Reference: Clay
American
Designed for earthenware was trodden by the feet to mix it well, Isa 41:25, was molded on a wheel, and then baked in a kiln, Jer 18:3; 43:9. The potter's art is referred to in Scripture to illustrate man's dependence upon God, Isa 64:8; Ro 9:21. See POTTER. Clay seems to have been also used in sealing, as wax is with us, Job 38:14. The bricks of Babylon are found marked with a large seal or stamp, and modern travellers find the locks of doors in eastern khans and granaries sealed on the outside with clay.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
It is changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; and things stand out like a many-colored garment.
I have raised up and impelled to action one from the north [Cyrus], and he comes; from the rising of the sun he calls upon My name [recognizing that his victories have been granted to him by Me]. And he shall tread upon rulers and deputies as upon mortar and as the potter treads clay. [He comes with the suddenness of a comet, but none of the idol oracles of the nations has anticipated it.]
Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working at the wheel.
Take large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the pavement of brick which is at the entrance of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;
Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use?
Easton
This word is used of sediment found in pits or in streets (Isa 57:20; Jer 38:28), of dust mixed with spittle (Joh 9:6), and of potter's clay (Isa 41:25; Na 3:14; Jer 18:1-6; Ro 9:21). Clay was used for sealing (Job 38:14; Jer 32:14). Our Lord's tomb may have been thus sealed (Mt 27:66). The practice of sealing doors with clay is still common in the East. Clay was also in primitive times used for mortar (Ge 11:3). The "clay ground" in which the large vessels of the temple were cast (1Ki 7:46; 2Ch 4:17) was a compact loam fitted for the purpose. The expression literally rendered is, "in the thickness of the ground,", meaning, "in stiff ground" or in clay.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And they said one to another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. So they had brick for stone, and slime (bitumen) for mortar.
In the Jordan plain the king cast them, in clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.
It is changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; and things stand out like a many-colored garment.
I have raised up and impelled to action one from the north [Cyrus], and he comes; from the rising of the sun he calls upon My name [recognizing that his victories have been granted to him by Me]. And he shall tread upon rulers and deputies as upon mortar and as the potter treads clay. [He comes with the suddenness of a comet, but none of the idol oracles of the nations has anticipated it.]
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words. read more. Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working at the wheel. And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this unsealed deed, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last a long time.
So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken [by the Chaldeans].
Draw for yourself the water [necessary] for a [long continued] siege, make strong your fortresses! Go down into the clay pits and trample the mortar; make ready the brickkiln [to burn bricks for the bulwarks]!
So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread it [as ointment] on the man's eyes.
Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use?
Fausets
Tough plastic earth, containing silica and alumina. Used for making pottery in Palestine (Jer 18:2,6). Vessels of dark blue clay are still made at Gaza. Used by Jesus in curing the blind man (Joh 9:6), a mixture of dust and spittle. Doors are sealed with clay in the East, to facilitate detection of thieves. Wine jars were so sealed. It may have been with clay our Lord's tomb, and the earthen vessel with the proofs of Jeremiah's purchase, were sealed (Mt 27:66; Jer 32:14). At Koyunjik fine clay cylinders with Assyrian impressions have been found, which were made by rolling the seals on the moist clay, which was then baked in the fire.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.
Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.
O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this unsealed deed, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last a long time.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this unsealed deed, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last a long time.
So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.
So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread it [as ointment] on the man's eyes.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread it [as ointment] on the man's eyes.
Hastings
Smith
Clay.
As the sediment of water remaining in pits or in streets, the word is used frequently in the Old Testament.
and in the New Testament,
Joh 9:6
a mixture of sand or dust with spittle. It is also found in the sense of potter's clay.
The great seat of the pottery of the present day in Palestine is Gaza, where are made the vessels in dark-blue clay so frequently met with. Another use of clay was for sealing.
Our Lord's tomb may have been thus sealed,
as also the earthen vessel containing the evidences of Jeremiah's purchase.
The seal used for public documents was rolled on the moist clay, and the tablet was then placed in the fire and baked.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
It is changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; and things stand out like a many-colored garment.
Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the dirt and mire of the streets.
I have raised up and impelled to action one from the north [Cyrus], and he comes; from the rising of the sun he calls upon My name [recognizing that his victories have been granted to him by Me]. And he shall tread upon rulers and deputies as upon mortar and as the potter treads clay. [He comes with the suddenness of a comet, but none of the idol oracles of the nations has anticipated it.]
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this unsealed deed, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last a long time.
So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon or cistern pit [in the charge] of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the court of the guard; and they let Jeremiah down [into the pit] with ropes. And in the dungeon or cistern pit there was no water, but only mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread it [as ointment] on the man's eyes.
Watsons
CLAY, ???, is often mentioned in Scripture, nor is it necessary to explain the various references to what is so well known. It may be remarked, however, that clay was used for sealing doors. Norden and Pococke observe, that the inspectors of the granaries in Egypt, after closing the door, put their seal upon a handful of clay, with which they cover the lock. This may help to explain Job 38:14, in which the earth is represented as assuming form and imagery from the brightness of the rising sun, as rude clay receives a figure from the impression of a seal or signet.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
It is changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; and things stand out like a many-colored garment.