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.

◄ Jeremiah 18:6 ►

New International Version
He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

New Living Translation
“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.

English Standard Version
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

New American Standard Bible
“Am I not able, house of Israel, to deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.

NASB 1995
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

NASB 1977
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares Yahweh. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Amplified Bible
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the LORD. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
“House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? ”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?"—this is the LORD’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.

American Standard Version
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
People of Israel, I, the LORD, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.

English Revised Version
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Nation of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter's hands.

Good News Translation
"Don't I have the right to do with you people of Israel what the potter did with the clay? You are in my hands just like clay in the potter's hands.

International Standard Version
"Israel, can't I deal with you like this potter?" declares the LORD. "Look, Israel, like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.

Majority Standard Bible
?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.

NET Bible
"I, the LORD, say: 'O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter's hand.'

New Heart English Bible
"'House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter?' says the LORD. 'Look, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.'

Webster's Bible Translation
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 my hand, O house of Israel.

World English Bible
“House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“O house of Israel, am I not able to do to you as this potter?” A declaration of YHWH. “Behold, as clay in the hand of the potter, "" So [are] you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
As this potter am I not able to do to you? O house of Israel, an affirmation of Jehovah. Lo, as clay in the hand of the potter, So are ye in My hand, O house of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
As this potter shall I not be able to do to you, O house of Israel? says Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the hand of the potter, thus are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Cannot I do with you as this potter, saith the Lord? behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Am I not able to do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done, says the Lord? Behold, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

New American Bible
Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done?—oracle of the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? says the LORD, Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Can I not do with you, house of Israel, as this Potter, says LORD JEHOVAH? Behold, like clay in the hands of a potter, so are you in my hands, house of Israel

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in My hand, O house of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Shall I not be able, O house of Israel, to do to you as this potter? behold, as the clay of the potter are ye in my hands.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Potter and the Clay
…5Then 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. 7At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.

Romans 9:20-21
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?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

Isaiah 29:16
You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?

Job 10:9
Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?

2 Timothy 2:20-21
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. / So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

Psalm 103:14
For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

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’?

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Job 33:6
I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Lamentations 4:2
How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Treasury of Scripture

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? said the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

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.

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Daniel 4:23
And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

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Jeremiah 18

1. Under the type of a potter is shown God's absolute power in disposing of nations.
11. Judgments threatened to Judah for her strange revolt.
18. Jeremiah prays against his conspirators.

Berean Study Bible

O house of Israel
This phrase addresses the collective nation of Israel, God's chosen people. The term "house" signifies not just a physical dwelling but a lineage, a family, and a community bound by covenant with God. Historically, Israel is the nation that God delivered from Egypt, led through the wilderness, and established in the Promised Land. The use of "house" here emphasizes the familial relationship and covenantal bond between God and Israel, reminding them of their identity and responsibilities as His people.

can I not do with you
This rhetorical question posed by God through the prophet Jeremiah underscores His sovereign authority over Israel. The Hebrew root for "do" (עָשָׂה, 'asah) implies action, creation, and governance. It reflects God's omnipotence and His right to shape the destiny of His people according to His divine will. This phrase challenges Israel to recognize God's ultimate control over their national and individual lives, urging them to submit to His will.

as this potter does?
The imagery of the potter is rich with meaning. In ancient times, potters were skilled artisans who shaped clay into vessels for various purposes. The potter's work required patience, precision, and vision. By comparing Himself to a potter, God illustrates His role as the Creator and Sustainer, who molds and forms His people with intention and care. This metaphor also implies that, like clay, Israel is malleable and subject to the shaping hand of God, highlighting the need for humility and responsiveness to His guidance.

declares the LORD
This declaration affirms the authority and authenticity of the message. "LORD" (YHWH) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. When God declares something, it is not merely a suggestion but a statement of divine truth and intention. This phrase assures the listener that the message is not from Jeremiah alone but from God Himself, carrying the weight of divine authority and requiring a response of faith and obedience.

Behold, like clay in the hand of the potter
The word "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an imperative to pay attention, to see with spiritual insight. The comparison of Israel to "clay" signifies their pliability and dependence on the potter's skill. In the ancient Near East, clay was a common material, easily shaped when wet but hard and brittle when dry. This analogy serves as a reminder of Israel's vulnerability and the necessity of remaining supple in God's hands. The "hand of the potter" symbolizes God's intimate involvement and control over the formation of His people, emphasizing His personal care and purpose in their lives.

so are you in My hand
This phrase reiterates the intimate and sovereign relationship between God and Israel. The "hand" of God is a biblical symbol of power, protection, and provision. Being in God's hand implies security and purpose, as well as accountability to His will. It reassures Israel of God's ongoing involvement in their national and personal lives, while also calling them to trust and yield to His divine plan.

O house of Israel
The repetition of this phrase bookends the verse, reinforcing the message's focus on the nation of Israel. It serves as both a reminder of their identity and a call to reflection and repentance. By addressing them as a "house," God emphasizes their collective responsibility and the communal nature of their covenant relationship with Him. This repetition underscores the urgency and importance of the message, inviting Israel to consider their position and respond to God's sovereign shaping with faith and obedience.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Cannot I do with you as this potter?--The question implies a theory of the universe, which is neither (as some have thought) one of absolute fatalism, crushing man's freedom, nor, on the other hand, one which merges God's sovereignty in man's power of choice. The clay can resist the potter, or can yield itself willingly to his hands to be shaped as he wills. Its being "marred" is through no fault of the potter, but--in the framework of the parable--through the defect of the material, and, in its application, through the resistance of the human agents whom God is fashioning. And when it is so marred one of two courses is open to the potter. He can again re-mould and fashion it to his purpose, to a new work which may be less honourable than that for which it was originally designed; or, if it be hopelessly marred, can break it and cast it away, and with fresh clay mould a fresh vessel. The history of nations and churches and individual men offers many examples of both processes. They frustrate God's gracious purpose by their self-will, but His long-suffering leads them to repentance, and gives them, to speak after the manner of men, yet another chance of being moulded by His hands. Here the prophet invites the people, as the clay, to accept the former alternative. St. Paul, taking the same analogy, looks forward to the time when the marred vessel of Israel shall be restored to the Master's house and be honoured in His service (Romans 9:21; Romans 11:26). The closing verses of Browning's poem, "Rabbi Ben-Ezra," in Men and Women, may be referred to as embodying the same thought :--

"But I need Thee, as then,

Thee, God, who mouldest men;

And since, not even while the whirl was worst,

Did I--to the wheel of life,

With shapes and colours rife,

Bound dizzily--mistake my end, to slake Thy thirst,

"So take and use Thy work! . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“O house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

can
אוּכַ֨ל (’ū·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

I not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

treat
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

you
לָכֶ֛ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

as this
הַזֶּ֜ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

potter treats his clay?
הֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨ר (hă·ḵay·yō·w·ṣêr)
Preposition-k, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Just like clay
כַחֹ֙מֶר֙ (ḵa·ḥō·mer)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2563: A bubbling up, of water, a wave, of earth, mire, clay, a heap, a chomer, dry measure

in the potter’s
הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר (hay·yō·w·ṣêr)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

hand,
בְּיַ֣ד (bə·yaḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

so
כֵּן־ (kên-)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

are you
אַתֶּ֥ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

in My hand,
בְּיָדִ֖י (bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

O house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 18:6 House of Israel can't I do (Jer.)