Focused Passage

Jeremiah 10:19-22

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

19 Woe to me because of my brokenness; my wound is grievous! But I said, “This is truly my sickness, and I must bear it.”

20 My tent is destroyed, and all its ropes are snapped. My sons have departed from me and are no more. I have no one left to pitch my tent or set up my curtains.

21 For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

22 Listen! The sound of a report is coming—a great commotion from the land to the north. It will make the cities of Judah a desolation, a haunt for jackals.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 19

Cross-references

Micah 7:9 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 14:17 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:20 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:31 Classic cross-references Lamentations 3:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

Woe א֥וֹי H188 Interjection to me לִי֙ Preposition | first person common singular because of עַל־ H5921 Preposition my brokenness שִׁבְרִ֔י H7667 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular my wound מַכָּתִ֑י H4347 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular is grievous נַחְלָ֖ה H2470 Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular But I וַאֲנִ֣י H589 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular said אָמַ֔רְתִּי H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular . . . אַ֛ךְ H389 Adverb This זֶ֥ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular is truly my sickness חֳלִ֖י H2483 Noun - masculine singular construct and I must bear it וְאֶשָּׂאֶֽנּוּ׃ H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Isaiah 54:2 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 31:15 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:20 Classic cross-references Isaiah 49:20 Classic cross-references

Original words

My tent אָהֳלִ֣י H168 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular is destroyed שֻׁדָּ֔ד H7703 Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular and all וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct its ropes מֵיתָרַ֖י H4340 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular are snapped נִתָּ֑קוּ H5423 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural My sons בָּנַ֤י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular have departed from me יְצָאֻ֙נִי֙ H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular and are no more וְאֵינָ֔ם H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine plural I have no one אֵין־ H369 Adverb left עוֹד֙ H5750 Adverb to pitch נֹטֶ֥ה H5186 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular my tent אָהֳלִ֔י H168 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular or set up וּמֵקִ֖ים H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular my curtains יְרִיעוֹתָֽי׃ H3407 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Jeremiah 23:1 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 34:2 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 12:10 Classic cross-references Isaiah 56:10 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 2:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction the shepherds הָֽרֹעִ֔ים H7462 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural have become senseless נִבְעֲרוּ֙ H1197 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker they do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle seek דָרָ֑שׁוּ H1875 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular Therefore עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּן֙ H3651 Adverb they have not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle prospered הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ H7919 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural and all their וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct flock מַרְעִיתָ֖ם H4830 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural is scattered נָפֽוֹצָה׃ס H6327 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Isaiah 34:13 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 9:11 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 49:33 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 6:22 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 12:19 Classic cross-references

Original words

Listen הִנֵּ֣ה H2009 Interjection The sound ק֤וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct of a report שְׁמוּעָה֙ H8052 Noun - feminine singular is coming בָאָ֔ה H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular a great גָּד֖וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular commotion וְרַ֥עַשׁ H7494 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular from the land מֵאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct to the north צָפ֑וֹן H6828 Noun - feminine singular It will make לָשׂ֞וּם H7760 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the cities עָרֵ֧י H5892 Noun - feminine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֛ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular a desolation שְׁמָמָ֖ה H8077 Noun - feminine singular a haunt מְע֥וֹן H4583 Noun - masculine singular construct for jackals תַּנִּֽים׃ס H8577 Noun - common plural

BSB notes

Or serpents or dragons

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