Jeremiah 10:11-21

11 Thus you shall say to them, "The 1gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will 2perish from the earth and from under the heavens."
12 It is 3He who made the earth by His power, Who 4established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has 5stretched out the heavens.
13 When He utters His 6voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the 7clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the 8wind from His storehouses.
14 Every man is 9stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them.
15 They are 10worthless, a work of mockery; In the 11time of their punishment they will perish.
16 The 12portion of Jacob is not like these; For the 13Maker of all is He, And 14Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The 15LORD of hosts is His name.
17 16Pick up your bundle from the ground, You who dwell under siege!
18 For thus says the LORD, "Behold, I am 17slinging out the inhabitants of the land At this time, And will cause them distress, That they may be found."
19 18Woe is me, because of my injury! My 19wound is incurable. But I said, "Truly this is a sickness, And I 20must bear it."
20 My 21tent is destroyed, And all my ropes are broken; My 22sons have gone from me and are no more. There is 23no one to stretch out my tent again Or to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become stupid And 24have not sought the LORD; Therefore * they have not prospered, And 25all their flock is scattered.

Jeremiah 10:11-21 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 25

  • 1. Psalms 96:5
  • 2. Isaiah 2:18; Zephaniah 2:11
  • 3. Genesis 1:1, 6; Job 38:4-7; Psalms 136:5; Psalms 148:4, 5; Jeremiah 51:15, 19
  • 4. Psalms 78:69; Isaiah 45:18
  • 5. Job 9:8; Isaiah 40:22
  • 6. Psalms 29:3-9
  • 7. Job 36:27-29
  • 8. Psalms 135:7
  • 9. Jeremiah 10:8; Jeremiah 51:17, 18
  • 10. Isaiah 41:24; Jeremiah 8:19; Jeremiah 14:22
  • 11. Jeremiah 8:12; Jeremiah 51:18
  • 12. Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26; Psalms 119:57; Jeremiah 51:19; Lamentations 3:24
  • 13. Isaiah 45:7; Jeremiah 10:12
  • 14. Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalms 74:2
  • 15. Jeremiah 31:35; Jeremiah 32:18
  • 16. Ezekiel 12:3-12
  • 17. 1 Samuel 25:29
  • 18. Jeremiah 4:31
  • 19. Jeremiah 14:17
  • 20. Micah 7:9
  • 21. Jeremiah 4:20; Lamentations 2:4
  • 22. Jeremiah 31:15; Lamentations 1:5
  • 23. Isaiah 51:18
  • 24. Jeremiah 2:8
  • 25. Jeremiah 23:2

Footnotes 6

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