Jeremiah 10:8

8 All of them are stupid and foolish. What can they learn from wooden idols?

Jeremiah 10:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 10:8

But they are altogether brutish and foolish
In comparison of the Lord, there is no knowledge and wisdom in them, this is a certain fact; they are verily brutish and foolish; or they are one and all so, there is not a wise man among them: or, "in one thing they are brutish" ^F18; namely, in their idolatry; however wise they may be in other respects, in this they are foolish: or, to give no more instances of their brutishness ^F19 and folly, this one is sufficient, even what follows, the stock is a doctrine of vanities;
or what they teach persons, as to worship the trunk of a tree, or any idol of metal, or of wood, is a most vain and foolish thing, and argues gross stupidity and folly, and proves them to be brutish, and without understanding.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (wreby txabw) "in hoc uno Munster", Tigurine version; "et certe in una quadem re obbrutescunt", Piscator. So Jarchi and Abarbinel.
F19 The Talmudists seem to take the word (reb) to have the signification of burning; for the sense of these words being asked, it is replied, there is one thing that burns the wicked in hell; what is it? idolatry; as it is here written, "a doctrine of vanities is the stock."

Jeremiah 10:8 In-Context

6 Lord, there is no one like you; you are mighty, and your name is great and powerful.

7 Who would not honor you, the king of all nations? You deserve to be honored. There is no one like you among all the wise men of the nations or among any of their kings.

8 All of them are stupid and foolish. What can they learn from wooden idols?

9 Their idols are covered with silver from Spain and with gold from Uphaz, all the work of artists; they are dressed in violet and purple cloth woven by skilled weavers.

10 But you, Lord, are the true God, you are the living God and the eternal king. When you are angry, the world trembles; the nations cannot endure your anger.

Footnotes

• [a]. What can . . . idols?; [or] What their idols teach is worthless.