Concise Bible Dictionary:
Potter
Of the potter scripture says he treadeth the clay to make it pliable (Isa. 41:25); and he forms his vessel on a wheel (Jer. 18:3). Much of the ordinary pottery in the East is made in a very simple way: the workman turns the wheel with his feet, and with his hands he forms the vessel as it pleases him. This common pottery of the East is very fragile, and as such is often alluded to in scripture. The Lord Jesus will subdue all His enemies: will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel (Psa. 2:9; Isa. 30:14; Rev. 2:27).
The potter making his vessels as it pleases him, is a beautiful illustration of the power of God as Creator, and is applied to Israel: “as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel” (Jer. 18:2-6). It also illustrates God’s sovereignty: “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” The potter has full power over the clay (Rom. 9:20-21).
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
(Aramaic) from an unused root probably meaning to fashion; a potter