Jeremiah 18:1-11

^A “word” = dabar. From dabar (to speak, declare, discuss). This is speech, a word, a matter, an affair, charge, command, message, promise, purpose, report, request. It is a word, which implies things that are spoken of in a wide sense.
^B “came” = hayah. This is to be or become, to happen.
^C “Jeremiah” = Yirmeyah. Related to “came” in v1. From the same as yirmeyah (Jeremiah, “the Lord loosens” or “the Lord will rise”); {from the same as remiyya (slack, idle, lazy, negligent) + Yah (a shortened form of the name of the God of Israel; God, Lord); {from YHVH (proper name of the God of Israel; God, Lord; the self-existent or eternal one); from havah (to become) or hayah (see note B above)}}. This is Jeremiah, meaning “the Lord loosens” or “the Lord will rise.”
^D “Lord” = YHVH. Related to “came” and “Jeremiah” in v1. See note C above.

^E “come” = qum. To arise, stand, accomplish, establish, abide. This is rising as in rising against, getting up after being sick or asleep, arising from one state to another, becoming powerful, or rising for action. It can also be standing in a figurative sense.
^F “go down” = yarad. This is to go down, descend; going down in a literal or figurative sense. It can be going to the shore or a boundary, bringing down an enemy.
^G “potter’s” = yatsar. Perhaps related to yatsar (to be narrow, distressed, or vexed); perhaps related to tsarar (to bind, restrict, narrow, be cramped, an adversary). This is to fashion or form, perhaps by squeezing something into a shape or form. Particularly, it is to create as a potter does. Figuratively, it is to determine.
^H “house” = bayit. Probably from banah (to build, make, set up, obtain children; to build literally or figuratively). This is house, court, family, palace, temple.
^I “hear” = shama. This is to hear, call, consent, or consider. It implies listening intelligently, giving attention, and, because of these two factors, obedience and action are often implied.

^J “there” = hinneh. From hen (lo! Behold! If, though; an expression of surprise). This is to draw attention, show suddenness or surprise, or to emphasize the importance of the coming statement. See! Lo! Behold!
^K “working” = asah + melakah. Literally, “doing work.” Asah is to make, do, act, appoint, become in many senses. Melakah is from the same as malak (messenger, an angel, or a deputy; human messengers literally or for prophets, priests, or teachers as messengers of God; also supernatural messengers i.e. angels). Properly, this is a deputyship or some kind of work. It can also be the product that comes from labor.
^L “wheel” = oben. Related to “house” in v2. 2x in OT. From eben (stone, weight, or mason); from banah (see note H above). This is a potter’s wheel or a birthstool.

^M “vessel” = keli. From kalah (to end, be finished, complete, prepare, consume, spent, or completely destroyed). This is something that was prepared – any implement, utensil, article, vessel, weapon, or instrument. Also includes jewels, weapons, bags, carriages, and furniture.
^N “making” = asah. Same as “working” in v3. See note K above.
^O “clay” = chomer. From chamar (to boil up, ferment, be red befoul, trouble, daub). This is something that bubbles up like sea foam, mire, clay, a heap. It is also cement, mortar and a dry measure.
^P “was spoiled” = shachath. This is to go to ruin, perish, decay, batter, cast off, lose, one who destroys. This can be used in a literal or figurative sense.

^Q “hand” = yad. This is hand, ability, power. Hand in a literal sense, but also what one can do or the means by which one does it.
^R “reworked” = shub + asah. Shub is To turn back, return, turn away – literally or figuratively. Doesn’t necessarily imply going back to where you started from. This is also the root verb for the Hebrew word for repentance “teshubah.” Asah is the same as “working” in v3. See note K above.
^S “another” = acher. From achar (to be behind, delay, be late, procrastinate, continue). This is following, next, strange, other.
^T “seemed good to him” = yashar + ayin + yatsar +asah. Literally, “was good to the eyes.” Yashar is to be straight, right, even, smooth, or agreeable. Figuratively, it can be to make something pleasant or prosperous. Ayin is eye in a literal or figurative sense so eye, appearance, favor, or a fountain (the eye of the landscape). Yatsar is the same as “potter’s” in v2. See note G above. Asah is the same as “working” in v3. See note K above.

^U “can” = yakol. This is to be able, endure, overcome, prevail.
^V “do” = asah. Same as “working” in v3. See note K above.
^W “Israel” = Yisrael. From sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + el (God or god). This is Israel, meaning God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring. This refers to the people and to the land.
^X “says” = neum. From na’am (to speak a prophecy; properly, to whisper, which implies saying an oracle). This is an utterance or speaking an oracle.
^Y {untranslated} = hinneh. Same as “there” in v3. See note J above.
^Z “so” = ken. Perhaps from kun (properly, in a perpendicular position; literally, to establish, fix, fasten, prepare; figuratively, it is certainty, to be firm, faithfulness, render sure or prosperous). This is to set upright. Generally used figuratively to mean thus, so, afterwards, rightly so.

