Focused Passage

Jeremiah 10:14-16

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

14Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them.

15They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

16The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—the LORD of Hosts is His name.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Original words

Everyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructmanאָדָם֙H120Noun - masculine singularis senselessנִבְעַ֤רH1197Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularand devoid of knowledgeמִדַּ֔עַתH1847Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singulareveryכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructgoldsmithצוֹרֵ֖ףH6884Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularis put to shameהֹבִ֥ישׁH3001Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularby his idolsמִפָּ֑סֶלH6459Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularForכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionhis molten imagesנִסְכּ֖וֹH5262Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularare a fraudשֶׁ֥קֶרH8267Noun - masculine singularand [there is] noוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlebreathר֥וּחַH7307Noun - common singularin themבָּֽם׃Preposition | third person masculine plural
Verse 15

Original words

Theyהֵ֔מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare worthlessהֶ֣בֶלH1892Noun - masculine singulara workמַעֲשֵׂ֖הH4639Noun - masculine singular constructto be mockedתַּעְתֻּעִ֑יםH8595Noun - masculine pluralIn the timeבְּעֵ֥תH6256Preposition-b | Noun - common singular constructof their punishmentפְּקֻדָּתָ֖םH6486Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralthey will perishיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃H6Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 16

Original words

The Portionחֵ֣לֶקH2506Noun - masculine singular constructof Jacobיַעֲקֹ֗בH3290Noun - proper - masculine singularis notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlelike theseכְאֵ֜לֶּהH428Preposition-k | Pronoun - common pluralforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionHeה֔וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis the Makerיוֹצֵ֤רH3335Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof all thingsהַכֹּל֙H3605Article | Noun - masculine singularand Israel [is]וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe tribeשֵׁ֖בֶטH7626Noun - masculine singular constructof His inheritanceנַֽחֲלָת֑וֹH5159Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralis His nameשְׁמֽוֹ׃סH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.