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the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

This idiom is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated it in Jeremiah 1:4. AT: "Yahweh gave me a message. He said," or "Yahweh spoke this message to me:" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom)

Should I not be able to act like this potter with you, house of Israel?

With this question, Yahweh emphasizes his authority to do as he pleases with Israel. AT: "I am allowed to act toward you, house of Israel, like the potter acts toward the clay." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)

house of Israel

The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to the kingdom of Israel. See how you translated this in Jeremiah 3:18. AT: "Israel" or "kingdom of Israel" or "people of Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

this is Yahweh's declaration

Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Jeremiah 1:8. AT: "this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person)

Behold!

"Indeed!" This alerts the reader to pay attention to what follows.

Like clay in a potter's hand—that is how you are in my hand

Yahweh compares his being able to remake Israel as he see fit to the way that the potter is able to remake a lump of clay as he sees fit. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)

tear it down, or destroy it

These two expressions basically mean the same thing. In the first expression, Yahweh speaks of destroying a kingdom as if the kingdom were a plant or a building that he tears down. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

relent from

"withhold" or "not bring"

2.3 KiB Raw Blame History