The big picture
Jeremiah 18 opens in verse 1 with “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will…”, and closes in verse 23 with “Yet, LORD , thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their…” Repeated or prominent terms include evil, LORD, good, concerning, house. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 23Jeremiah 18:1-8
1–8: The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,
Jeremiah 18:1–8 opens with “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,” and reaches “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 18 develops its own movement around evil, LORD, good, concerning, house, with particular weight carried by house, hand, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,” Naming Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.” The line’s distinctive content terms include house, potter’s, wheels. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 18:1-8
King James Version1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD , 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 wrought a work on the wheels.
4And 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.
5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6O 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.
7At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jeremiah 18:9-16
9–16: At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a…
Jeremiah 18:9–16 opens with “And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to…” and reaches “To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 18 develops its own movement around evil, LORD, good, concerning, house, with particular weight carried by evil, concerning, good.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD …” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Therefore thus saith the LORD ; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Jeremiah 18:9-16
King James Version9And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
12And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
13Therefore thus saith the LORD ; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
14Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?
15Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
16To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.
Jeremiah 18:17-23
17–23: I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew…
Jeremiah 18:17–23 opens with “I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not…” and reaches “Yet, LORD , thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 18 develops its own movement around evil, LORD, good, concerning, house, with particular weight carried by children, counsel, digged.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include back, calamity, east. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Give heed to me, O LORD , and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 18:17-23
King James Version17I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
18Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
19Give heed to me, O LORD , and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.
20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
23Yet, LORD , thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 18:1 begins with “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 18:11 forms a natural hinge: “Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I frame evil against you, and…”
The final note
Jeremiah 18:23 leaves the reader with “Yet, LORD , thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words evil, LORD, good, concerning, house, hand help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What responsibility accompanies Abraham's election?
Verse 19 connects his household's calling with keeping the Lord's way through justice and judgment.
What is the moral center of his intercession?
That righteous and wicked should not be treated indiscriminately.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.