Jeremiah 19:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The broken jar symbolizes Jerusalem's irreversible destruction; so many will die they'll run out of burial space.
The Context of Jeremiah 19:11
Pottery broken beyond repair symbolizes irreversible judgment and mass death.
What Does Jeremiah 19:11 Mean?
The comparison is exact: as the broken bottle cannot be restored to wholeness, so Jerusalem and its people cannot be made whole again. The destruction is final and irreversible. This is not a temporary punishment from which recovery is possible, but a fundamental breaking that ends the city as it was known.
The horrifying final image—bodies buried in Tophet until there is no more burial space—underscores the scale of death and desolation. The valley itself, once a place of abominable worship, becomes a mass grave where the people's remains will be deposited beyond counting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 19:11
What does Jeremiah 19:11 mean?
The broken jar symbolizes Jerusalem's irreversible destruction; so many will die they'll run out of burial space.
What is the context of Jeremiah 19:11?
Pottery broken beyond repair symbolizes irreversible judgment and mass death.