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Jeremiah 18:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 18:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Jeremiah 18:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2Arise, and go down to the potter`s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3Then I went down to the potter`s house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
4And 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.
5Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
6O 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.
7At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
← Jeremiah 18:3Jeremiah 18:5 →
← Full Chapter 18 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the vessel that he made of clay, etc.] Which is the matter the vessel is made of: was marred in the hand of the potter; while he was working it; either it fell, as the Septuagint version renders it, out of his hands, or from the beam on which it was laid; or was spoiled by some means or other, so that it was not fit for the purpose he first intended it: or the words should be read, according to some copies, “and the vessel was marred which he made, as clay in the hand of the potter”f379; while it was clay; or moist, as Jarchi interprets it; and while it was in his hands, forming and fashioning it: so he made it again another vessel; put it into another form and shape it would better…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 Jer 18:6, "as the clay."”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“made of clay was marred in: or, made was marred, as clay in, made it again. Heb. returned and made. as. Jer 18:6; Isa 45:9; Rom 9:20-23 Jeremiah 18:5”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification