Jeremías 10:3-13

3 Porque las costumbres de los pueblos son vanidad; pues un leño del bosque es cortado, lo trabajan las manos de un artífice con la azuela;

4 con plata y oro lo adornan, con clavos y martillos lo aseguran para que no se mueva.

5 Como los espantapájaros de un pepinar, sus ídolos no hablan; tienen que ser transportados, porque no andan. No les tengáis miedo, porque no pueden hacer mal, ni tampoco hacer bien alguno.

6 No hay nadie como tú, oh SEÑOR; grande eres tú, y grande es tu nombre en poderío.

7 ¿Quién no te temerá, oh Rey de las naciones? Porque esto se te debe. Porque entre todos los sabios de las naciones, y en todos sus reinos, no hay nadie como tú.

8 Mas ellos a una son torpes y necios en su enseñanza de vanidades, pues su ídolo es un leño.

9 Plata laminada es traída de Tarsis y oro de Ufaz, obra del artífice y de manos del orfebre; su vestido es de violeta y púrpura; todo ello obra de peritos.

10 Pero el SEÑOR es el Dios verdadero; El es el Dios vivo y el Rey eterno. Ante su enojo tiembla la tierra, y las naciones son impotentes ante su indignación.

11 Así les diréis: Los dioses que no hicieron los cielos ni la tierra, perecerán de la tierra y de debajo de los cielos.

12 El es el que hizo la tierra con su poder, el que estableció el mundo con su sabiduría, y con su inteligencia extendió los cielos.

13 Cuando El emite su voz, hay estruendo de aguas en los cielos; El hace subir las nubes desde los extremos de la tierra, hace los relámpagos para la lluvia y saca el viento de sus depósitos.

Jeremías 10:3-13 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.