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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 10:1 | Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. | Contrast with Idolatry |
| Jeremiah 10:2 | Thus says the LORD: “Learn not the way of the nations... | Call to separate from nations |
| Isaiah 40:18 | To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare to him? | God's incomparability |
| Isaiah 40:25 | “To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. | God's supreme uniqueness |
| Psalm 96:4-5 | For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. | Gods vs. idols, Creator God |
| Psalm 115:4-7 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; they have noses, but do not smell; they have hands, but do not feel; they have feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. | Description of idols' inability |
| Isaiah 44:9-20 | Detailed account of idol making and its foolishness. | Thorough denunciation of idols |
| Jeremiah 2:11 | Has a nation changed its gods? Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for that which does not profit. | Israel's exchanging God for idols |
| Jeremiah 8:19 | The voice of my people cries from a distant land, “Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King not in her?” | God's presence contrasted with abandonment |
| Jeremiah 14:22 | Have among the dumb idols of the nations rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things. | God's sole power over nature |
| Deuteronomy 4:35 | To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD, he is God. There is no other besides him. | God as the only true God |
| 1 Kings 18:21 | And Elijah came to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” | Test on Mt. Carmel |
| Psalm 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. | Idols are man-made, powerless, and corrupting those who trust them |
| 1 Corinthians 8:4 | Therefore concerning the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and “there is no God but one.” | Idolatry's lack of reality |
| 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 | What am I suggesting then that an idol is anything, or that what is sacrificed to idols is anything? No, I am suggesting that the sacrifices which pagans sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. | Spiritual reality behind idols |
| Acts 19:26 | And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, not only in Ephesus but in almost all the province of Asia, saying that what is made with hands is not gods. | Paul's ministry in Ephesus |
| Isaiah 46:1-2 | Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; theirbeeldinges are put on beasts and loads; things that you carried are made into burdens for weary beasts. They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot help the burden, but themselves go into captivity. | Idols unable to deliver their own people |
| Jeremiah 10:5 | They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they do not evil, nor is it in them to do good. | Description of idol's impotence |
| 1 Samuel 12:21 | And do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are vain. | Samue's admonition to Israel |
| Isaiah 2:8 | Their land is also full of silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is also full of horses, and there are no end to their chariots. | Israel's earthly treasures |
Jeremiah 10 verses
Jeremiah 10 16 Meaning
The Lord of hosts is not God. God alone is the creator and sustainer of all things. The idols described are useless and will perish, a stark contrast to the enduring nature of the true God. This verse emphasizes God's sovereignty and the futility of worshipping anything created.
Jeremiah 10 16 Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophetic pronouncements against Judah's continued reliance on idolatry and disobedience to God, despite severe judgment. Chapter 10 specifically addresses the foolishness and powerlessness of idols, contrasting them with the omnipotence and sovereignty of the Lord of hosts, the true God. Historically, the people of Judah were being influenced by the surrounding nations and their polytheistic practices. Jeremiah's message aims to turn them back to the LORD, warning them of the consequences of their apostasy and the futility of their trust in man-made deities. The prophecy is delivered during a period of escalating threat from foreign powers, likely the Babylonian empire, with whom Judah was entangled in political alliances that contradicted their covenant with God.
Jeremiah 10 16 Word Analysis
As for the potter:
- "As for" (Hebrew: עַל־ , 'al): A preposition often used to introduce a topic or subject. Here it signifies "concerning" or "regarding."
- "the potter" (Hebrew: הַיּוֹצֵר , ha·yo·tzer): Refers to a craftsman who shapes clay into vessels. The definite article "ha-" indicates a specific or representative potter.
he is shaped:
- "he" (Hebrew: הוּא , hu'): Pronoun referring to the potter.
- "is shaped" (Hebrew: צוּרַת , tzu·rat): A passive form derived from the verb "to form" or "to shape." It signifies being molded or fashioned.
and the earthenware:
- "and" (Hebrew: וְ , və): Conjunction.
- "the earthenware" (Hebrew: הַחֶרֶס , ha·che·res): Refers to pottery, made from fired clay. The definite article specifies this material.
its craftsman:
- "its" (Hebrew: וְ , 'o): Connecting suffix.
- "craftsman" (Hebrew: יְצִירָיו , yə·tzi·ra·v): Literally "his creations" or "his work." It refers to the one who forms or shapes something, the creator of the earthenware.
He works with:
- "He" (Hebrew: הוּא , hu'): Pronoun, referring back to the potter.
- "works with" (Hebrew: יִצְרוֹ , yitz·ro): Derived from the root meaning "to form," "to create," "to work." It implies active engagement and craftsmanship.
them:
- "them" (Hebrew: מֵהֶם , mei·hem): Pronoun referring to the earthenware.
There is no understanding:
- "There is" (Hebrew: אֵין , 'ein): Denotes absence or non-existence.
- "no"
- "understanding" (Hebrew: בִּינָה , bi·nah): Comprehension, discernment, wisdom.
in it.
- "in it" (Hebrew: בּוֹ , bo): Refers back to the earthenware, indicating that the inanimate object lacks intelligence.
Group of words analysis:
- "As for the potter he is shaped and the earthenware its craftsman He works with them": This phrase paints a vivid picture. It asserts that just as a potter, who is capable of forming and working with clay, is himself a shaped being (made of flesh and blood, subject to the Creator), so too is the earthenware he fashions. The point is that the created object (earthenware, representing idols) is the product of a craftsman (man, representing humans) who is himself a product of divine craftsmanship. Therefore, the idol has no inherent power or divinity, mirroring the potter's own limited nature as a created being.
- "There is no understanding in it": This clause directly attributes a lack of intelligence and perception to the earthenware. This reinforces the central argument that idols, being mere crafted objects, are inherently devoid of thought, consciousness, or divine wisdom.
Jeremiah 10 16 Bonus Section
The concept of "the Lord of hosts" (Hebrew: יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת , YHWH Tzeva'ot) signifies God as the commander of heavenly armies and all celestial powers. This title underscores His supreme authority and might, directly countering any notion that earthly, man-made objects could hold any true power. The comparison to earthenware being shaped by a potter is a consistent theme throughout scripture to expose the emptiness of idolatry. Such imagery is meant to be understood not just as a physical analogy but also as a spiritual truth about dependence on the Creator versus reliance on the created. Many ancient Near Eastern cultures had elaborate creation myths involving artisans shaping gods from materials, and Jeremiah is dismantling these false theological claims by pointing to the stark reality: idols are objects, and their creators are just as much, if not more, beholden to the true God.
Jeremiah 10 16 Commentary
This verse highlights the stark contrast between the true God and man-made idols. The imagery of the potter and his earthenware powerfully illustrates that idols are simply creations of human hands. The potter, though skilled, is himself a creature with his own limitations and is ultimately dependent on God. The earthenware, made by the potter, is by nature inanimate and lacks any intelligence or power. This parallels the worship of idols, which are believed to have divine attributes but are in reality devoid of understanding and incapable of action. They are utterly powerless and reflect the limitations of their human creators, contrasting sharply with the infinite power, wisdom, and sovereignty of the LORD of hosts, who is the uncreated Creator of all things.