Seething-pot
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The term "seething-pot" appears in the Bible as a vivid metaphor, primarily in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. It is used to convey messages of impending judgment and turmoil. The imagery of a seething or boiling pot is rich with connotations of heat, unrest, and transformation, often symbolizing divine wrath or the chaotic state of nations under God's judgment.

Biblical References:

1. Jeremiah 1:13 : "Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, 'What do you see?' 'I see a boiling pot,' I replied, 'and it is tilting away from the north.'" In this passage, the seething-pot represents the imminent invasion from the north, likely referring to the Babylonian threat against Judah. The boiling pot, tilting from the north, symbolizes the outpouring of God's judgment upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry.

2. Ezekiel 24:3-5 : "Tell this rebellious house a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water. Put in the pieces of meat, all the best pieces—the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock; pile wood beneath it and bring it to a boil. Cook the bones in it.’" Here, the seething-pot is used as a parable for Jerusalem. The pot filled with choice meat and bones represents the city and its people, while the fire beneath signifies the coming siege and destruction by the Babylonians. The boiling process illustrates the purifying judgment of God, intended to cleanse His people from their iniquities.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the biblical context, the seething-pot serves as a powerful symbol of God's righteous judgment. The boiling action signifies the intensity and inevitability of divine retribution against sin and rebellion. The imagery of a pot boiling over suggests a situation that is out of control, reflecting the chaos and destruction that accompany God's judgment when His people turn away from His commandments.

The seething-pot also underscores the theme of purification. Just as impurities rise to the surface in a boiling pot, so too does God's judgment expose and address the sins of His people. This process, though severe, is ultimately aimed at restoration and renewal, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of redemption.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the seething-pot metaphor emphasizes the holiness and justice of God. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the seriousness with which God views covenant unfaithfulness. The imagery calls believers to repentance and faithfulness, urging them to heed the warnings of the prophets and to align their lives with God's will.

The seething-pot also highlights God's sovereignty over the nations. The prophetic use of this imagery demonstrates that God is in control of historical events, using them to accomplish His purposes and to bring about His divine plan for His people and the world.
Strong's Hebrew
1731. dud -- a pot, jar
... kettles (1), pot (1). basket, caldron, kettle, seething pot. From the same
as dowd; a pot (for boiling); also (by resemblance of ...
/hebrew/1731.htm - 6k
Library

The Burning ??sculapius; Tricks with Fire.
... nitre, on receiving a small accession of heat, moves the pitch, so as to cause bubbles
to rise to the surface, and afford the mere semblance of a seething (pot ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the burning aesculapius tricks.htm

The Punishment of Atsu
... "Is not the whole north a seething pot of lawlessness; and by the demons
of Amenti, is not the Israelite the fire under the caldron? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter viii the punishment of.htm

On the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle
... So saith also the prophet Jeremias; for he saw that in the seething-pot all the
budding spiritual gifts of God boiled and withered away when it was turned ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon i on the feast.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... two dreams of the fat and lean kine, and the good and thin ears (Gen.41:1-7); or
in prophetic vision, like Jeremiah's vision of a seething pot with the face ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... The second speaks of a rod of an almond tree [1505] and of a seething pot with its
face toward the north, [1506] and of a leopard which has changed its spots. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm

Thesaurus
Seething-pot (1 Occurrence)
Seething-pot. Seething, Seething-pot. Segub . Multi-Version
Concordance Seething-pot (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 1:13 And ...
/s/seething-pot.htm - 6k

Seething (5 Occurrences)
...Seethingpot. A vessel for boiling provisions in (Job 41:20; Jeremiah 1:13). ... Job
41:20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seethingpot or caldron. ...
/s/seething.htm - 8k

Segub (3 Occurrences)

/s/segub.htm - 11k

Issueth (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Issueth (2 Occurrences). Job 41:20 Out of his nostrils
issueth smoke, as out of a seethingpot or caldron. (WBS). ...
/i/issueth.htm - 6k

Basket (40 Occurrences)
... articles (2 Kings 10:7). This word is also rendered in the Authorized Version "kettle"
(1 Samuel 2:14), "caldron" (2 Chronicles 35:13), "seething-pot" (Job 41 ...
/b/basket.htm - 27k

Caldron (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 41:20 Out of his nostrils goeth
smoke, as out of a seethingpot or caldron. (KJV WBS). ...
/c/caldron.htm - 10k

Seest (52 Occurrences)
... What seest thou? And I said, I see a seethingpot; and the face thereof
is toward the north. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Jeremiah 7:17 ...
/s/seest.htm - 23k

Facing (79 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying: 'What
seest thou?' And I said: 'I see a seethingpot; and the face thereof is from ...
/f/facing.htm - 31k

Pot (46 Occurrences)
... thou? And I said, I see a seethingpot; and the face thereof is toward
the north. (KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Jeremiah ...
/p/pot.htm - 25k

Resources
What should we learn from the symbolism of the potter and clay in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about recreational marijuana use? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Seething-pot (1 Occurrence)

Jeremiah 1:13
And the word of Jehovah came to me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething-pot, and its face is from the north.
(DBY)

Subtopics

Seething-pot

Related Terms

Seething (5 Occurrences)

Segub (3 Occurrences)

Issueth (2 Occurrences)

Basket (40 Occurrences)

Caldron (11 Occurrences)

Seest (52 Occurrences)

Facing (79 Occurrences)

Pot (46 Occurrences)

Seething
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