Jeremiah 10:20

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.

Jeremiah 10:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 10:20

My tabernacle is spoiled
Not the temple at Jerusalem only, rather Jerusalem itself, as Kimchi; or the whole land, as the Targum,

``my land is wasted:''
the allusion is to the tents of shepherds, and denotes the unstable condition of the Jewish nation: and all my cords are broken:
all the rest of the cities of the land are destroyed, as Kimchi; and so the Targum,
``my cities are spoiled:''
as the cords are what the parts of the tabernacle or tent are fastened and kept together with, they may intend the strength of the nation, which lay in its wealth, its fortresses, and the numbers of its people, now weakened, loosed, and broke. My children are gone forth of me;
into captivity, as the Targum interprets it; the prophet, representing Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah. The Septuagint adds, "and my sheep"; keeping on the metaphor of a shepherd, his tent, and flock. And they are not;
either not in the world, being destroyed by one judgment or another; or rather not in their own land, being carried captive. There is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my
curtains;
which shows the great destruction and desolation of the land, and its inhabitants, that there would be none to set up a shepherd's tent; perhaps the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the rest of the cities, may be meant.

Jeremiah 10:20 In-Context

18 For thus says the LORD , "Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land At this time, And will cause them distress, That they may be found."
19 Woe is me, because of my injury! My wound is incurable. But I said, "Truly this is a sickness, And I must bear it."
20 My tent is destroyed, And all my ropes are broken; My sons have gone from me and are no more. There is no one to stretch out my tent again Or to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD ; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.
22 The sound of a report! Behold, it comes - A great commotion out of the land of the north - To make the cities of Judah A desolation, a haunt of jackals.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Jeremiah 4:20; Lamentations 2:4
  • 2. Jeremiah 31:15; Lamentations 1:5
  • 3. Isaiah 51:18
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