Jeremiah 10

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Jeremiah 10

False Gods Contrasted with the Creator

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1 Hear the word that the LORD has spoken to you, house of Israel.

2 This is what the LORD says: Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, although the nations are terrified by them,

Leviticus 18:3, Isaiah 47:12-14

3 for the customs of the peoples are worthless. Someone cuts down a tree from the forest; it is worked by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.

4 He decorates it with silver and gold. It is fastened with hammer and nails, so it won't 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 they cannot do any good.

6 Yahweh, there is no one like You! You are great; Your name is great in power.

Deuteronomy 33:26, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 96:4, Isaiah 12:6, Jeremiah 10:16

7 Who should not fear You, King of the nations? It is what You deserve. For among all the wise people of the nations and among their kingdoms, there is no one like You.

Psalm 22:28, Daniel 2:27-28, 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

8 They are both stupid and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!

Jeremiah 4:22

9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz from the hands of a goldsmith, the work of a craftsman. Their clothing is blue and purple, all the work of skilled artisans.

Psalm 72:10, Psalm 115:4, Isaiah 40:18-19, Daniel 10:5

10 But Yahweh is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His rage.

Psalm 10:16, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 76:7, Isaiah 65:16, Jeremiah 50:46

11 You are to say this to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

Psalm 96:5, Isaiah 2:18, Zephaniah 2:11

12 He made the earth by His power, established the world by His wisdom, and spread out the heavens by His understanding.

Job 9:8, Job 38:4-7, Psalm 78:69, Psalm 148:4-5, Isaiah 40:22, Isaiah 45:18, Jeremiah 51:15

13 When He thunders, the waters in the heavens are in turmoil, and He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses.

Job 36:27-29, Psalm 29:3-9, Psalm 135:7

14 Everyone is stupid and ignorant. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his carved image, for his cast images are a lie; there is no breath in them.

Jeremiah 51:7

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

Isaiah 41:24, Jeremiah 8:12, Jeremiah 14:22

16 Jacob’s Portion is not like these because He is the One who formed all things. Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; Yahweh of Hosts is His name.

Deuteronomy 32:9, Isaiah 45:7, Jeremiah 10:12, Jeremiah 31:35, Jeremiah 32:18, Jeremiah 51:19

1 Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O Israel!

2 This is what the LORD says: "Do not act like the other nations, who try to read their future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other nations are terrified by them.

3 Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.

4 They decorate it with gold and silver and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails so it won't fall over.

5 Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good."

6 Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power.

7 Who would not fear you, O King of nations? That title belongs to you alone! Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like you.

8 People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood!

9 They bring beaten sheets of silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, and they give these materials to skillful craftsmen who make their idols.Then they dress these gods in royal blue and purple robes made by expert tailors.

10 But the Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at his anger. The nations cannot stand up to his wrath.

11 Say this to those who worship other gods: “Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens."

12 But the Lord made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens.

13 When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.

14 The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power.

15 Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed..

16 But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, his own special possession. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!

1 Hear what the LORD says to you, people of Israel.

2 This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.

3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

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

5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."

6 No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

7 Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.

8 They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols!

9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple— all made by skilled workers.

10 But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.

11 “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’”

12 But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

13 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

14 Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.

15 Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.

16 He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance— the Lord Almighty is his name.

1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men..

10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.

Exile After the Siege

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17 Gather up your belongings from the ground, you who live under siege.

Ezekiel 12:3-12

18 For this is what the Lord says: Look, I am slinging out the land’s residents at this time and bringing them such distress that they will feel it.

1 Samuel 25:29, Jeremiah 14:17

17 Pack your bags and prepare to leave; the siege is about to begin.

18 For this is what the Lord says: “Suddenly, I will fling out all you who live in this land. I will pour great troubles upon you, and at last you will feel my anger.”

17 Gather up your belongings to leave the land, you who live under siege.

18 For this is what the Lord says: “At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured.”

17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

18 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.

Jeremiah Grieves

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19 Woe to me because of my brokenness—I am severely wounded! I exclaimed, “This is my intense suffering, but I must bear it.”

Jeremiah 4:31, Micah 7:9

20 My tent is destroyed; all my tent cords are snapped. My sons have departed from me and are no more. I have no one to pitch my tent again or to hang up my curtains.

