This verse continues the events of verses 1-2. Breaking the jar was to be more than a symbolic action; it was also the means by which the LORD’s message was put into effect.

It may be helpful to translate Then as “When you have said that.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .