Jeremiah 10 10

Jeremiah 10:10 kjv

But 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.

Jeremiah 10:10 nkjv

But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

Jeremiah 10:10 niv

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.

Jeremiah 10:10 esv

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Jeremiah 10:10 nlt

But the LORD is the only true God.
He is the living God and the everlasting King!
The whole earth trembles at his anger.
The nations cannot stand up to his wrath.

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 10 Meaning

Jeremiah 10:10 declares the unparalleled nature of the LORD (Yahweh), setting Him apart from the powerless idols discussed earlier in the chapter. He is affirmed as the authentic and real God, possessing intrinsic life and actively engaging in creation and judgment. He holds eternal and ultimate sovereignty as the everlasting King. This verse emphasizes His absolute power, portraying a cosmic reaction to His righteous wrath, before which all nations and human systems are utterly helpless and unable to withstand His intense displeasure.

Jeremiah 10 10 Context

Jeremiah chapter 10 is a powerful discourse contrasting the worthlessness of pagan idols and the folly of idolatry with the absolute power and singular reality of the LORD. The chapter begins by urging Israel not to adopt the ways of the nations who are terrified by celestial signs, as such practices are vain (Jer 10:2-3). It meticulously describes how idols are man-made, crafted from wood and adorned with silver and gold, mere statues that are helpless, voiceless, and powerless, requiring human support (Jer 10:4-5). This sets the stage for a stark declaration about the God of Israel (Jer 10:6-7). Verse 10 stands as a climactic assertion within this polemic, emphatically declaring the distinct, active, and sovereign nature of the LORD against the lifeless, ineffectual false gods that humanity creates and worships. Historically, Judah was in a state of spiritual decline, influenced by the surrounding nations' pagan practices, despite warnings from prophets like Jeremiah. The Babylonians, a formidable pagan empire, were threatening, and Jeremiah was calling his people back to exclusive faith in Yahweh. This verse reinforces the logical and theological superiority of trusting in the one true God over any created deity.

Jeremiah 10 10 Word analysis

• But the LORD:

  • But (Wāh - conjunction): Introduces a strong contrast, shifting focus from the impotence of idols (preceding verses) to the incomparable power of Yahweh.
  • LORD (YHWH / Yahweh): The unique, ineffable covenant name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies God's self-existence ("I AM"), His active presence, and His unchanging nature as the covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. This name immediately distinguishes Him from generic 'gods' and reinforces His personal relationship with Israel.

• is the true God:

  • true (’ĕmeth): Meaning truth, reality, authenticity, faithfulness. It denotes that Yahweh is genuinely what He claims to be, real and dependable, as opposed to the deceptive, illusionary, and non-existent nature of idols.
  • God (’Ĕlōhîm): The general term for deity, but here specifically used in conjunction with "true" and "living" to describe Yahweh's ultimate divine essence and being.

• He is the living God:

  • living (ḥayy): Emphasizes God's vitality, dynamism, and active presence. Unlike idols made of dead material and having no breath, Yahweh possesses life intrinsically, is the source of all life, and interacts with creation. This contrasts with the dead, inert gods of the nations.

• and the everlasting King:

  • everlasting (‘ōlām): Signifies eternity, perpetual existence, without beginning or end. It implies unchanging rule and an enduring kingdom across all generations.
  • King (meleḵ): Denotes supreme authority, sovereignty, and rightful dominion over all creation. As "everlasting King," His rule is not temporal or threatened like earthly kings or transient empires; it is absolute and eternal.

• At His wrath the earth quakes:

  • wrath (qeṣep̄): Refers to divine anger, fierce indignation, or furious displeasure, specifically God's righteous reaction to sin and disobedience. It's an active, just emotion, not a capricious human outburst.
  • earth quakes (tirəʿaš hāʾāreṣ): Literally "the earth trembles/shakes." This vivid imagery describes a cosmic upheaval and physical manifestation of God's immense power. It portrays the very ground of creation responding to His authority and judgment, a common motif of theophanies.

• and the nations cannot endure His indignation:

  • nations (gôyim): Refers primarily to the Gentile peoples, often those hostile to God or engaged in idolatry, but here implying all human beings and their systems who defy Him.
  • cannot endure (lōʾ yūḵalû hāḵîl): Meaning "they are unable to bear," "to withstand," or "to hold out." It highlights the complete powerlessness and fragility of humanity, specifically those in opposition, before God's majesty and judgment.
  • indignation (za‘am): A term often used synonymously with "wrath" but frequently suggesting a more intense, deeply felt anger or fury. It reiterates the overwhelming severity of God's displeasure and its devastating effects.

Jeremiah 10 10 Bonus section

This verse's declaration of "the true God, the living God, and the everlasting King" provides a profound tri-faceted refutation of atheism, polytheism, and pantheism. It posits a personal, active, and eternal God who is distinct from His creation but intimately involved in it. Furthermore, it foreshadows New Testament teachings regarding God's enduring sovereignty (1 Tim 1:17) and Jesus's own claim to everlasting kingship (Rev 11:15, 19:16), subtly connecting the attributes of Yahweh in the Old Testament with the reign of Christ in the New. The trembling of the earth at His wrath is not just a poetic image, but a theological truth reiterated in apocalyptic literature, where cosmic events accompany God's final judgments, illustrating the universal scope and unavoidable nature of His divine justice. The power of this verse lies in its clear articulation of who God truly is, serving as an anchor of truth amidst human deceptions and uncertainties.

Jeremiah 10 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:10 stands as a foundational theological statement, a definitive counter-argument to any form of idolatry, then and now. It presents Yahweh with three majestic, interwoven titles that affirm His unique identity: "the true God," signifying His authenticity and reality; "the living God," emphasizing His active vitality and life-giving power; and "the everlasting King," asserting His eternal and unchallengeable sovereignty. These titles collectively form a powerful declaration that shatters the pretensions of any rival deity or human-made system of belief. The second part of the verse reveals the awesome consequence of challenging such a God: His righteous wrath is a cosmic force that makes the earth itself tremble, and His fierce indignation renders all nations utterly helpless. No power, human or otherwise, can stand or endure against the God who truly lives and eternally reigns. This truth offers comfort to those who trust Him and serve Him faithfully, while simultaneously issuing a dire warning to those who reject Him and pursue vanity. It provides a divine lens through which to evaluate all sources of power, wisdom, and worship, affirming that ultimate reality, life, and authority reside solely in the LORD.