Jeremiah 10 20

Jeremiah 10:20 kjv

My 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.

Jeremiah 10:20 nkjv

My tent is plundered, And all my cords are broken; My children have gone from me, And they are no more. There is no one to pitch my tent anymore, Or set up my curtains.

Jeremiah 10:20 niv

My tent is destroyed; all its ropes are snapped. My children are gone from me and are no more; no one is left now to pitch my tent or to set up my shelter.

Jeremiah 10:20 esv

My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again and to set up my curtains.

Jeremiah 10:20 nlt

My home is gone,
and no one is left to help me rebuild it.
My children have been taken away,
and I will never see them again.

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 20 Meaning

Jeremiah 10:20 is a profound lament expressing the utter devastation and desolation faced by the nation of Judah. Personified as a dwelling or mother, Judah cries out that its home (tent/habitation) is completely destroyed, with all its supporting structures collapsed. Her "children" – the people of Judah – are gone, implying exile or destruction, leaving no one to rebuild or restore her national existence and normalcy. This verse captures the depth of sorrow and the finality of judgment as Judah faces the consequences of its unfaithfulness to God.

Jeremiah 10 20 Context

Jeremiah chapter 10 begins with a stark warning against idolatry, contrasting the living God with powerless man-made idols (Jer 10:1-16). This segment serves as a powerful polemic against the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, which Judah had increasingly adopted. Following this, the tone shifts abruptly to a scene of impending judgment and the lamentation of Judah (Jer 10:17-25). Verse 20, specifically, represents a cry of distress from the personified nation or Jerusalem, recognizing the catastrophic judgment that is about to fall upon them. Culturally, the imagery of a "tent" refers to a nomadic dwelling but also metaphorically to the established home, stability, or the entire nation, drawing parallels to the Tabernacle (God's dwelling among His people) and Israel's historical nomadic origins. The impending destruction is historically set against the backdrop of the Babylonian threat, which would lead to the siege of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the exile of the people. This lament therefore embodies the desperate reality that Judah, having rejected its true God, now faces utter desolation without hope of self-restoration.

Jeremiah 10 20 Word analysis

• My tent (אוהלי - ohelî): Refers to a dwelling, habitation, or home. Here, it is metaphorical, symbolizing the nation of Judah, its social structure, stability, or its very existence. The attachment of "my" ("-î") denotes a personal and deep sense of loss.
• is destroyed (שֻׁדָּדָה - šuddāḍāh): From the verb "šadaḏ," meaning to lay waste, devastate, or destroy completely. The passive form emphasizes that it is a direct experience, something happening to "my tent," indicating ruin beyond repair. The verb suggests an act of overwhelming and absolute destruction, implying an outside force, likely divine judgment through foreign armies.
• all my cords (כָּל־מֵיתָרַי - kol mêytarây): The ropes or ties that hold a tent upright and secure. "All" emphasizes total destruction, not merely a part. These cords symbolize the foundations, supports, or vital connections that maintain national coherence and stability – such as its leadership, institutions, or family units.
• are snapped (נִתָּקוּ - nittāqû): From "nātaq," meaning to break, pull apart, or sever. The passive verb again highlights that this is happening to them. Snapping implies a sudden, irreversible break, leading to the collapse of the entire structure. It denotes a loss of all internal strength and external support.
• My children (בָּנַי - bānnây): Refers to the people of Judah, viewed as the offspring of the personified nation. The "my" further emphasizes the profound, maternal grief of Judah over its lost inhabitants.
• have gone from me (יָֽצְא֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי - yāṣe'û mimmennî): From "yāṣāʾ," meaning to go out, depart. "From me" ("mimmennî") specifies a departure directly away from the lamenter. This describes the forced removal of the people, pointing to exile, captivity, or being scattered and killed in war.
• and are no more (וְאֵינָם - wᵉʾêynām): A statement of profound absence. It conveys not just departure but an ultimate lack of presence, signifying that they have vanished, died, or are utterly lost to the lamenter, adding a layer of desolation and finality to the loss of the children.
• there is no one left (וְאֵין־ע֣וֹד אָדָם - wᵉʾêyn-ʿôḏ ʾāḏām): "No one else," meaning a complete absence of human help or successors. It highlights a state of absolute powerlessness and a lack of capability to self-restore or perpetuate existence.
• to pitch my tent (לְהַקֵּל֙ אֹהֳלִי - lᵉhaqqêl ʾoholî): "To set up," "to erect." The verb suggests the actions needed to re-establish and provide a dwelling, bringing back normalcy and habitation. This refers to the active task of rebuilding and settling.
• or to set up my curtains (וְלַהֲרִים יְרִיעוֹתַ֔י - wᵉlahaărîm yᵉrîʿôṯây): "To raise up," "to lift up." Curtains here refer to the coverings or drapes of a tent. "To set up curtains" further emphasizes the detailed tasks involved in making a dwelling complete and secure, reinforcing the lament's sense of the total absence of anyone who can bring life, comfort, or continuity back.

• "My tent is destroyed; all my cords are snapped.": This phrase creates a powerful image of complete structural collapse. The dwelling (nation/people) is utterly broken, its supports gone. This symbolizes the physical destruction of cities and the Temple, as well as the societal breakdown and loss of national identity caused by the Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile.
• "My children have gone from me and are no more.": This highlights the deep personal and emotional cost of the judgment. The loss of the "children" signifies the depopulation of the land, whether through death in war, famine, or deportation into foreign lands, leaving a desolate and empty land behind. It speaks of a barren future.
• "there is no one left to pitch my tent or to set up my curtains.": This concludes the lament by emphasizing hopelessness from a human perspective. There is no one to perform the essential tasks of rebuilding, settling, and making a home habitable again. It signifies a profound cessation of life, order, and self-renewal within the nation, portraying a land left abandoned and beyond human recovery.

Jeremiah 10 20 Bonus section

This lament in Jeremiah 10:20 holds significant theological weight by demonstrating the gravity of God's judgment against idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, as earlier addressed in the chapter. While this verse highlights utter despair from Judah's perspective, the broader prophetic context in Jeremiah and other prophets eventually shifts to a message of future hope and restoration, though often only through a divine act and a new covenant (Jer 31:31-34). Thus, the complete desolation expressed here emphasizes that any future restoration would be solely by God's power, not by Judah's ability. Spiritually, this passage can also be understood as a metaphor for the consequences of sin in a believer's life or in the church – when one abandons their secure dwelling in God, the structures supporting their spiritual life can be destroyed, leaving desolation and a feeling of being unable to rebuild on their own, highlighting the need for divine grace and intervention for spiritual restoration.

Jeremiah 10 20 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:20 is a raw and poignant lament from personified Judah, echoing the dire prophecies of judgment that characterize Jeremiah's ministry. It paints a vivid picture of absolute destruction using the intimate imagery of a collapsed tent and scattered family. The "tent" represents Judah's entire national existence, its stability, and home; its destruction signifies the profound ruin inflicted by God's judgment, particularly through the impending Babylonian invasion and exile. The "snapped cords" speak to the loss of all structural and societal supports, leaving Judah utterly helpless. The disappearance of her "children" — the people — underscores the devastating depopulation through death, captivity, and dispersion, leading to an empty land. The final phrase, expressing that there is "no one left to pitch my tent or to set up my curtains," cements the despair, emphasizing Judah's complete inability to restore herself or rebuild her shattered existence without external (divine) intervention. It is a profound cry of sorrow, demonstrating the deep consequences of national apostasy and disobedience to the living God.