Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Jeremiah 18
Jeremiah's Twelfth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
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 COVENANT (Deuteronomy 6:25), but it was marred (Jeremiah 31:32): for the New Covenant, see Hebrews 8:7-13.
(2) ORDINANCES, 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) PRIESTHOOD (Hebrews 7:11-28).
(4) KING (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Compare Psa 72. Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 32:1-8. Luke 1:31-33.
(5) MAN, marred (Gen 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 (Gen 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 (Gen 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'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.
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.
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.
forgotten. Showing that the emphasis is on the leaving and forsaking of Jeremiah 18:14.
vanity. Used of idols. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject).
as. Some codices, with five early printed editions, read "with", instead of "as".
wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
in the day. See App-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.
their counsel. See App-85.
forgive not. See App-86.
iniquity. Hebrew. "avon. App-44.
sin. Hebrew. chata". App-44.
Comments