Jeremiah 10:8

8 But they are altogether ¹stupid and foolish In their discipline of delusion -their idol is wood!

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 There is none like You, O LORD ; You are great, and great is Your name in might.

7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.

8 But they are altogether stupid and foolish In their discipline of delusion -their idol is wood!

9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of a craftsman and of the hands of a goldsmith; Violet and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skilled men.

10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 4:22; Jeremiah 5:4; Jeremiah 10:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "vanities," or "idols"
• [b]. Lit "it is"