In biblical times, the craft of pottery was a significant and respected trade, with potters playing a crucial role in daily life and religious practices. The term "potter" and its derivatives appear in various contexts throughout the Bible, symbolizing God's creative power and authority over His creation.

Biblical References:

1. Creation and Sovereignty:
The imagery of the potter and clay is prominently used to illustrate God's sovereignty and creative authority. In Isaiah 64:8 , the prophet declares, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand." This metaphor emphasizes the relationship between God and humanity, highlighting His role as the divine creator who shapes and molds His people according to His will.

2. Jeremiah's Prophetic Symbolism:
The prophet Jeremiah uses the potter's craft as a powerful symbol of God's judgment and mercy. In Jeremiah 18:1-6 , God instructs Jeremiah to visit a potter's house, where he observes the potter reworking a marred vessel into a new one. The Lord explains, "Can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?" This passage underscores God's ability to reshape nations and individuals, offering hope for redemption and transformation.

3. The Potter's Field:
The term "Potter's Field" is associated with the purchase of a burial ground for strangers, as mentioned in the New Testament. In Matthew 27:7-10 , the chief priests use the thirty pieces of silver returned by Judas Iscariot to buy the potter's field, fulfilling the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah. This field, known as the "Field of Blood," serves as a somber reminder of betrayal and the consequences of sin.

4. Symbol of Judgment:
The potter's vessel is also used as a symbol of judgment. In Psalm 2:9 , the psalmist writes, "You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery." This imagery conveys the idea of divine retribution against rebellious nations, illustrating the fragility of human power in contrast to God's unyielding authority.

Cultural and Historical Context:

Pottery was an essential part of ancient Near Eastern culture, with potters producing a wide range of items, from everyday household vessels to intricate ceremonial objects. The process of shaping clay on a potter's wheel required skill and precision, making the potter a respected artisan in society. The biblical use of potter imagery draws on this cultural understanding, using the potter's relationship with clay to convey profound theological truths about God's nature and His relationship with humanity.

Theological Significance:

The potter metaphor serves as a powerful reminder of God's intimate involvement in the lives of His people. It illustrates His authority to shape destinies and His willingness to reform and restore those who turn to Him. The imagery also calls believers to submit to God's will, trusting in His wisdom and purpose as the divine potter who knows what is best for His creation.POTTER'S FIELD

pot'-erz.

See ACELDAMA.

2763. kerameus -- a potter
... a potter. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kerameus Phonetic Spelling:
(ker-am-yooce') Short Definition: a potter Definition: a potter. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2763.htm - 6k6353. pechar -- a potter
... 6352, 6353. pechar. 6354 . a potter. Transliteration: pechar Phonetic Spelling:
(peh-khawr') Short Definition: potter's. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6353.htm - 5k

70. oben -- a wheel, disk
... From the same as 'eben; a pair of stones (only dual); a potter's wheel or a midwife's
stool (consisting alike of two horizontal disks with a support between ...
/hebrew/70.htm - 6k

3335. yatsar -- to form, fashion
... 1), fashioning (2), fashions (1), formed (20), forming (2), forms (2), made (1),
Maker (2), maker (4), ordained (1), planned (4), potter (9), potter's (7 ...
/hebrew/3335.htm - 6k

Concerning the Arguments which Nigidius the Mathematician Drew ...
... Book V. Chapter 3."Concerning the Arguments Which Nigidius the Mathematician Drew
from the Potter's Wheel, in the Question About the Birth of Twins. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 3 concerning the arguments which.htm

Remorse and Suicide of Judas.
... for the arrest of a real criminal, it was justice money, and not blood money at
all.] 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxii remorse and suicide of.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... was broken, and each advanced the claims of a different personage.[*] Phtah had
modelled man with his own hands;[**] Khnumu had formed him on a potter's table ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
... Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a
potter's vessel. ... He shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel (Psalm 2:9). ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxv opposition to messiah.htm

And Again David Says:...
... took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was sold, whom they bought
from the children of Israel; and they gave them for the potter's field, as ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 80 and again david.htm

How the Steps in the Passion of the Saviour were Predetermined in ...
... 5079] of the money, which on Judas' remorse was recalled from its first purpose
of a fee, [5080] and appropriated to the purchase of a potter's field, as ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xl how the steps in.htm

The Remorse of Judas.
... and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price
of blood." And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the remorse of judas.htm

Of the Thorough Harmony of the Evangelists in the Different ...
... And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers
in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter vii of the thorough harmony.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
... We shall not attempt to review here the entire chapter, but will confine ourselves
to verses 21-23- "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter four the sovereignty of.htm

The Morning of Good Friday.
... mountain! We are now on the potter's field' of Jeremiah - somewhat to
the west above where the Kidron and Hinnom valleys merge. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiv the morning of.htm

Potter's (16 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia POTTER'S FIELD. pot'-erz. See ACELDAMA.
Multi-Version Concordance Potter's (16 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/p/potter's.htm - 11k

Akeldama (1 Occurrence)
... into the sanctuary" and "bought with them the potter's field, to bury
strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of ...
/a/akeldama.htm - 8k

Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... The art of, was early practised among all nations. Various materials seem to have
been employed by the potter. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. POTTER; POTTERY. ...
/p/pottery.htm - 27k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. POTTER; POTTERY. pot ... crafts. The potter's wheel
too was probably an invention of this date. (4) Palestine. ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Field (390 Occurrences)
... feld. See AGRICULTURE. POTTER'S FIELD. pot'-erz. See ACELDAMA. ... Matthew 27:7 They
took counsel, and bought the potter's field with them, to bury strangers in. ...
/f/field.htm - 44k

Throw (135 Occurrences)
... 11. (vt) To form or shape roughly on a throwing engine, or potter's wheel, as earthen
vessels. 12. ... 22. (n.) A potter's wheel or table; a jigger. ...
/t/throw.htm - 38k

Earthenware (13 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Psalms 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash
them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (See NAS). Proverbs ...
/e/earthenware.htm - 10k

East (228 Occurrences)
... East gate. (Jeremiah 19:2), properly the Potter's gate, the gate which led to the
potter's field, in the valley of Hinnom. East sea. (Joel 2:20; Ezek. ...
/e/east.htm - 51k

Birthstool (1 Occurrence)
... The Hebrew ('obhnayim) here rendered "birth-stool" is used in Jeremiah 18:3, and
is there rendered "potter's wheel." The word is used in both places in the ...
/b/birthstool.htm - 7k

Birth-stool (1 Occurrence)
... The Hebrew ('obhnayim) here rendered "birth-stool" is used in Jeremiah 18:3, and
is there rendered "potter's wheel." The word is used in both places in the ...
/b/birth-stool.htm - 7k

What is Potter's House Christian Fellowship? | GotQuestions.org

How did Judas die? | GotQuestions.org

Why does Matthew 27:9 attribute the prophecy to Jeremiah when it is from Zechariah? | GotQuestions.org

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