Focused Passage

Jeremiah 19:1-6

The Broken Jar, Topheth, and the Disaster Judah Cannot Repair

The chapter moves from the LORD’s command to buy a potter’s jar and gather leaders, to a public oracle at the Valley of Ben Hinnom, to the naming of Judah’s abominations and bloodguilt, to the renaming of Topheth as the Valley of Slaughter, to siege horrors including cannibalism, to Jeremiah’s smashing of the jar as an irreversible sign, to the declaration that Jerusalem will become like Topheth, and finally to Jeremiah’s temple-court proclamation that disaster will come because the people stiffened their necks and would not listen.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests,

2and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you,

3saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on this place that the ears of all who hear of it will ring,

4because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.

5They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.

6So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Ezekiel 8:11Classic cross-references Hosea 12:10Classic cross-references Isaiah 30:14Classic cross-references Isaiah 30:29Classic cross-references Isaiah 7:11Classic cross-references

Original words

This is whatכֹּ֚הH3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularGoהָל֛וֹךְH1980Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteand buyוְקָנִ֥יתָH7069Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singulara clayחָ֑רֶשׂH2789Noun - masculine singularjarבַקְבֻּ֖קH1228Noun - masculine singular constructfrom a potterיוֹצֵ֣רH3335Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructTake some of the eldersוּמִזִּקְנֵ֣יH2205Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine plural constructof the peopleהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularand leadersוּמִזִּקְנֵ֖יH2205Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine plural constructof the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃H3548Article | Noun - masculine plural

Verse 2

Cross-references

Joshua 15:8Classic cross-references 2 Kings 23:10Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 28:3Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 33:6Classic cross-references Ezekiel 40:6Classic cross-references

Original words

and goוְיָצָ֙אתָ֙H3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularout toאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Valleyגֵּ֣יאH1516Noun - proper - feminine singularof Ben-hinnomבֶן־H1121Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הִנֹּ֔םH2011Noun - proper-אֲשֶׁ֕רH834Pronoun - relativenear the entranceפֶּ֖תַחH6607Noun - masculine singular constructof the PotsherdהַחֲרָסוּתH2777Article | Noun - feminine singularGateשַׁ֣עַרH8179Noun - masculine singular constructProclaimוְקָרָ֣אתָH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularthereשָּׁ֔םH8033Adverb-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe wordsהַדְּבָרִ֖יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeI speakאֲדַבֵּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularto youאֵלֶֽיךָ׃H413Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

1 Samuel 3:11Classic cross-references 2 Kings 21:12Classic cross-references Jeremiah 17:20Classic cross-references Hosea 2:2Classic cross-references Isaiah 28:19Classic cross-references

Original words

sayingוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularHearשִׁמְע֣וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralthe wordדְבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularO kingsמַלְכֵ֣יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֔הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularand residentsוְיֹשְׁבֵ֖יH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularThis is whatכֹּֽה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֜וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .הִנְנִ֨יH2005Interjection | first person common singularsaysאָמַר֩H559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularI am going to bringמֵבִ֤יאH935Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularsuch disasterרָעָה֙H7451Adjective - feminine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionthisהַזֶּ֔הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularplaceהַמָּק֣וֹםH4725Article | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativethe earsאָזְנָֽיו׃H241Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singularof allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructwho hear of itשֹׁמְעָ֖הּH8085Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularwill ringתִּצַּ֥לְנָהH6750Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Jeremiah 2:34Classic cross-references Jeremiah 1:16Classic cross-references 2 Kings 21:16Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:20Classic cross-references Isaiah 65:11Classic cross-references

Original words

becauseיַ֣עַן׀H3282Adverb-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativethey have abandoned Meעֲזָבֻ֗נִיH5800Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singularand made thisהַזֶּה֙H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singulara foreignוַֽיְנַכְּר֞וּH5234Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerplaceהַמָּק֤וֹםH4725Article | Noun - masculine singularThey have burned incenseוַיְקַטְּרוּ־H6999Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralin [this place]בוֹ֙Preposition | third person masculine singularto otherאֲחֵרִ֔יםH312Adjective - masculine pluralgodsלֵאלֹהִ֣יםH430Preposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relative[neither] theyהֵ֥מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralnor their fathersוַאֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֖םH1Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralnor the kingsוּמַלְכֵ֣יH4428Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֑הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularhave [ever]לֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleknownיְדָע֛וּםH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine pluralThey have filledוּמָֽלְא֛וּH4390Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֶּ֖הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularplaceהַמָּק֥וֹםH4725Article | Noun - masculine singularwith the bloodדַּ֥םH1818Noun - masculine singular constructof the innocentנְקִיִּֽם׃H5355Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 5

Cross-references

Jeremiah 32:35Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:31Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:21Classic cross-references Psalms 106:37Classic cross-references Ezekiel 16:20Classic cross-references

Original words

They have builtוּבָנ֞וּH1129Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhigh placesבָּמ֣וֹתH1116Noun - feminine plural constructto Baalהַבַּ֗עַלH1168Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularon which to burnלִשְׂרֹ֧ףH8313Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir childrenבְּנֵיהֶ֛םH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralin the fireבָּאֵ֖שׁH784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularas offeringsעֹל֣וֹתH5930Noun - feminine pluralto Baalלַבָּ֑עַלH1168Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularsomethingאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativeI neverלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecommandedצִוִּ֙יתִי֙H6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularor mentionedדִבַּ֔רְתִּיH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular. . .וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlenorוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particledid it [even] enterעָלְתָ֖הH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular. . .עַל־H5921PrepositionMy mindלִבִּֽי׃פH3820Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

2 Kings 23:10Classic cross-references Isaiah 30:33Classic cross-references Jeremiah 7:32Classic cross-references Joshua 15:8Classic cross-references Jeremiah 19:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Soלָכֵ֞ןH3651Adverbbeholdהִנֵּֽה־H2009Interjectionthe daysיָמִ֤יםH3117Noun - masculine pluralare comingבָּאִים֙H935Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluraldeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwhen thisהַזֶּ֥הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularplaceלַמָּק֨וֹםH4725Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularwill noוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlelongerע֛וֹדH5750Adverbbe calledיִקָּרֵא֩H7121Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularTophethהַתֹּ֖פֶתH8612Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularor the Valleyוְגֵ֣יאH1516Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singularof Ben-hinnomבֶן־H1121Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הִנֹּ֑םH2011Noun - properbutכִּ֖יH3588Conjunction. . .אִם־H518Conjunctionthe Valleyגֵּ֥יאH1516Noun - common singular constructof Slaughterהַהֲרֵגָֽה׃H2028Article | Noun - feminine singular

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