Jeremiah 18

“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.

“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.” Naming Arise 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.

“And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as…” The line’s distinctive content terms include potter, vessel, clay. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD . Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do…” The line’s distinctive content terms include evil, nation, pronounced. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“If 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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include benefit, evil, good. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of…” 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.

“Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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.

“Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include digged, feet, houses. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yet, LORD , thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their…” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.