1-12

Jeremiah 18:1-12

[1] The word  which came to Jeremiah  from the LORD,  saying,  [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.  [4] 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,  O house  of Israel.  [7] At what instant  I shall speak  concerning a nation,  and concerning a kingdom,  to pluck up,  and to pull down,  and to destroy  [8] If that nation,  against whom I have pronounced,  turn  from their evil,  I will repent  of the evil  that I thought  to do  unto them. [9] And at what instant  I shall speak  concerning a nation,  and concerning a kingdom,  to build  and to plant  [10] If it do  evil  in my sight,  that it obey  not my voice,  then I will repent  of the good,  wherewith I said  I would benefit  them. [11] Now therefore go to, speak  to the men  of Judah,  and to the inhabitants  of Jerusalem,  saying,  the LORD;  Behold, I frame  evil  against you, and devise  a device  against you: return  ye now every one  from his evil  way,  and your doings  good.  [12] And they said,  There is no hope:  after  our own devices,  and we will every one  do  the imagination  of his evil  heart. 

What does Jeremiah 18:1-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

There are indications in this message that God might yet avert judgment ( Jeremiah 18:7-8; Jeremiah 18:11), so Jeremiah evidently delivered it sometime before the Babylonians invaded Judah.