Jeremiah 19:11 and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter's jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.

Bible > Jeremiah > Chapter 19 > Verse 11

◄ Jeremiah 19:11 ►

New International Version
and say to them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.

New Living Translation
Then say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: As this jar lies shattered, so I will shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair. They will bury the bodies here in Topheth, the garbage dump, until there is no more room for them.

English Standard Version
and shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended. Men shall bury in Topheth because there will be no place else to bury.

Berean Standard Bible
and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.

King James Bible
And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.

New King James Version
and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury them in Tophet till there is no place to bury.

New American Standard Bible
and say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of armies says: “To the same extent I will break this people and this city, just as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury their dead in Topheth, because there is no other place for burial.

NASB 1995
and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.

NASB 1977
and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Just so shall I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.

Legacy Standard Bible
and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.

Amplified Bible
and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “This is the way I will break this people and this city as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it cannot be mended. They will bury [corpses] in Topheth until there is no more room left [in that place] to bury [the dead].

Christian Standard Bible
and you are to proclaim to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: I will shatter these people and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be mended. They will bury the dead in Topheth because there is no other place for burials.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and you are to proclaim to them: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter these people and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be mended. They will bury the dead in Topheth because there is no other place for burials.

American Standard Version
and shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place to bury.

Contemporary English Version
Then tell them that I have also said: I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I warn you that I will shatter Judah and Jerusalem just like this jar that is broken beyond repair. You will bury your dead here in Topheth, but so many of you will die that there won't be enough room.

English Revised Version
and shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place to bury.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Say to them, 'This is what the LORD of Armies says: I will smash these people and this city as this potter's jar was smashed beyond repair. They will bury [the dead] in Topheth until there's no other place to bury them.

Good News Translation
and to tell them that the LORD Almighty had said, "I will break this people and this city, and it will be like this broken clay jar that cannot be put together again. People will bury their dead even in Topheth because there will be nowhere else to bury them.

International Standard Version
and say to them, 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "In this same way I'll break this people and this city, just as someone breaks a potter's vessel which he then cannot put back together again. They'll bury corpses in Topheth until there is no more room to bury anyone.

Majority Standard Bible
and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.

NET Bible
Tell them the LORD who rules over all says, 'I will do just as Jeremiah has done. I will smash this nation and this city as though it were a potter's vessel which is broken beyond repair. The dead will be buried here in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.'

New Heart English Bible
and shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, that can't be made whole again; and they shall bury in Topheth, until there is no place to bury.

Webster's Bible Translation
And shalt say to them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.

World English Bible
and shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “Even so I will break this people and this city as one breaks a potter’s vessel, that can’t be made whole again. They will bury in Topheth until there is no place to bury.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and have said to them, Thus said YHWH of Hosts: Thus I break this people and this city, as one breaks the potter’s vessel, that is not able to be repaired again, and in Tophet they bury—without place to bury;

Young's Literal Translation
and hast said unto them: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Thus do I break this people and this city, as one breaketh the potter's vessel, that is not able to be repaired again, and in Tophet they bury -- without place to bury;

Smith's Literal Translation
And say to them, Thus said Jehovah of armies: According to this will I break this people and this city, as he will break the potter's vessel which shall not be able to be healed any more: and in Tophet shall they bury, from not a place to bury.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: even so will I break this people, and this city, as the potter's vessel is broken, which cannot be made whole again: and they shall be buried in Topheth, because there is no other place to bury in.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord of hosts: In the same way, I will crush this people and this city, just as the potter’s vessel was crushed and cannot be made whole again. And they will be buried at Topheth, because there will be no other place for burial.

New American Bible
and say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Thus will I smash this people and this city, as one smashes a clay pot so that it cannot be repaired. And Topheth shall be its burial place, for there will be no other place for burial.

New Revised Standard Version
and shall say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended. In Topheth they shall bury until there is no more room to bury.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as this potter's vessel is broken, so that it cannot be mended again; and they shall bury the dead in Taphat because of the lack of burial space.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And say to them: “Thus says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, ‘In this way I shall break this people and this city, as this potter’s vessel is broken that cannot be mended again, and in Taphat they shall bury them for lack of a place to bury

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and shalt say unto them: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Topheth, for want of room to bury.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord, Thus will I break in pieces this people, and this city, even as an earthen vessel is broken in pieces which cannot be mended again.

Audio Bible

Context

The Broken Jar
…10Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you, 11and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them. 12This is what I will do to this place and to its residents, declares the LORD. I will make this city like Topheth.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 30:14
It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar, shattered so that no fragment can be found. Not a shard will be found in the dust large enough to scoop the coals from a hearth or to skim the water from a cistern.”

Psalm 2:9
You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”

Revelation 2:27
He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.

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’?

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!

Hosea 8:8
Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel.

2 Kings 21:13
I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a bowl—wiping it and turning it upside down.

Matthew 21:44
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Romans 9:21-22
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? / What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?

