Jeremiah — Chapter 18
Synopsis: The Potter's house parable — God can remake the vessel of Israel if she repents, or destroy it entirely if she does not. Israel's perverse response: plotting against Jeremiah. He prays for their punishment.
Verse 6
Cannot I do with you, as this potter, O house of Israel, saith the Lord? behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. The famous potter-and-clay passage (also used in Is.64 and Rom.9). Lapide: the analogy shows both God's sovereign freedom to reshape human destiny AND the material's responsibility — the potter reshapes because the vessel was spoiled (v.4), not arbitrarily. Free will and sovereignty are both affirmed.