Jeremiah 10:20-25

20 1My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, 2and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again and 3to set up my curtains.
21 4For the shepherds 5are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, 6and all their flock is scattered.
22 A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!-- 7a great commotion out of the north country to make 8the cities of Judah a desolation, 9a lair of jackals.
23 10I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
24 11Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.
25 12Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name, 13for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.

Jeremiah 10:20-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 10

This chapter shows that there is no comparison to be made between God and the idols of the Gentiles; represents the destruction of the Jews as near at hand; and is closed with some petitions of the prophet. It begins by way of preface with an exhortation to hear the word of the Lord, and a dehortation not to learn the way of the Heathens, or be dismayed at their signs, since their customs were in vain, Jer 10:1-3 which lead on to expose their idols, and set forth the greatness and glory of God. Their idols are described by the matter and makers of them, Jer 10:3,4,9 and from their impotence to speak, to stand, to move, or do either good or evil, Jer 10:4,5, but, on the other hand, God is described by the greatness of his name and power, and by the reverence that belongs unto him; in comparison of whom all the wise men of the nations are brutish, foolish, and vain, Jer 10:6-8, by the epithets of true, living, and everlasting, and by the terribleness of his wrath, Jer 10:10, by his power and wisdom, in making the heavens and the earth, in causing thunder and lightning, wind and rain, when the gods that have no share in these shall utterly perish, Jer 10:11-13 their makers being brutish, and brought to shame; and they falsehood and breathless vanity, the work of errors, and so shall come to ruin, Jer 10:14,15, but he, who is Jacob's portion, and whose inheritance Israel is, is not like them; being the former of all things, and his name the Lord of hosts, Jer 10:16 and next follows a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews; wherefore they are bid to gather up their wares, since in a very little time, and at once, the Lord would fling them out of the land, and bring them into distress, Jer 10:17,18, upon which the prophet expresses his sympathy with his people in trouble, and the part of grief he took and bore with them, Jer 10:19, the particulars of his distress, through the desolation of the land, and the captivity of the people, with the cause and authors of it, by whose means these things were brought upon them, are mentioned, Jer 10:20,21, and the Chaldean army, the instruments of their ruin, are represented as just at hand, Jer 10:22, when the prophet, directing himself to God, acknowledges the impotence of man in general to help and guide himself, deprecates correction in anger to himself in particular, and prays that the wrath of God might be poured down upon the Heathens, by whom his people were devoured, consumed, and made desolate, Jer 10:23-25.

Cross References 13

  • 1. Jeremiah 4:20; [Isaiah 54:2]
  • 2. Jeremiah 31:15
  • 3. Jeremiah 4:20; [Isaiah 54:2]
  • 4. Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:2
  • 5. ver. 8
  • 6. Ezekiel 34:5, 6
  • 7. See Jeremiah 1:13
  • 8. See Jeremiah 9:11
  • 9. See Jeremiah 9:11
  • 10. Proverbs 16:1; Proverbs 20:24; Daniel 5:23
  • 11. Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28; Psalms 6:1; Psalms 38:1
  • 12. Psalms 79:6, 7
  • 13. Jeremiah 8:16; Jeremiah 30:16; Psalms 14:4
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.