Jeremiah 10:16 kjv
The 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.
Jeremiah 10:16 nkjv
The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.
Jeremiah 10:16 niv
He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance? the LORD Almighty is his name.
Jeremiah 10:16 esv
Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.
Jeremiah 10:16 nlt
But the God of Israel is no idol!
He is the Creator of everything that exists,
including Israel, his own special possession.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies is his name!
Jeremiah 10 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:9 | For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. | God claims Israel as His unique inheritance. |
| Ps 16:5 | LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup... | God is the individual's portion and inheritance. |
| Ps 73:26 | My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. | God is the lasting portion, unlike temporal things. |
| Lam 3:24 | "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." | Reliance on God as one's sole hope and inheritance. |
| Zech 2:12 | The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. | God's continuing claim and choosing of Judah/Israel. |
| Ex 19:5 | Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. | Israel is God's peculiar treasure. |
| Deut 7:6 | For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people... | Israel's chosenness as God's special people. |
| Ps 135:4 | For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his treasured possession. | Echoes Israel's identity as God's treasured possession. |
| Isa 40:28 | Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary... | God's eternal nature and role as Creator. |
| Isa 44:24 | "This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens..." | God as the exclusive Maker and Creator of everything. |
| Gen 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. | Foundational truth of God as the sole Creator. |
| Acts 14:15 | ...turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. | New Testament affirmation of God as Creator against idols. |
| Rev 4:11 | "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created..." | Heavenly praise for God's creation, affirming His unique status. |
| Ps 115:3-8 | Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands... They have mouths, but cannot speak... | Contrast between the active God and lifeless idols. |
| Isa 44:6 | "This is what the LORD says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." | God's absolute uniqueness; no god exists beside Him. |
| Rom 1:25 | They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator... | Worship of creation over Creator, mirroring Jeremiah's critique. |
| Hab 2:18 | Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image cast of gold that teaches lies? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork... | Idols are worthless, and their makers are deceived. |
| Isa 54:5 | For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name... | God's intimate and possessory relationship with His people, titled Lord of Hosts. |
| Mal 1:11 | "My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my Name... " | Prophecy of God's name being revered globally. |
| Ps 96:5 | For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. | Clear distinction between foreign gods and the Creator. |
| Col 1:16 | For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities... | Christ as the agent of creation, revealing the nature of God the Creator. |
| Eph 1:11 | In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. | Believers chosen as an inheritance, fulfilling a deeper plan. |
Jeremiah 10 verses
Jeremiah 10 16 Meaning
Jeremiah 10:16 proclaims the absolute uniqueness and incomparability of the Lord, the God of Israel, in stark contrast to the futile idols of the nations. It asserts that God is not like the false gods; He is the living and true Creator of all things. Furthermore, it highlights a profound covenantal relationship: the Lord Himself is the true "Portion" or inheritance of His people, Jacob/Israel, and Israel is conversely identified as His cherished "tribe of inheritance," a people specifically chosen and owned by Him. This declaration emphasizes His boundless power, His rightful sovereignty over all creation, and His intimate, possessory relationship with His people, all summarized by His mighty name, "The Lord of hosts."
Jeremiah 10 16 Context
Jeremiah 10:16 stands as a culminating declaration following a profound polemic against idolatry in Jeremiah 10:1-15. The prophet addresses the misguided worship of the surrounding nations and warns Israel not to adopt their customs. He vividly describes the futility and worthlessness of idols: carved wood, overlaid with silver and gold, fixed with nails, unable to speak, walk, or do good or harm—mere human constructs. In stark contrast, Jeremiah then presents a majestic description of the true God, the Lord (YHWH): He is great, mighty, incomparable, terrifying in judgment, yet the source of true wisdom and power, and the Creator who gives life-giving rain. Verse 16 provides the resolute summary and divine self-affirmation that powerfully closes this extended argument, emphasizing YHWH's ultimate sovereignty and His unique, chosen relationship with Israel, distinguishing Him absolutely from the impotent gods.
Jeremiah 10 16 Word analysis
- Not like (לֹא כְאֵלֶּה - lo ch'elleh): This strong negation, "not like these," serves as a direct and definitive refutation. It explicitly draws a line of absolute distinction between YHWH and the idols (the "these" referring to the foreign gods and their images described in verses 1-15). It highlights an essential qualitative difference, not merely a superficial one.
- them (ch'elleh): Refers directly back to the idols discussed in the preceding verses (Jer 10:1-15), emphasizing their physical construction, powerlessness, and the foolishness of those who worship them.
- is the Portion (חֵלֶק - cheleq): This term signifies an allotted share, an inheritance, or a portion received. For the Levites, the Lord was their portion instead of land (Num 18:20). Here, it signifies that YHWH Himself is Israel's true inheritance, their ultimate source of sustenance, security, and identity, utterly superior to any physical inheritance or idol worship. This concept underscores God's deep relational ownership and Israel's sole reliance on Him.
- of Jacob (Ya'akov): Represents the nation of Israel, descended from the patriarch Jacob, symbolizing God's covenant people. Using "Jacob" here connects to ancient covenant promises and reinforces the idea of an exclusive, inherited relationship.
- For He is the Maker of all things (כִּי יוֹצֵר הַכֹּל - ki yotzer ha'kol): "Maker" (yotzer) here conveys the idea of one who forms, molds, or fashions, often from raw material (like a potter). Applied to God, it refers to His role as the sovereign, creative artist behind all existence. This foundational truth establishes His incomparable power, wisdom, and authority, underscoring that all reality originates from Him, in stark contrast to idols made by human hands.
- and Israel (Yisra'el): Again refers to the covenant nation, reaffirming their distinct identity within God's divine plan.
- is the tribe of His inheritance (שֵׁבֶט נַחֲלָתוֹ - shevet nachalato):
- Tribe (shevet): Can mean "rod," "staff," or "scepter," and by extension, a "tribe" or "people group" often under a scepter/leader. Here, it conveys a sense of designated, special group.
- Inheritance (nachalato - from nachalah): Reinforces the idea of a valued possession, property, or heritage. God owns Israel as His most treasured possession, akin to an inheritance passed down or acquired. This highlights God's protective and possessory love for His people, chosen from