The Meaning of Jeremiah 19:11 Explained

Jeremiah 19:11

KJV: And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.

YLT: and hast said unto them: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Thus do I break this people and this city, as one breaketh the potter's vessel, that is not able to be repaired again, and in Tophet they bury -- without place to bury;

Darby: and shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again. And they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place to bury.

ASV: and shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place to bury.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And shalt say  unto them, Thus saith  the LORD  of hosts;  Even so  will I break  this people  and this city,  as [one] breaketh  a potter's  vessel,  that cannot  be made whole again:  and they shall bury  [them] in Tophet,  till [there be] no place  to bury. 

What does Jeremiah 19:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Jeremiah 19:1-15 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 19

1  Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, is foreshown the desolation of the Jews

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 19:11 mean?

And say to them thus says Yahweh of hosts Even so I will break - people this and city this as [one] breaks a vessel of potter which cannot - be made whole again and in Tophet they shall bury [them] till [there is] no place to bury
וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם כֹּה־ אָמַ֣ר ׀ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת כָּ֣כָה אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר אֶת־ הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וְאֶת־ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁבֹּר֙ כְּלִ֣י הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־ יוּכַ֥ל לְהֵרָפֵ֖ה ע֑וֹד וּבְתֹ֣פֶת יִקְבְּר֔וּ מֵאֵ֥ין מָק֖וֹם לִקְבּֽוֹר

וְאָמַרְתָּ֨  And  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כֹּה־  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר ׀  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֗וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
כָּ֣כָה  Even  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כָּכָה  
Sense: like this, thus.
אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר  I  will  break 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָ֤ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּה֙  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
הָעִ֣יר  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַזֹּ֔את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
יִשְׁבֹּר֙  [one]  breaks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
כְּלִ֣י  a  vessel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר  of  potter 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
לֹֽא־  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יוּכַ֥ל  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לְהֵרָפֵ֖ה  be  made  whole 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
ע֑וֹד  again 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
וּבְתֹ֣פֶת  and  in  Tophet 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּפֶת  
Sense: a place in the southeast end of the valley of the son of Hinnom south of Jerusalem.
יִקְבְּר֔וּ  they  shall  bury  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.
מֵאֵ֥ין  till  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מָק֖וֹם  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
לִקְבּֽוֹר  to  bury 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.