King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 1:13 Mean?

Jeremiah 1:13 in the King James Version says “And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and th...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. toward: Heb. from the face of the north”

Jeremiah 1:13 · KJV

Context

11

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

12

Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

13

And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. toward: Heb. from the face of the north

14

Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. shall: Heb. shall be opened

15

For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

Read Jeremiah 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God presents a second vision to Jeremiah: 'And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou?' The repetition of this pedagogical question reinforces the teaching method—training prophetic perception through observation and interpretation. Jeremiah responds: 'And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.' The Hebrew 'seething pot' (sir napuach, סִיר נָפוּחַ) describes a boiling cauldron or pot blown upon (by fire), its contents roiling and ready to overflow. The phrase 'the face thereof is toward the north' (panaiv mippenei tsaphonah, פָּנָיו מִפְּנֵי צָפוֹנָה) indicates the pot is tilted or facing northward, positioned to pour out its contents southward toward Judah. This imagery is ominous—a boiling pot about to spill represents imminent danger. The northern direction is significant throughout Jeremiah as the direction from which judgment comes (Babylon approached Judah from the north via the Fertile Crescent trade route, not directly across Arabian desert). The vision's symbolism is clear even before interpretation: something dangerous is coming from the north, about to overflow upon Judah.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The 'north' was consistently the direction of threat for ancient Israel and Judah. Assyrian invasions came from the north (destroyed northern kingdom in 722 BC), and Babylonian armies approached via the same route. Although Babylon was east of Judah geographically, armies traveled north through the Fertile Crescent (following the Euphrates River valley) then south through Syria to invade Canaan—making north the military threat direction. Jeremiah repeatedly refers to 'evil from the north' (Jeremiah 1:14, 4:6, 6:1, 10:22), consistently identifying Babylon as God's instrument of judgment. The boiling pot imagery evokes military invasion as uncontrollable force—like boiling water spilling over, the Babylonian army would overflow Judah's borders and consume the land. This prophetic vision came early in Jeremiah's ministry (Josiah's reign, before 609 BC), decades before Babylon's actual invasions (605, 597, 586 BC), demonstrating God's foreknowledge and warning.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the image of a boiling pot about to overflow communicate the urgency and intensity of coming judgment?
  2. What does God's advance warning (decades before fulfillment) teach about His patience and desire to provoke repentance before judgment arrives?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַיְהִ֨י1 of 17
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

דְבַר2 of 17

“And the word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

יְהוָ֤ה׀3 of 17

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵלַי֙4 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שֵׁנִ֣ית5 of 17

“came unto me the second time”

H8145

properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again

וָאֹמַ֗ר6 of 17

“saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מָ֥ה7 of 17
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אַתָּ֖ה8 of 17
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

רֹאֶ֔ה9 of 17

“I see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

וָאֹמַ֗ר10 of 17

“saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

סִ֤יר11 of 17

“pot”

H5518

a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook

נָפ֙וּחַ֙12 of 17

“a seething”

H5301

to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem)

אֲנִ֣י13 of 17
H589

i

רֹאֶ֔ה14 of 17

“I see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

מִפְּנֵ֥י15 of 17

“and the face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

מִפְּנֵ֥י16 of 17

“and the face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

צָפֽוֹנָה׃17 of 17

“the north”

H6828

properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 1:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 1:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 11:7Ezekiel 11:3Zechariah 4:2Genesis 41:32Ezekiel 24:3-142 Corinthians 13:1-2

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