Jeremiah 10:7

7 Who would not revere you, O king of the nations? For you it is fitting. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like you.

Jeremiah 10:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 10:7

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations?
&c.] Not that the fear of him among the nations was general, or that he was owned by them as their King; but inasmuch as of right he was their King, so he ought to have been feared and reverenced by them; and it was an instance of great stupidity and ingratitude not to do it. The Targum renders it,

``King of all people;''

and the Syriac version, "King of all worlds"; some reference seems to be had to this passage in ( Revelation 15:3 Revelation 15:4 ) , where, instead of "King of nations", the Lord is called "King of saints"; and there refers to a time when he will be feared, that is, worshipped and served by all nations, as he ought to be: for to thee doth it appertain;
that is, fear belongs to him, it is his due; and this, with keeping the commandments of God, is the whole duty of man. The Vulgate Latin version is, "thine is the glory"; honour or praise, as the Syriac version; and so Jarchi interprets it of beauty or glory; but the Targum,

``thine is the kingdom;''

and so Kimchi; and to which agrees the Arabic version. Forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their
kingdoms, there is none like unto thee;
that is, among all the wise kings of the nations, and all their wise counsellors, there is none like unto God for wisdom, or for glory and majesty; there is none of them that has such a kingdom as he has, or that governs it as he does; and as all their power and government, so all that wisdom by which they manage their political affairs, are from him.

Jeremiah 10:7 In-Context

5 They [are] like scarecrows in a cucumber field, they cannot speak. Indeed, they must be carried, for they cannot march. You must not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil; furthermore, to do good [is] not in them."

6 There is none like you, [O] Yahweh, you [are] great and your name [is] great in might.

7 Who would not revere you, O king of the nations? For you it is fitting. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like you.

8 {At the same time} they are stupid and foolish, [in the] instruction of idols, it [is] wood.

9 Silver beaten from Tarshish is brought, and gold from Uphaz, the work of [the] craftsman and [the] hands of the goldsmith. Blue and purple [are] their clothing, all of them [are] the work of skillful people.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "kingdom"