Isaiah 51:18, Jeremiah 4:20, Jeremiah 31:15, Lamentations 1:5, Lamentations 2:4

21 For the shepherds are stupid: they don’t seek the Lord. Therefore they have not prospered, and their whole flock is scattered.

Jeremiah 23:2

22 Listen! A noise—it is coming—a great commotion from the land to the north. The cities of Judah will be made desolate, a jackals’ den.

23 I know, Lord, that a man’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps.

Proverbs 20:24, Isaiah 26:7

24 Discipline me, Lord, but with justice—not in Your anger, or You will reduce me to nothing.

25 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that don’t recognize You and on the families that don’t call on Your name, for they have consumed Jacob; they have consumed him and finished him off and made his homeland desolate.

Psalm 79:6, Jeremiah 8:16, Jeremiah 50:7, Zephaniah 1:6, Zephaniah 3:8

19 My wound is severe, and my grief is great. My sickness is incurable, but I must bear it.

20 My home is gone, and no one is left to help me rebuild it. My children have been taken away, and I will never see them again.

21 The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.

22 Listen! Hear the terrifying roar of great armies as they roll down from the north. The towns of Judah will be destroyed and become a haunt for jackals.

23 I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.

24 So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.

25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you—on the peoples that do not call upon your name. For they have devoured your people Israel; they have devoured and consumed them, making the land a desolate wilderness.

19 Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, “This is my sickness, and I must endure it.”

20 My tent is destroyed; all its ropes are snapped. My children are gone from me and are no more; no one is left now to pitch my tent or to set up my shelter.

21 The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.

22 Listen! The report is coming—a great commotion from the land of the north! It will make the towns of Judah desolate, a haunt of jackals.

23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

24 Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.

25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland.

19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.

20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

25 Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

Study Notes

Study Notes: Jeremiah 10:2-3

1. Most people would like to know the future. Decisions would be easier, failures would be avoided, and success would be assured. The people of Judah wanted to know the future, too, and they tried to discern it through reading:"their future in the stars." Jeremiah's response still applies today. God made the earth and the heavens, including the stars that the people consulted and worshipped. No one will discover their future in made-up charts of God's stars. But God, who promises to guide you, knows your future and will be with you all the way. He may not reveal your future to you, but He will walk with you as the future unfolds. Don't trust in the stars, trust in the one who made them.
2. This discussion of stars reminds me of the song Stars by Skillet.

Study Notes: Jeremiah 10:8

1. Those who put their trust in a chunk of wood, even if it is carved well and looks beautiful, are foolish. The simplest person who worships God is wiser than the wisest person who worships a worthless substitute, because this simple person has discerned who God really is. In what or whom do you place your trust?

Study Notes: Jeremiah 10:9-10

1. Tarshish was located at the western edge of the ancient world, perhaps in what is now Spain Jonah 1:3. It was the source of silver, tin, lead, and iron for Tyre Ezekiel 27:12. The location of Uphaz is unknown. Its name may be a metallurgical term for refined gold. No matter how well-made or how beautiful idols are, they can never have the power and life of the true and living God.

Study Notes: Jeremiah 10:14-16

1. Jeremiah's message condemned the handmade idols and those who crafted them. Yet today, society admires the so-called self-made man or woman. These people think that they carve out their own future and fortune and craft their own status. They do not depend on God or anything higher than themselves. When self-promotion and self-glorification are your goals, your life will eventually crumble because it's been built on what ultimately has no purpose.

Study Notes: Jeremiah 10:19-21

1. The shepherds of the people were the evil leaders who were responsible for the calamity. The flocks represented the people of Judah. When the leaders should have been guiding the people to God, they were leading them away.

Study Notes: Jeremiah 10:23-24

1. God's ability to direct our lives is far superior to ours. Sometimes we are afraid of God's power and plans because we know His power would easily crush us if He used it against us. But don't be afraid to let God correct your plans, He will give you wisdom if you are willing to let Him.
2. Jeremiah gave an honest, human cry to God for help. Make this plea for God's gentle touch a part of your own prayers.

Cross References

1. Jeremiah 10:3 >> Jeremiah 14:22
2. Jeremiah 10:18 >> Jeremiah 15:1

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