potter's clay

English

Noun

potter's clay (countable and uncountable, plural potter's clays)

1. The clay used by a potter.
2. (idiomatic, biblical) A person or people created and shaped by God.

   I am the potter’s clay.

   We are but potter’s clay.

3. (idiomatic, biblical) A nation or kingdom.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 2:41:

     And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided.

   • 1971. Old Testament, NASB Version, Daniel 2:41:

     In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom.

Translations

clay used by a potter

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 陶土 (zh) (táotǔ)

• Finnish: keramiikkasavi (fi)
• French: argile (fr) f, glaise (fr) f
• Greek:

  Ancient: ἄργιλλος f (árgillos)

• Irish: cré potaire f, cré criadóra f
• Japanese: 陶土 (ja) (とうど, tōdo)
• Polish: glina garncarska f
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Swahili: udongo wa mfinyanzi
• Swedish: keramiklera c

References

• (idiom) Bratcher, Dennis Bratcher (2006), The Potter, The Voice CRI/Voice Institute[1]
• (idiom) Bible, Old Testatment: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, 64:8, Job 10:9; New Testatment: Romans 9:20-24.