Yirmeyah 10:8

8 But they are altogether stupid and foolish; the etz is a musar havalim (discipline of delusions).

Yirmeyah 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."

Yirmeyah 10:8 In-Context

6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, Hashem; Thou art gadol, and Thy Shem is gadol in gevurah.

7 Who would not fear thee, O Melech HaGoyim? For this is Thy due; forasmuch as among all the chachamim of the Goyim, and in kol malchut of them, there is none like unto Thee.

8 But they are altogether stupid and foolish; the etz is a musar havalim (discipline of delusions).

9 Hammered kesef is brought from Tarshish, and zahav from Uphaz, the ma’aseh (work, handiwork) of the charash (workman, artisan), and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple is their [the idols’] clothing; they are all the ma’aseh (work) of cunning men.

10 But Hashem is the Elohim Emes, He is the Elohim Chayyim, and the Melech Olam; at His wrath ha’aretz shall tremble, and the Goyim shall not be able to endure His indignation.