Lexical Summary pélos: Clay, Mud Original Word: πηλός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance clay. Perhaps a primary word; clay -- clay. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition clay NASB Translation clay (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4081: πηλόςπηλός, πηλοῦ, ὁ, from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; a. clay, which the potter uses (Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 41:25; Nahum 3:14): Romans 9:21. b. equivalent to mud (wet 'clay'): John 9:6, 11, 14f. Easily gathered from riverbeds and hillsides, clay was the most common raw material for household vessels, roofing tiles, writing tablets, and bricks throughout the Near East. Once mixed with water it became pliable; when fired it hardened into a durable form. This ready availability and transformative quality made clay a natural metaphor for human malleability in the hands of God. Old Testament Foundations Clay imagery is woven through the Hebrew Scriptures. God “formed the man from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7), establishing a creation motif in which humanity originates from earthy material shaped by divine breath. Job likens himself to clay in the hand of God (Job 10:9), and Isaiah asks, “Shall the pot say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’” (Isaiah 45:9). Jeremiah’s visit to the potter’s house (Jeremiah 18:1-6) vividly portrays the Lord’s sovereign right to remake Israel, underscoring that clay can be refashioned if marred. These passages prepare readers to recognize the theological weight of πηλός in the New Testament. Jesus’ Sign of Clay in John 9 The only Gospel occurrences of πηλός appear in the narrative of the man born blind: “When Jesus had said this, He spat on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes” (John 9:6). “He put mud on my eyes,” the man later testifies, “I washed, and now I can see” (John 9:15). 1. Creative Act: By mixing saliva with earth and applying it to eyes that had never seen, Jesus reenacts Genesis-style creation, imparting sight where there had been none. The miracle signals that the Messiah possesses the same life-giving authority that formed Adam. Potter and Clay Theology in Romans 9 Paul cites the well-known potter motif to defend God’s sovereign freedom in election: “Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special purposes and another for common use?” (Romans 9:21). Here πηλός underscores three truths: 1. Unity of Origin: All humanity shares the same “lump” and therefore cannot claim intrinsic superiority. New Testament Echoes and Parallels 2 Corinthians 4:7 extends the metaphor: “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.” Though πηλός is not used here, the image reinforces human frailty and divine empowerment first displayed in John 9 and asserted in Romans 9. Historical and Cultural Insights Greco-Roman medicine occasionally employed clay mixed with saliva as an ointment for eye ailments. By adopting—but vastly surpassing—such folk remedies, Jesus demonstrates that genuine healing originates with Him, not with human technique. The familiar practice made the miracle publicly verifiable while insisting on a higher power at work. Theological Reflections • Creation and New Creation: Clay in John 9 bridges the first creation (Genesis 2:7) and the new creation inaugurated by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Practical and Ministry Applications 1. Humility: Remembering our “clay” nature guards against pride and fosters dependence on God’s power. Questions for Further Study • How does Jesus’ Sabbath use of clay confront legalistic interpretations of Scripture? Summary Strong’s Greek 4081, πηλός, functions in the New Testament as more than mere mud. It is a theological instrument revealing Christ’s creative authority, God’s sovereign right over humanity, and the fragile yet purposeful nature of redeemed people. From the pool of Siloam to Paul’s defense of divine election, clay reminds believers that the Potter’s hands alone can shape blindness into sight and common dust into vessels of glory. Englishman's Concordance John 9:6 N-AMSGRK: καὶ ἐποίησεν πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ NAS: and made clay of the spittle, KJV: and made clay of the spittle, INT: and made clay of the John 9:6 N-AMS John 9:11 N-AMS John 9:14 N-AMS John 9:15 N-AMS Romans 9:21 N-GMS Strong's Greek 4081 |
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