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

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

2 This 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.

3 For 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.

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

5 Like 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 7:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

Hear שִׁמְע֣וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the word הַדָּבָ֗ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular speaks דִּבֶּ֧ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular to you עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם H5921 Preposition | second person masculine plural O house בֵּ֥ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

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

Original words

This is what כֹּ֣ה׀ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb learn תִּלְמָ֔דוּ H3925 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural the ways דֶּ֤רֶךְ H1870 Noun - common singular construct of the nations הַגּוֹיִם֙ H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural or be terrified תֵּחָ֑תּוּ H2865 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural by the signs וּמֵאֹת֥וֹת H226 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct in the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . אַל־ H408 Adverb though כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the nations [themselves] הַגּוֹיִ֖ם H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural are terrified יֵחַ֥תּוּ H2865 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural by them מֵהֵֽמָּה׃ Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

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

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the customs חֻקּ֥וֹת H2708 Noun - feminine plural construct of the peoples הָֽעַמִּ֖ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural are worthless הֶ֣בֶל H1892 Noun - masculine singular . . . ה֑וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they cut down כְּרָת֔וֹ H3772 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular a tree עֵץ֙ H6086 Noun - masculine singular from the forest מִיַּ֣עַר H3293 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular it is shaped מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה H4639 Noun - masculine singular construct with a chisel בַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃ H4621 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular by the hands יְדֵ֥י־ H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct of a craftsman חָרָ֖שׁ H2796 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

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

Original words

They adorn it יְיַפֵּ֑הוּ H3302 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular with silver בְּכֶ֥סֶף H3701 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular and gold וּבְזָהָ֖ב H2091 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular and fasten it יְחַזְּק֖וּם H2388 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural with hammer וּבְמַקָּב֛וֹת H4717 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural and nails בְּמַסְמְר֧וֹת H4548 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural so that it will not וְל֥וֹא H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle totter יָפִֽיק׃ H6328 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

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

Original words

Like scarecrows כְּתֹ֨מֶר H8560 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct in a cucumber patch מִקְשָׁ֥ה H4750 Noun - feminine singular their idols הֵ֙מָּה֙ H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural cannot וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle speak יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural They must be carried נָשׂ֥וֹא H5375 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יִנָּשׂ֖וּא H5375 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural because כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction they cannot לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle walk יִצְעָ֑דוּ H6805 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb fear תִּֽירְא֤וּ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural them מֵהֶם֙ Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural for כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction they can do no לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle harm יָרֵ֔עוּ H7489 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction neither can they אֵ֥ין H369 Adverb . . . אוֹתָֽם׃ס H854 Preposition | third person masculine plural do any good הֵיטֵ֖יב H3190 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute

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