Jeremiah 10:8

8 But they are together like beasts and foolish: the teaching of false gods 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 no one like you, O Lord; you are great and your name is great in power.

7 Who would not have fear of you, O King of the nations? for it is your right: for among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.

8 But they are together like beasts and foolish: the teaching of false gods is wood.

9 Silver hammered into plates is sent from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the expert workman and of the hands of the gold-worker; blue and purple is their clothing, all the work of expert men.

10 But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and an eternal king: when he is angry, the earth is shaking with fear, and the nations give way before his wrath.