Jeremiah 10 11

Jeremiah 10:11 kjv

Thus 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.

Jeremiah 10:11 nkjv

Thus you shall say to them: "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens."

Jeremiah 10:11 niv

"Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'?"

Jeremiah 10:11 esv

Thus shall you say to them: "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens."

Jeremiah 10:11 nlt

Say this to those who worship other gods: "Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens."

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 11 Meaning

Jeremiah 10:11 serves as a divine mandate to declare unequivocally that any supposed gods who did not create the heavens and the earth are ultimately destined for utter destruction. This statement emphasizes the exclusive power and reality of the Lord as the Creator, thereby rendering all idols and false deities as temporary, futile, and ultimately powerless before Him. It is a powerful affirmation of monotheism in the face of widespread polytheism.

Jeremiah 10 11 Context

Jeremiah chapter 10 is a sharp polemic contrasting the futility and powerlessness of pagan idols and practices with the majesty and omnipotence of the Lord, the true God of Israel. Jeremiah urges Judah not to adopt the ways of the nations around them, particularly their fear of celestial phenomena and their worship of crafted images. The chapter details the worthlessness of idols, which are merely carved wood overlaid with silver and gold, requiring physical securing to prevent them from falling. In stark contrast, it presents the Lord as the living God, the King of the ages, the Creator of the universe, and the only source of true power and fear. Jeremiah 10:11 stands out as an Aramaic verse within a predominantly Hebrew text, functioning as a direct divine instruction on how to address idolaters or nations about their false gods. This linguistic shift highlights its unique purpose and significance, possibly intended to be used by the exiles among the Babylonians themselves or as an unalterable, authoritative declaration understood across different cultures.

Jeremiah 10 11 Word analysis

• Thus shall you say to them: This is kĕdhēyn tēʾmerūn (כְּדֵין תֵּאמְרוּן) in Aramaic.
  • Thus: kĕdhēyn (כְּדֵין). An adverb meaning "thus, so." It signals a direct, authoritative instruction that follows exactly as commanded.
  • shall you say: tēʾmerūn (תֵּאמְרוּן). Second person masculine plural imperfect verb, "you (plural) shall say." It indicates a command intended for the people of Israel, possibly specifically those in exile, instructing them on how to address their pagan captors or neighbors. The plural "you" emphasizes the collective responsibility of the nation to bear this message.
  • to them: The suffix on tēʾmerūn implies "to them," referring to the idol-worshipping nations or individuals who might present their gods as superior or real. This makes the declaration confrontational and defensive of God's honor.
• The gods: This is ʾelāhīn (אֱלָהִין) in Aramaic.
  • ʾelāhīn is the plural form of ʾelāh (אֱלָהּ), the common Aramaic word for "god." In this context, it unequivocally refers to the multiple, false deities worshipped by other nations, especially those of Babylon, mentioned in the surrounding verses. Its use here immediately identifies the subject of the polemic.
• who did not make: This is dī lāʾ ʿăvadhū (דִּי לָא עֲבַדוּ) in Aramaic.
  • who: dī (דִּי). Relative particle, serving a similar function to Hebrew ʾasher.
  • did not: lāʾ (לָא). The Aramaic negative particle, explicitly denying any creative act. This negation is central to the verse's argument, challenging the foundational claim of any god for worship.
  • make: ʿăvadhū (עֲבַדוּ). Third person masculine plural perfect verb, "they made." The core meaning is to "make, do, create." By stating that they "did not make," the verse strips these gods of any claim to creation, and therefore, any claim to deity or ultimate power. The ability to create is the exclusive hallmark of the one true God.
• the heavens and the earth: This is šĕmayyāʾ waʾarʿāʾ (שְׁמַיָּא וְאַרְעָא) in Aramaic.
  • the heavens: šĕmayyāʾ (שְׁמַיָּא). Aramaic plural noun for "heavens, sky." It signifies the upper realm, the celestial bodies, the vast expanse above.
  • and the earth: waʾarʿāʾ (וְאַרְעָא). Aramaic noun for "earth, land," with the conjunction "and." It represents the lower realm, all terrestrial existence.
  • Together, "the heavens and the earth" constitute a merism, signifying the entire cosmos, the totality of creation. This phrase directly echoes Gen 1:1, establishing the criteria for true Godhood: the one who created everything. Any deity that falls short of this universal creative act is inherently false.
• shall perish: This is yōʾbadū (יֹאבְדוּ) in Aramaic.
  • Third person masculine plural imperfect verb, "they shall perish." This is a strong word denoting complete destruction, ruin, extinction, or ceasing to exist. It is a declarative prophecy of absolute doom for these false entities. Their fate is certain and final, reinforcing their inherent weakness and unreality.
• from the earth and from under these heavens: This is min ʾarʿāʾ wāʿēn tāḥōth šĕmayyāʾ ʾellīm (מִן אַרְעָא וְאֵפְלוֹן מִן תְּחוֹת שְׁמַיָּא אִלֵּין) in Aramaic.
  • from the earth: min ʾarʿāʾ (מִן אַרְעָא). "From the earth," indicating a spatial removal, a literal wiping out from their supposed realm of influence or existence among humanity.
  • and from under: wāʿēn tāḥōth (וְאֵפְלוֹן מִן תְּחוֹת). wa- "and"; ʿēn "and," a slightly different conjunction, sometimes implying continuation; tāḥōth "under." This emphatic repetition (or possible variants depending on specific text tradition interpretation for the "from under") serves to highlight the thoroughness of their annihilation.
  • these heavens: šĕmayyāʾ ʾellīm (שְׁמַיָּא אִלֵּין). "These heavens." The demonstrative "these" adds a further layer of specificity, implying the very heavens above the current observers, leaving no conceivable realm for the false gods to exist or exert influence. It seals their ultimate non-existence, physically and cosmically.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Thus shall you say to them:": This opening phrase is an imperative, a direct divine instruction, setting the stage for a formal, public declaration. It empowers the messenger with the very words of God, signaling that this is not merely an opinion but an authoritative statement from the true God. It's meant for a specific audience (the idolaters) and is a confrontational, yet factual, declaration.
• "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth": This defines the target of the message with absolute clarity. The core distinction is the act of creation. Any entity lacking the cosmic power to create the entire universe, visible and invisible, automatically disqualifies itself from true godhood. This criterion is fundamental to Old Testament theology, asserting God's uniqueness and ultimate sovereignty based on His role as Creator. This is a direct polemic against all pagan myths of origins, which often feature multiple, lesser deities or demigods.
• "shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.": This is the divine verdict and prophetic outcome. The destruction is total and absolute, encompassing all spheres of existence – from the physical earth where they are worshipped, to the celestial realms they might falsely claim to influence. "Perish" signifies not just a loss of worship but a cessation of their very conceptual or cultural existence, as they are ultimately powerless before the true Creator. It provides a reassuring message for God's people amidst the pressures of idolatrous cultures.

