Jeremiah 18 · Verse 4

Jeremiah 18:4

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.

Jeremiah 18:4, King James Version

Jeremiah 18:4 in other translations

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.
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.
YLT	and marred is the vessel that he is making, as clay in the hand of the potter, and he hath turned and he maketh it another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make.
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.
BBE	And when the vessel, which he was forming out of earth, got damaged in the hand of the potter, he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.
Webster	And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.

What does Jeremiah 18:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. marred--spoiled. "Of clay" is the true reading, which was corrupted into "as clay" (Margin), through the similarity of the two Hebrew letters, and from Jr 18:6, "as the clay."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 The vessel - was marred in the hands of the potter - It did not stand in the working; it got out of shape; or some gravel or small stone having been incorporated with the mass of clay, made a breach in that part where it was found, so that the potter was obliged to knead up the clay afresh, place it on the wheel, and form it anew; and then it was such a vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 18:1-10

God's power over his creatures is represented by the potter. (Jr 18:1-10) The Jews exhorted to repentance, and judgments foretold. (Jr 18:11-17) The prophet appeals to God. (Jr 18:18-23) Verses 1-10 While Jeremiah looks upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind two great truths. God has authority, and power, to form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. He may dispose of us as he thinks fit; and it…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 18:1-10 →

Jeremiah 18:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְנִשְׁחַ֣תve.nish.Chatand it was spoiledH7843

הַכְּלִ֗יha.ke.Lithe vesselH3627

אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherwhichH834

ה֥וּאhu'heH1931

עֹשֶׂ֛ה'o.Seh[was] makingH6213

בַּחֹ֖מֶרba.Cho.merwith the clayH2563

בְּיַ֣דbe.Yadin [the] hand ofH3027

הַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.Tzerthe potterH3335

וְשָׁ֗בve.Shavand he would returnH7725

וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.'a.Se.huand he made itH6213

כְּלִ֣יke.Lia vesselH3627

אַחֵ֔ר'a.CheranotherH312

כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.Sherjust asH834

יָשַׁ֛רya.Sharit was pleasingH3474

בְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.Neiin [the] eyes ofH5869

הַיּוֹצֵ֖רhai.yo.Tzerthe potterH3335

לַעֲשֽׂוֹת\׃\ \פla.'a.Sotto doH6213

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 18:4

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? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
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.
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?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

made of clay was marred in. or, made was marred, as clay in.made it again. Heb. returned and made. as.
6; Isa 45:9; Ro 9:20-23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Jeremiah 18:3
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jeremiah 18:4
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.
Jeremiah 18:5
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Read all of Jeremiah 18

Jeremiah 18:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y el vaso que él hacía de barro se quebró en la mano del alfarero; y tornó é hízolo otro vaso, según que al alfarero pareció mejor hacerlo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et le vase qu’il faisait fut gâté comme de l’argile dans la main du potier; et il en fit un autre vase, comme il plut aux yeux du potier de le faire.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und das Gefäß, das er aus dem Ton machte, mißriet in der Hand des Töpfers; und er machte wiederum ein anderes Gefäß daraus, wie es zu machen den Töpfer gut dünkte.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et dissipatum est vas quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis: conversusque fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis ejus ut faceret.