Focused Passage

Jeremiah 10:23-25

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

23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

24Correct me, O LORD, but only with justice—not in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

25Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, and on the families that do not call on Your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have consumed him and finished him off; they have devastated his homeland.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 23

Original words

I knowיָדַ֣עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularO LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthatכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctiona man’sלָאָדָ֖םH120Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularwayדַּרְכּ֑וֹH1870Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singularis not his ownלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlenoלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleoneלְאִ֣ישׁH376Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularwho walksהֹלֵ֔ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singulardirectsוְהָכִ֖יןH3559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct-אֶֽת־H853Direct object markerhis own stepsצַעֲדֽוֹ׃H6806Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Correct meיַסְּרֵ֥נִיH3256Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singularO LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularbut onlyאַךְ־H389Adverbwith justice —בְּמִשְׁפָּ֑טH4941Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularnotאַל־H408Adverbin Your angerבְּאַפְּךָ֖H639Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularorפֶּן־H6435ConjunctionYou will bring me to nothingתַּמְעִטֵֽנִי׃H4591Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Verse 25

Original words

Pour outשְׁפֹ֣ךְH8210Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularYour wrathחֲמָתְךָ֗H2534Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙H1471Article | Noun - masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativedo notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleacknowledge Youיְדָע֔וּךָH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singularand onוְעַל֙H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe familiesמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹתH4940Noun - feminine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativedo notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecallקָרָ֑אוּH7121Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralon Your nameבְּשִׁמְךָ֖H8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularForכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthey have devouredאָכְל֣וּH398Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural-אֶֽת־H853Direct object markerJacobיַעֲקֹ֗בH3290Noun - proper - masculine singularthey have consumed himוַאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙H398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singularand finished him offוַיְכַלֻּ֔הוּH3615Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthey have devastatedהֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃פH8074Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralhis homelandנָוֵ֖הוּH5116Noun - 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.