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.
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It transformeth itself like the clay of a seal, so that things stand forth like one arrayed;
I have roused up one from the North, and he hath come, From the rising of the sun, calleth he on my Name, - And he hath come, on deputies, as though they were mortar, And as a potter treadeth clay.
But, now, O Yahweh, our father, thou art, - We are the clay, and, thou, art our potter, Yea the work of thy hand, are we all:
So I went down, to the house of the potter, - and there he was! making a piece of work on the wheels,
Take in thy hand great stones and hide them in the mortar that is in the brickyard which is at the entrance of the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, - before the eyes of the men of Judah.
Or hath not the potter a right over the clay - out of the same lump, to make some, indeed, into a vessel for honour, and some for dishonour?
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.
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Then said they, each man to his friend, Come on! let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly, - So the bricks, served them for stone, and bitumen, served them for mortar,
In the circuit of the Jordan, did the king cast them, in the clay ground, - between Succoth and Zarethan.
It transformeth itself like the clay of a seal, so that things stand forth like one arrayed;
I have roused up one from the North, and he hath come, From the rising of the sun, calleth he on my Name, - And he hath come, on deputies, as though they were mortar, And as a potter treadeth clay.
But, the lawless, are like the sea when tossed, - For, rest, it cannot! But its waters toss out mire and dirt.
The word that came unto Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying: Arise and go down to the house of the potter, - and, there, will I cause thee to hear my words. read more. So I went down, to the house of the potter, - and there he was! making a piece of work on the wheels, Then was marred, the vessel that he was making, while yet it was clay in the hand of the potter, - so he turned and made of it another vessel, as seemed right in the eyes of the potter to make it. Then came the word of Yahweh unto me, saying: Like this potter, can I not deal with you O house of Israel? Demandeth Yahweh: Lo! as clay in the hand of the potter, So, are, ye, in my hand O house of Israel.
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, Take thou these scrolls, this scroll of purchase even that which is sealed, and this scroll that is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, - that they may remain many days,
So Jeremiah remained in the guard-court, until the day when Jerusalem, was captured; thus it fell out when Jerusalem, was captured.
Siege-water, draw for thyself, strengthen thy fortresses, - go into the clay, and tread thou the mortar, make strong the brick.
And, they, went and secured for themselves the sepulchre, sealing the stone, with the guard.
These things, having said, he spat on the ground, and made clay with the spittle, and laid the clay upon his eyes;
Or hath not the potter a right over the clay - out of the same lump, to make some, indeed, into a vessel for honour, and some for dishonour?
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.
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Arise and go down to the house of the potter, - and, there, will I cause thee to hear my words.
Arise and go down to the house of the potter, - and, there, will I cause thee to hear my words.
Like this potter, can I not deal with you O house of Israel? Demandeth Yahweh: Lo! as clay in the hand of the potter, So, are, ye, in my hand O house of Israel.
Like this potter, can I not deal with you O house of Israel? Demandeth Yahweh: Lo! as clay in the hand of the potter, So, are, ye, in my hand O house of Israel.
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, Take thou these scrolls, this scroll of purchase even that which is sealed, and this scroll that is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, - that they may remain many days,
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, Take thou these scrolls, this scroll of purchase even that which is sealed, and this scroll that is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, - that they may remain many days,
And, they, went and secured for themselves the sepulchre, sealing the stone, with the guard.
And, they, went and secured for themselves the sepulchre, sealing the stone, with the guard.
These things, having said, he spat on the ground, and made clay with the spittle, and laid the clay upon his eyes;
These things, having said, he spat on the ground, and made clay with the spittle, and laid the clay upon his 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.
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It transformeth itself like the clay of a seal, so that things stand forth like one arrayed;
Then did I beat them in pieces, like dust on the face of the wind. Like the mire in the lanes, did I scatter them.
I have roused up one from the North, and he hath come, From the rising of the sun, calleth he on my Name, - And he hath come, on deputies, as though they were mortar, And as a potter treadeth clay.
But, the lawless, are like the sea when tossed, - For, rest, it cannot! But its waters toss out mire and dirt.
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, Take thou these scrolls, this scroll of purchase even that which is sealed, and this scroll that is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, - that they may remain many days,
Then took they Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah son of the king, which was in the guard-court, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes, - now, in the dungeon, was no water only mire, so Jeremiah sank in the mire.
And, they, went and secured for themselves the sepulchre, sealing the stone, with the guard.
These things, having said, he spat on the ground, and made clay with the spittle, and laid the clay upon his 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.
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It transformeth itself like the clay of a seal, so that things stand forth like one arrayed;