Jeremiah 10

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 10

1¶ Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.

6Forasmuch as [there is] none like unto thee, O LORD; thou [art] great, and thy name [is] great in might.

7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [there is] none like unto thee.

8But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock [is] a doctrine of vanities.

9Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple [is] their clothing: they [are] all the work of cunning [men].

10But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

11Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

13When he uttereth his voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

14Every man is brutish in [his] knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image [is] falsehood, and [there is] no breath in them.

15They [are] vanity, [and] the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

16The portion of Jacob [is] not like them: for he [is] the former of all [things]; and Israel [is] the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts [is] his name.

17¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

18For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find [it so].

19Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this [is] a grief, and I must bear it.

20My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they [are] not: [there is] none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

21For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

22Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, [and] a den of dragons.

23O LORD, I know that the way of man [is] not in himself: [it is] not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

24O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

25Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah 10 warns Israel against adopting the idolatrous practices of the heathen, emphasizing the futility of man-made gods. It contrasts these lifeless idols with the LORD, the living and everlasting God who created the heavens and the earth. The chapter then shifts to a lament over Judah's impending desolation and a prayer for divine correction and judgment upon the nations that do not know God.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a divine command to the house of Israel not to learn the ways of the heathen or fear celestial signs, as these are vain customs. It vividly describes the creation of idols from wood, silver, and gold, highlighting their inability to speak, move, or act, rendering them powerless. In stark contrast, the LORD is proclaimed as the great, living, and everlasting God, the creator of the universe whose power causes the earth to tremble. The prophet declares that these false gods, who did not create the heavens and earth, shall perish. Subsequently, the passage shifts to a lament concerning Judah's impending destruction, foretelling the scattering of its people and the desolation of its cities. Jeremiah concludes with a prayer acknowledging man's inability to direct his own steps, requesting divine correction with judgment rather than anger, and calling for God's wrath upon the nations that do not acknowledge Him.

Long Summary

Jeremiah 10 opens with a direct address from the LORD to the house of Israel, cautioning them against adopting the customs of the heathen, particularly their fear of celestial signs and their practice of idolatry. The prophet meticulously describes the creation of idols: trees cut from the forest, fashioned by workmen, adorned with silver and gold, and then fastened securely because they are inherently immobile and lifeless. These man-made gods are depicted as upright but speechless, unable to do either good or evil, thus rendering them objects of no fear. In profound contrast, the chapter exalts the LORD, declaring Him to be unique, great in might, and the King of nations, before whom all should stand in awe. It asserts that the heathen are brutish and foolish, and their idols are doctrines of vanity, made from precious metals but ultimately devoid of life or power. The LORD is identified as the true, living, and everlasting God, whose wrath causes the earth to tremble and whose indignation no nation can withstand. The passage emphasizes His role as the creator of the earth by His power, the establisher of the world by His wisdom, and the stretcher of the heavens by His discretion, contrasting this with the perishing nature of gods who did not create. Every idol maker is confounded by his own work, for his molten images are falsehoods without breath. The portion of Jacob is not like these, for the LORD of hosts is the former of all things and Israel is His inheritance. The chapter then shifts to a prophetic warning, urging the inhabitants to gather their wares, as the LORD declares He will sling out the inhabitants of the land. A lament follows, expressing deep sorrow over a grievous wound, the spoiling of the tabernacle, and the scattering of children. This desolation is attributed to the brutishness of the pastors who did not seek the LORD, leading to the scattering of their flocks. A great commotion from the north country is foretold, destined to make the cities of Judah desolate. Finally, Jeremiah offers a humble prayer, acknowledging that man's way is not in himself to direct his steps, and pleads for correction with judgment, not anger. He concludes by requesting God's fury to be poured out upon the heathen nations who do not know Him and have devoured Jacob.

Core Concepts

  • Idolatry's FutilityThe chapter vividly describes idols as man-made objects, crafted from wood, silver, and gold, which are lifeless, immobile, and utterly powerless to do good or evil. These customs of the heathen are declared vain and foolish.
  • The True God's SovereigntyThe LORD is proclaimed as the true, living, and everlasting God, unique in His greatness and might. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, whose power causes the earth to tremble and whose indignation no nation can withstand.
  • Divine JudgmentGod declares that the false gods who did not create the heavens and earth shall perish, and He foretells His own act of slinging out the inhabitants of the land. A great commotion from the north is prophesied to bring desolation upon Judah.
  • Creator vs. CreationA stark contrast is drawn between the LORD, who made the earth by His power and established the world by His wisdom, and the idols, which are mere works of human hands and have no breath or life within them.
  • Man's HelplessnessJeremiah humbly acknowledges that 'the way of man is not in himself,' and that it is not in man to direct his own steps. This emphasizes human dependence on divine guidance and correction.
  • Lament and PrayerThe prophet expresses deep sorrow over the impending desolation of Judah, likening it to a grievous wound and a spoiled tabernacle. He then prays for the LORD to correct him with judgment, not anger, and to pour out fury upon the heathen nations.