Jeremiah 10:20-25

20 My 1tent is destroyed, And all my ropes are broken; My 2sons have gone from me and are no more. There is 3no one to stretch out my tent again Or to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become stupid And 4have not sought the LORD; Therefore * they have not prospered, And 5all their flock is scattered.
22 The sound of a 6report! Behold, it comes - A great commotion 7out of the land of the north - To 8make the cities of Judah A desolation, a haunt of jackals.
23 I know, O LORD, that 9a man's way is not in himself, 10Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
24 11Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.
25 12Pour out Your wrath on the nations that 13do not know You And on the families that 14do not call Your name; For they have devoured Jacob; They have 15devoured 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 15

  • 1. Jeremiah 4:20; Lamentations 2:4
  • 2. Jeremiah 31:15; Lamentations 1:5
  • 3. Isaiah 51:18
  • 4. Jeremiah 2:8
  • 5. Jeremiah 23:2
  • 6. Jeremiah 4:15
  • 7. Jeremiah 1:14; Jeremiah 25:9
  • 8. Jeremiah 9:11; Jeremiah 49:33
  • 9. Proverbs 16:1; Proverbs 20:24
  • 10. Isaiah 26:7
  • 11. Psalms 6:1; Psalms 38:1
  • 12. Psalms 79:6, 7; Zephaniah 3:8
  • 13. Job 18:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:8
  • 14. Zephaniah 1:6
  • 15. Jeremiah 8:16; Jeremiah 50:7, 17

Footnotes 2

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