^AA “moment” = rega. From raga (to toss violently, break, or disturb; tossed about as on rough sea or the skin breaking out in skin disease; to shut the eyes and so to settle, east, rest, or quiet). This is an instant or moment – so suddenly. Properly, this is a wink of the eye, which is to say a brief moment.
^BB “declare” = dabar. Related to “word” in v1. See note A above.
^CC “nation” = goy. From the same root as gevah (the back, person, or body); related to gev (among); related to gaah (to rise up). This is nation or people. Often used to refer to Gentiles or foreign nations. It can also be used figuratively for a group of animals. This is where the Yiddish “goy” comes from.
^DD “kingdom” = mamlakah. From the same as melek (king, royal). This is kingdom, dominion, sovereignty, rule. It can also refer to the realm.
^EE “pluck up” = nathash. 21x in OT – 13 in Jeremiah. It is to pull up or pluck out, destroy, or tear away.
^FF “break down” = nathats. This is to pull down, demolish, break down, raze, overthrow.
^GG “destroy” = abad. To wander off, lose self. This implies to perish, destroy, die, vanish, or be broken or corrupt.

^HH “spoken” = dabar. Same as “declare” in v7. See note BB above.
^II “turns” = shub. Same as “reworked” in v4. See note R above.
^JJ “evil” = ra’. From ra’a’ (to be evil, bad, afflict; properly, to spoil – to destroy by breaking into pieces; figuratively, to cause something to be worthless; this is bad in a physical, social, or moral sense; that which displeases, to do harm or mischief, to punish or vex). This is bad, disagreeable, that which causes pain, misery, something having little or no value, something that is ethically bad, wicked, injury, calamity. This refers to anything that is not what it ought to be – a natural disaster, a disfigurement, an injury, a sin.

^KK “change…mind” = nacham. Properly, this is a strong breath or a sigh. This can be to be sorry, to pity, console. Comfort, or repent. But, one can also comfort oneself with less righteous thoughts, so this can also mean to avenge oneself.
^LL “disaster” = ra’. Same as “evil” in v8. See note JJ above.
^MM “intended” = chashab. This is properly to braid or interpenetrate. Literally it is to create or to wear. Figuratively, it can mean plotting – generally in a negative sense. More broadly, this can also mean think, consider, or make account of.
^NN “bring” = asah. Same as “working” in v3. See note K above.
^OO “build” = banah. Related to “house” in v2 & “wheel” in v3. See note H above.
^PP “plant” = nata. To fix or fasten, establish or plant. This is planting in a literal or figurative sense.
^QQ “sight” = ayin. Same as “seemed good” in v4. See note T above.

^RR “not” = bilti. From balah (to grow old, wear out, consume, waste, enjoy, fail, decay). This is nothing, not, lest, or except. From its root, it means “a failure of” – used for negative particles.
^SS “listening” = shama. Same as “hear” in v2. See note I above.
^TT “voice” = qol. This is a sound, used often for human voices. Also used when God speaks or angels, animals or instruments. It can be a cry or a noise, thunder or earthquakes and so on.
^UU “good…to do” = tob + yatab. Tob is from tob (to be pleasing, to be good). This is good, beautiful, pleasant, agreeable, bountiful, at ease. This word is used for goodness as a concept, a good thing, a good person. This can refer to prosperity and welfare as well as joy, kindness, sweetness, and graciousness. So, this is ethically good, but also enjoyably good. Yatab is to be good or pleasing, joyful. It can also mean doing good in an ethical sense or be beautiful, happy, successful, or right.

^VV {untranslated} = na. This particle is used for requests or for urging. It can be we pray, now, I ask you, oh. This is the same “na” in “hosanna.”
^WW “people” = ish. Perhaps from enosh (human, humankind, mortal); from anash (to be weak, sick, or frail). This is man, husband, another, or humankind.
^XX “Judah” = Yehudah. Probably from yadah (to throw one’s hands into the air in a gesture of praise); from yad (hand). This is Judah, meaning “praised.”
^YY “inhabitants” = yashab. This is to sit and so to remain and so to dwell. It is sitting for any reason – as a judge, in order to ambush, or just sitting quietly. Causatively, this can mean settling or marrying. This can also mean continue, endure, or establish.
^ZZ “Jerusalem” = Yerushalaim. From yarah (to throw, shoot, be stunned; to flow as water so figuratively to instruct or teach) + shalam (to make amends, to be complete or sound). This is Jerusalem, dwelling of peace.

^AAA “look” = hinneh. Same as “there” in v3. See note J above.
^BBB “potter shaping” = yatsar. Same as “potter’s” in v2. See note G above.
^CCC “devising” = chashab. Same as “intended” in v8. See note MM above.
^DDD “plan” = machashabah. Relate to “intended” in v8. From chashab (see note MM above). This is thought, scheme, imagination, purpose, or a plan either good or evil.

^EEE “now” = na. Same as {untranslated} in v11. See note VV above.
^FFF “all” = ish. Same as “people” in v11. See note WW above.
^GGG “way” = derek. From darak (to tread, march, to walk. Can also mean affixing a string to a box since one needs to step on it to bend it in the process; so also an archer). This is a road as a thing that is walked on. Can be used figuratively for the path that one’s life takes or how one chooses to live one’s life.
^HHH “amend” = yatab. Same as “good…to do” in v10. See note UU above.
^III “doings” = maalal. From alal (to affect, do, practice, mock, overdo, glean, abuse, pain). This is some kind of deed, action, invention or practice whether good or bad.