Focused Passage

Jeremiah 19:7-13

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

7And in this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.

8I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.

9I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

10Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you,

11and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.

12This is what I will do to this place and to its residents, declares the LORD. I will make this city like Topheth.

13The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

And in thisהַזֶּ֔הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularplaceבַּמָּק֣וֹםH4725Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularI will ruinוּ֠בַקֹּתִיH1238Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe plansעֲצַ֨תH6098Noun - feminine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֤הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularand Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙H3389Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singularI will make them fallוְהִפַּלְתִּ֤יםH5307Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralby the swordבַּחֶ֙רֶב֙H2719Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructtheir enemiesאֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔םH341Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralby the handsוּבְיַ֖דH3027Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof those who seekמְבַקְשֵׁ֣יH1245Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural constructtheir livesנַפְשָׁ֑םH5315Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluraland I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֤יH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir carcassesנִבְלָתָם֙H5038Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralas foodלְמַֽאֲכָ֔לH3978Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularto the birdsלְע֥וֹףH5775Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof the airהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine pluraland the beastsוּלְבֶהֱמַ֥תH929Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructof the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃H776Article | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • The Hebrew term for ruin sounds like the Hebrew for jar; see verses 1 and 10.
Verse 8

Original words

I will makeוְשַׂמְתִּי֙H7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֣ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singulara desolationלְשַׁמָּ֖הH8047Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularand an [object of] scornוְלִשְׁרֵקָ֑הH8322Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularAllכֹּ֚לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructwho passעֹבֵ֣רH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularbyעָלֶ֔יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singularwill be appalledיִשֹּׁ֥םH8074Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularand will scoffוְיִשְׁרֹ֖קH8319Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularatעַל־H5921Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructher woundsמַכֹּתֶֽהָ׃H4347Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Literally and a hissing
Verse 9

Original words

I will make them eatוְהַֽאֲכַלְתִּ֞יםH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe fleshבְּשַׂ֣רH1320Noun - masculine singular constructof their sonsבְּנֵיהֶ֗םH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralandוְאֵת֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerבְּשַׂ֣רבְּשַׂ֣רH1320Noun - masculine singular constructdaughtersבְּנֹתֵיהֶ֔םH1323Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland they will eatיֹאכֵ֑לוּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraloneוְאִ֥ישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularanother’sרֵעֵ֖הוּH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularfleshבְּשַׂר־H1320Noun - masculine singular constructin the siegeבְּמָצוֹר֙H4692Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand distressוּבְמָצ֔וֹקH4689Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeinflictedיָצִ֧יקוּH6693Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralon themלָהֶ֛םPreposition | third person masculine pluralby their enemiesאֹיְבֵיהֶ֖םH341Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralwho seekוּמְבַקְשֵׁ֥יH1245Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural constructtheir livesנַפְשָֽׁם׃H5315Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

Then you are to shatterוְשָׁבַרְתָּ֖H7665Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularthe jarהַבַּקְבֻּ֑קH1228Article | Noun - masculine singularin the presenceלְעֵינֵי֙H5869Preposition-l | Noun - cdcof the menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםH582Article | Noun - masculine pluralwho accompanyהַהֹלְכִ֖יםH1980Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralyouאוֹתָֽךְ׃H854Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

and you are to proclaimוְאָמַרְתָּ֨H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularto themאֲלֵיהֶ֜םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralthat this is whatכֹּה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֗וֹתH6635Noun - common plural. . .כָּ֣כָהH3602Adverbsaysאָמַ֣ר׀H559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularI will shatterאֶשְׁבֹּ֞רH7665Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֶּה֙H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markernationהָעָ֤םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularand thisהַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֣ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularlikeכַּאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeone shattersיִשְׁבֹּר֙H7665Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markera potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֔רH3335Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularjarכְּלִ֣יH3627Noun - masculine singular constructthatאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Pronoun - relativecanיוּכַ֥לH3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularneverלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleagainע֑וֹדH5750Adverbbe repairedלְהֵרָפֵ֖הH7495Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructThey will bury the deadיִקְבְּר֔וּH6912Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralin Tophethוּבְתֹ֣פֶתH8612Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularuntil there is no moreמֵאֵ֥יןH369Preposition-m | Adverbroomמָק֖וֹםH4725Noun - masculine singularto bury [them]לִקְבּֽוֹר׃H6912Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 12

Original words

This is whatכֵּֽן־H3651AdverbI will doאֶעֱשֶׂ֞הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularto thisהַזֶּ֛הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularplaceלַמָּק֥וֹםH4725Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularand to its residentsוּלְיֽוֹשְׁבָ֑יוH3427Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularI will makeוְלָתֵ֛תH5414Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֥ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularlike Tophethכְּתֹֽפֶת׃H8612Preposition-k | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

The housesבָּתֵּ֣יH1004Noun - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularand the housesוּבָתֵּי֙H1004Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof the kingsמַלְכֵ֣יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֔הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularwill beוְהָי֞וּH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluraldefiledהַטְּמֵאִ֑יםH2931Article | Adjective - masculine plurallike that placeכִּמְק֥וֹםH4725Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructTophethהַתֹּ֖פֶתH8612Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularallלְכֹ֣לH3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe housesהַבָּתִּ֗יםH1004Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeonעַל־H5921Prepositionwhose rooftopsגַּגֹּֽתֵיהֶם֙H1406Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralthey burned incenseקִטְּר֜וּH6999Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralto allלְכֹל֙H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe hostצְבָ֣אH6635Noun - common singular constructof heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine pluraland poured outוְהַסֵּ֥ךְH5258Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolutedrink offeringsנְסָכִ֖יםH5262Noun - masculine pluralto otherאֲחֵרִֽים׃פH312Adjective - masculine pluralgodsלֵאלֹהִ֥יםH430Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.