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”?

Isaiah 41:25
I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay.

Ezekiel 5:1-4
“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair. / When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them. / But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment. ...

2 Corinthians 4:7
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

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.

Daniel 2:34-35
As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. / Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Treasury of Scripture

And shall say to them, Thus said the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.

Even.

Jeremiah 13:14
And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

Psalm 2:9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Isaiah 30:14
And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

made whole.

Jeremiah 19:6
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.

Jeremiah 7:31,32
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart…

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Jeremiah 19

1. Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, is foreshown the desolation of the Jews

Berean Study Bible

Then you are to break the jar
In this phrase, the act of breaking the jar is symbolic and prophetic. The Hebrew word for "jar" here is "baqbuq," which refers to an earthenware vessel. This imagery is significant in the context of ancient Israel, where pottery was a common household item, representing the fragility and vulnerability of human life. The breaking of the jar symbolizes the impending judgment and destruction that God is about to bring upon Jerusalem and its people due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. This act serves as a visual and tangible demonstration of the irreversible nature of God's judgment, emphasizing that once the jar is broken, it cannot be made whole again, just as the nation will face consequences for its actions.

in the presence of the men who accompany you
The phrase highlights the importance of witnesses in prophetic acts. In ancient Israel, having witnesses was crucial for validating a message or event. The presence of these men underscores the seriousness of the prophecy and ensures that the message is communicated clearly and authoritatively. These witnesses would later testify to the fulfillment of the prophecy, reinforcing the truth of God's word through Jeremiah. This communal aspect of witnessing also serves to hold the people accountable, as they cannot claim ignorance of the warning given by the prophet.

and you are to say to them
This directive emphasizes the role of the prophet as God's spokesperson. Jeremiah is instructed to speak directly to the people, conveying God's message with authority and clarity. The Hebrew verb "amar" (to say) is used here, indicating a direct communication from God through His prophet. This underscores the responsibility of the prophet to faithfully deliver God's message, regardless of the potential backlash or unpopularity it might bring. It also highlights the importance of verbal proclamation in the prophetic ministry, as the spoken word carries the power and authority of God Himself.

‘This is what the LORD of Hosts says
The title "LORD of Hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) is a powerful designation of God, emphasizing His supreme authority and command over the heavenly armies. This title reassures the people of God's sovereignty and His ability to execute judgment. It serves as a reminder that the message being delivered is not from Jeremiah himself, but from the Almighty God who governs all creation. This divine authority lends weight to the prophecy, demanding the attention and reverence of the listeners. It also serves as a comfort to the faithful, reminding them that God is in control, even amidst impending judgment.

‘I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired
The imagery of smashing the nation and city like a potter's jar is a vivid depiction of total destruction. The Hebrew verb "shabar" (to smash) conveys a sense of violent breaking, indicating the severity of the judgment. The reference to the potter's jar, which cannot be repaired once broken, underscores the finality and irreversibility of God's judgment upon Jerusalem. This serves as a stark warning to the people, illustrating the consequences of their persistent rebellion against God. The use of pottery imagery is particularly poignant, as it reflects the cultural and historical context of the time, where pottery was an essential part of daily life, yet easily broken and discarded when damaged. This metaphor serves to remind the people of their own fragility and the futility of resisting God's will.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - As one breaketh a potter's vessel (comp. Isaiah 30:14). Dr. Them-son speaks of the utter indifference with which the common pottery of Palestine is handled. It is not only brittle, but so cheap that no one is distressed at breaking it. And they shall bury them in Tophet, etc. These words form the conclusion of Jeremiah 7:32 (see note), the greater part of which is repeated in ver. 6. They are certainly out of place here, and are wanting in the Septuagint.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

and you are to proclaim
וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to them
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

that this is what
כֹּה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

of Hosts
צְבָא֗וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

says:
אָמַ֣ר ׀ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

I will shatter
אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר (’eš·bōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

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

nation
הָעָ֤ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and this
הַזֹּ֔את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

city,
הָעִ֣יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

like
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

one shatters
יִשְׁבֹּר֙ (yiš·bōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

a 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

jar
כְּלִ֣י (kə·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

that
אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

can
יוּכַ֥ל (yū·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

never
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

again
ע֑וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

be repaired.
לְהֵרָפֵ֖ה (lə·hê·rā·p̄êh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure

They will bury
יִקְבְּר֔וּ (yiq·bə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6912: To inter

the dead in Topheth
וּבְתֹ֣פֶת (ū·ḇə·ṯō·p̄eṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8612: Topheth -- a place South of Jerusalem

since there is nowhere
מֵאֵ֥ין (mê·’ên)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

else
מָק֖וֹם (mā·qō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

to bury [them].
לִקְבּֽוֹר׃ (liq·bō·wr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6912: To inter

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 19:11 And shall tell them Thus says Yahweh (Jer.)