Focused Passage

Jeremiah 10:1-5

The Living God and the Worthless Idols of the Nations

The chapter moves from a warning not to learn the idolatrous ways of the nations, to a satire of man-made idols, to a confession of the LORD's incomparable greatness, to a Creator-King hymn, to the announcement of coming exile, to Jeremiah's lament over the people's wound, to a confession that humans cannot direct their own steps, and finally to a plea for measured correction and judgment on the nations that devour Jacob.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them.

3For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.

4They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter.

5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Jeremiah 7:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Hearשִׁמְע֣וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe wordהַדָּבָ֗רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularspeaksדִּבֶּ֧רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youעֲלֵיכֶ֖םH5921Preposition | second person masculine pluralO houseבֵּ֥יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Leviticus 20:23Classic cross-references Genesis 1:14Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:3Classic cross-references Ezekiel 20:32Classic cross-references Luke 21:25Classic cross-references

Original words

This is whatכֹּ֣ה׀H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularDo notאַל־H408Adverblearnתִּלְמָ֔דוּH3925Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthe waysדֶּ֤רֶךְH1870Noun - common singular constructof the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙H1471Article | Noun - masculine pluralor be terrifiedתֵּחָ֑תּוּH2865Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralby the signsוּמֵאֹת֥וֹתH226Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural constructin the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine plural. . .אַל־H408Adverbthoughכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe nations [themselves]הַגּוֹיִ֖םH1471Article | Noun - masculine pluralare terrifiedיֵחַ֥תּוּH2865Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralby themמֵהֵֽמָּה׃Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

1 Peter 1:18Classic cross-references Isaiah 44:9Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:30Classic cross-references Exodus 20:4Classic cross-references Jeremiah 10:8Classic cross-references

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe customsחֻקּ֥וֹתH2708Noun - feminine plural constructof the peoplesהָֽעַמִּ֖יםH5971Article | Noun - masculine pluralare worthlessהֶ֣בֶלH1892Noun - masculine singular. . .ה֑וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singular. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthey cut downכְּרָת֔וֹH3772Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singulara treeעֵץ֙H6086Noun - masculine singularfrom the forestמִיַּ֣עַרH3293Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularit is shapedמַעֲשֵׂ֥הH4639Noun - masculine singular constructwith a chiselבַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃H4621Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularby the handsיְדֵ֥י־H3027Noun - feminine dual constructof a craftsmanחָרָ֖שׁH2796Noun - masculine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Isaiah 46:7Classic cross-references Habakkuk 2:19Classic cross-references Hosea 13:2Classic cross-references Isaiah 40:19Classic cross-references Acts 17:29Classic cross-references

Original words

They adorn itיְיַפֵּ֑הוּH3302Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularwith silverבְּכֶ֥סֶףH3701Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand goldוּבְזָהָ֖בH2091Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand fasten itיְחַזְּק֖וּםH2388Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine pluralwith hammerוּבְמַקָּב֛וֹתH4717Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine pluraland nailsבְּמַסְמְר֧וֹתH4548Preposition-b | Noun - masculine pluralso that it will notוְל֥וֹאH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particletotterיָפִֽיק׃H6328Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Isaiah 46:7Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:2Classic cross-references Psalms 115:5Classic cross-references Isaiah 44:10Classic cross-references Isaiah 41:23Classic cross-references

Original words

Like scarecrowsכְּתֹ֨מֶרH8560Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructin a cucumber patchמִקְשָׁ֥הH4750Noun - feminine singulartheir idolsהֵ֙מָּה֙H1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralcannotוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlespeakיְדַבֵּ֔רוּH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralThey must be carriedנָשׂ֥וֹאH5375Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .יִנָּשׂ֖וּאH5375Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralbecauseכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthey cannotלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlewalkיִצְעָ֑דוּH6805Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralDo notאַל־H408Adverbfearתִּֽירְא֤וּH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthemמֵהֶם֙Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralforכִּי־H3588Conjunctionthey can do noלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleharmיָרֵ֔עוּH7489Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralandוְגַם־H1571Conjunctionneither can theyאֵ֥יןH369Adverb. . .אוֹתָֽם׃סH854Preposition | third person masculine pluraldo any goodהֵיטֵ֖יבH3190Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute

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