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

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

20My 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.

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

22Listen! 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 7:9Classic cross-references Jeremiah 14:17Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:20Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:31Classic cross-references Lamentations 3:18Classic cross-references

Original words

Woeא֥וֹיH188Interjectionto meלִי֙Preposition | first person common singularbecause ofעַל־H5921Prepositionmy brokennessשִׁבְרִ֔יH7667Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularmy woundמַכָּתִ֑יH4347Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularis grievousנַחְלָ֖הH2470Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularBut Iוַאֲנִ֣יH589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularsaidאָמַ֔רְתִּיH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular. . .אַ֛ךְH389AdverbThisזֶ֥הH2088Pronoun - masculine singularis truly my sicknessחֳלִ֖יH2483Noun - masculine singular constructand I must bear itוְאֶשָּׂאֶֽנּוּ׃H5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

My tentאָהֳלִ֣יH168Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularis destroyedשֻׁדָּ֔דH7703Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singularand allוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructits ropesמֵיתָרַ֖יH4340Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularare snappedנִתָּ֑קוּH5423Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralMy sonsבָּנַ֤יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularhave departed from meיְצָאֻ֙נִי֙H3318Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singularand are no moreוְאֵינָ֔םH369Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine pluralI have no oneאֵין־H369Adverbleftעוֹד֙H5750Adverbto pitchנֹטֶ֥הH5186Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularmy tentאָהֳלִ֔יH168Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularor set upוּמֵקִ֖יםH6965Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularmy curtainsיְרִיעוֹתָֽי׃H3407Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

Forכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionthe shepherdsהָֽרֹעִ֔יםH7462Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralhave become senselessנִבְעֲרוּ֙H1197Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthey do notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleseekדָרָ֑שׁוּH1875Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularThereforeעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּן֙H3651Adverbthey have notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleprosperedהִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּH7919Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluraland all theirוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructflockמַרְעִיתָ֖םH4830Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralis scatteredנָפֽוֹצָה׃סH6327Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

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

Original words

Listenהִנֵּ֣הH2009InterjectionThe soundק֤וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singular constructof a reportשְׁמוּעָה֙H8052Noun - feminine singularis comingבָאָ֔הH935Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singulara greatגָּד֖וֹלH1419Adjective - masculine singularcommotionוְרַ֥עַשׁH7494Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularfrom the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructto the northצָפ֑וֹןH6828Noun - feminine singularIt will makeלָשׂ֞וּםH7760Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe citiesעָרֵ֧יH5892Noun - feminine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֛הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singulara desolationשְׁמָמָ֖הH8077Noun - feminine singulara hauntמְע֥וֹןH4583Noun - masculine singular constructfor jackalsתַּנִּֽים׃סH8577Noun - common plural

BSB notes

Or serpents or dragons

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