Jeremiah 10 11 Bonus section

The choice of Aramaic for this particular verse in Jeremiah is highly significant and has been debated by scholars. One predominant view is that it served as a practical, linguistic weapon for the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Aramaic was the lingua franca of the Neo-Babylonian and later Persian Empires. By giving them this direct, memorable, and undeniable statement in Aramaic, God provided His people with an explicit, divinely authored reply to give to their captors or any pagan who challenged their faith in Yahweh. This demonstrates God's pastoral care, equipping His people with specific truth to counter false worship in a foreign land, making the truth universally accessible to the idolaters themselves. It also functions as an "inside address" to the very idols and their worshippers, written in their own tongue, asserting Yahweh's coming victory over them on their own soil and in their own idiom. This specific oracle within Jeremiah reinforces the book's overarching theme of God's sovereignty over all nations and their false deities.

Jeremiah 10 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:11 stands as a powerful, terse, and ultimately confident declaration from the Lord through His prophet, intended for nations steeped in idolatry, particularly the Babylonians. Its singular appearance in Aramaic within a Hebrew book suggests its profound importance and a specific intended use: it was the direct message God’s people were to use when confronted with, or living amongst, idol worshipers. This linguistic shift highlights the verse's nature as an accessible, undeniable theological axiom in the common tongue of the time, designed to cut through pagan sophistry.

The core of the verse is the litmus test for deity: creation. Only the one who formed the "heavens and the earth" can claim to be God. Any "gods" lacking this foundational act are not only impotent but are doomed to vanish, leaving no trace. This truth serves multiple functions: it's a stark warning to those trusting in false gods, an encouragement for the exiles not to fear or adopt Babylonian religious practices, and an unwavering affirmation of Yahweh's exclusive, ultimate authority. It contrasts the manufactured, temporary nature of idols with the living, eternal, and all-powerful Creator, whose word alone guarantees their destruction. This isn't just a physical perishing, but an existential demise, a complete removal from any realm of recognized being or worship. The verse thus solidifies monotheism as the only reality, against the backdrop of a universe where idols ultimately have no place or power.