Hearing God's Voice in DreamsA–Z symbolsPotter's Wheel and Clay Vessel in a dream
Biblical meaning from Hearing God's Voice in Dreams by Apostle Nicholas V. Mbanjwa
Also: Potter's wheel, Clay vessel, The potter's house, Potter, Earthen vessel
What it means
The potter's wheel represents God's process of shaping a person; the clay vessel represents divine mercy to reshape; the potter's house represents a place where one is being built or remade.
God's absolute sovereignty and majesty over humanity — the clay has no claim against the hand that forms it.
In Jeremiah 18:4 the clay is marred in the potter's hand and is made again into another vessel. The marring is not the end of the work; the remaking is.
✦ When it is positive
- A process of being built and reshaped
- Mercy extended so that character can be reformed
⚠ When it is a warning
- Clay as the fragile nature of man
- Marred or spoiled clay, representing unrepentant sin and a work not approved
How to tell the difference
Good clay represents the potter's approved work; marred or spoiled clay represents a work that has failed inspection. Reshaping represents mercy — the dreamer is being given another forming rather than being discarded. Note who is at the wheel: if it is a craftsman or prominent figure, this is God working.
Scripture
But now, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8 (WEB)
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.” 3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making something on the wheels. 4When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jeremiah 18:1-6 (WEB)
21Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 22What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
Romans 9:21-22 (WEB)