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of a potter

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Potter

Of the potter scripture says he treadeth the clay to make it pliable (Isa. 41:25²⁵I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. (Isaiah 41:25)); and he forms his vessel on a wheel (Jer. 18:3³Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. (Jeremiah 18:3)). Much of the ordinary pottery in the East is made in a very simple way: the workman turns the wheel with his feet, and with his hands he forms the vessel as it pleases him. This common pottery of the East is very fragile, and as such is often alluded to in scripture. The Lord Jesus will subdue all His enemies: will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel (Psa. 2:9⁹Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalm 2:9); Isa. 30:14¹⁴And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. (Isaiah 30:14); Rev. 2:27²⁷And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (Revelation 2:27)).

The potter making his vessels as it pleases him, is a beautiful illustration of the power of God as Creator, and is applied to Israel: “as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel” (Jer. 18:2-6²Arise, 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. (Jeremiah 18:2‑6)). It also illustrates God’s sovereignty: “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” The potter has full power over the clay (Rom. 9:20-21²⁰Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? ²¹Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? (Romans 9:20‑21)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

2764 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

κεραμικός

Transliteration:

keramikos

Phonic:

ker-am-ik-os’

Meaning:

from 2766; made of clay, i.e. earthen

KJV Usage:

of a potter