50 Bible Verses about Pots

In the tapestry of biblical narratives, the humble pot holds profound symbolic significance, representing transformation, service, and the handiwork of the Creator.

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand,” declares Isaiah in Isaiah 64:8, painting a vivid picture of our relationship with God, akin to clay in the potter’s hands, being shaped and molded according to His purpose.

The metaphor of the pot stretches across Scripture, embodying themes of utility, purity, and transformation. In Jeremiah, the prophet is taken to a potter’s house, where he observes the potter working at the wheel, fashioning and refashioning the clay.

This scene in Jeremiah 18:3-4 illustrates the dynamic process of being fashioned by God’s will, sometimes broken down and rebuilt, to fulfill a greater design. Similarly, our lives, like pots in the potter’s hands, undergo continuous shaping and reshaping, aligning us ever closer to God’s divine intention.

Moreover, pots in the Bible often symbolize the vessels of our own being – fragile, yet capable of holding great treasure.

Paul reflects on this in his letter to the Corinthians, saying, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us,” as noted in 2 Corinthians 4:7. Here, the pot is a metaphor for our human existence, marked by vulnerability yet entrusted with the invaluable treasure of the Gospel.

In this collection of 50 Bible verses about pots, we explore the rich symbolism of this everyday object within the biblical context. These verses offer insights into how God uses simple, ordinary vessels like pots to convey profound spiritual truths.

Whether as instruments of service, symbols of transformation, or bearers of treasure, pots in the Bible remind us of our own journey in the hands of the divine Potter – shaped, filled, and used for His glory. May these verses inspire you to embrace your role as a vessel in the Master’s hands, carrying forth His purpose with grace and resilience.

Symbolism of Pots in Scripture

Jeremiah 18:3-4

“So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

2 Corinthians 4:7

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Isaiah 64:8

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Romans 9:21

“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”

Proverbs 26:23

“Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

Pots as Vessels of Purpose

2 Timothy 2:20-21

“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Mark 7:8

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. [Context: Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their strict adherence to traditions such as ceremonial washing of pots and cups.]

1 Samuel 2:14

“He would plunge it into the pan, kettle, cauldron or pot; whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself.

Leviticus 6:28

“The clay pot the meat is cooked in must be broken; but if it is cooked in a bronze pot, the pot is to be scoured and rinsed with water.”

Matthew 26:23

“Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.’”

Cleansing and Renewal

Numbers 19:15

“Every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.”

Titus 1:15

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.”

Mark 7:4

“When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.”

Psalm 68:13

“Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold. [Interpreted by some as a metaphor for purification and beauty.]

Luke 22:17

“After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you.’”

Pots in Parables and Teachings

2 Kings 4:3-4

“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.’

Luke 21:1-4

“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [Implication of the widow’s mite being a small but significant offering, similar to a small pot holding something valuable.]

Matthew 13:33

“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.’”

John 13:5

“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Matthew 12:43

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.”

Representation of Humility and Service

John 2:6-7

“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim.”

Luke 14:10

“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a higher place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.” [The humility of taking a lower position can be likened to a simple pot among more ornate vessels.]

Mark 9:35

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’”

Philippians 2:7

“Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Matthew 23:11-12

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Pots in Historical and Prophetic Context

Jeremiah 19:1

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests.’”

Ezekiel 24:3-5

“Tell this rebellious house a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it. Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones.’”

Revelation 2:27

“‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.”

Zechariah 11:12-13

“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they valued me!”

1 Chronicles 9:32

“Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.” [This can be seen as a reference to the preparation and use of vessels like pots in sacred ceremonies.]

These verses collectively illustrate the deeper meanings and teachings that can be derived from the simple, everyday object of a pot, ranging from its use in parables, ceremonies, and historical events, to symbolizing spiritual truths about humility, service, and God’s transformative power in the world.