Jeremiah 18

Jeremiah 18:1

Jeremiah’s Twelfth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Jeremiah 18:2

the potter’s house. Note the lesson, set to Jeremiah there: that Jehovah never mends what man has marred. He always substitutes something new. The interpretation belongs to “THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL”, and, that being “marred”, the new “nation” is to be substituted. See Matthew 21:43. Compare Romans 11:7. Ezekiel 36:25-28. The application belongs to:

(1) THE (Deuteronomy 6:25), but it was marred (Jeremiah 31:32): for the New Covenant, see Hebrews 8:7-13.

(2) , marred (Isaiah 1:11-14); new (Hebrews 10:6-9. Colossians 2:14, Colossians 2:17. Galatians 1:4, Galatians 1:3, Galatians 1:8-11).

(3) (Hebrews 7:11-28).

(4) KING (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Compare Psalms 72. Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 32:1-8. Luke 1:31-33.

(5) MAN, marred (Genesis 3, Romans 8:7. Romans 17:9. Psalms 14:2; Psalms 53:2. John 3:6); new (2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 5:18).

(6) THE BODY, marred (Genesis 3, Hebrews 9:27); the new (1 Corinthians 15:35, 1 Corinthians 15:44, 1 Corinthians 15:46, 1 Corinthians 15:47).

(7) THE HEAVEN AND EARTH, marred (Genesis 3, 2 Peter 3:7); the new (2 Peter 3:13). Psalms 85:10, Psalms 85:13. Isaiah 65:17, &c.

(8) THE CHURCH, marred (2 Timothy 1:15 (compare Acts 19:10; Acts 20:29); Jeremiah 2:18; Jeremiah 3:8; Jeremiah 4:3, Jeremiah 4:4); new (Ephesians 2:20-22; Ephesians 4:4).

wrought = was working.

Jeremiah 18:6

Jeremiah’s Thirteenth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).

house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah’s oracle,

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Jeremiah 18:7

to pluck up = to declare that it should be plucked up. Hebrew idiom. Compare Jeremiah 1:10.

pull down. Some codices, with two early printed editions and Syriac, read “tear away”. Compare Jeremiah 1:10.

Jeremiah 18:8

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra’a’, App-44.

I will repent. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Jeremiah 18:9

to build, &c. = to declare that it should be built and planted.

Jeremiah 18:11

men. Hebrew ish.

I frame = I work (as the potter in Jeremiah 18:3)

Jeremiah 18:12

imagination = stubbornness.

Jeremiah 18:13

heathen = nations.

Jeremiah 18:14

Will a man leave . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Erotesis and the Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6), and render:

“Will [a man] leave the snow [water] of Lebanon for the rock of the field?

Or, shall the cold flowing waters [be forsaken] for strange waters?

snow: i.e. snow [water], used for mixing with wine; or for washing, as in Job 9:30.

which cometh. Omit, and supply the word “leave” in the second clause from the first clause.

Jeremiah 18:15

forgotten. Showing that the emphasis is on the leaving and forsaking of Jer 18:14.

vanity. Used of idols. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject).

Jeremiah 18:16

hissing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the contempt felt.

Jeremiah 18:17

as. Some codices, with five early printed editions, read “with”, instead of “as”.

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

in the day. See App-18.

Jeremiah 18:18

the law, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11). App-92.

with the tongue = with hard words. “Tongue” put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the hard words spoken by it.

Jeremiah 18:20

Shall . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-18.

Jeremiah 18:21

children = sons.

Jeremiah 18:22

troop = marauders.

Jeremiah 18:23

their counsel. See App-85.

forgive not. See App-86.

iniquity. Hebrew. ’avon. App-44.

sin. Hebrew. chata’. App-44.