Jeremiah 10 24

Jeremiah 10:24 kjv

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Jeremiah 10:24 nkjv

O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.

Jeremiah 10:24 niv

Discipline me, LORD, but only in due measure? not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.

Jeremiah 10:24 esv

Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

Jeremiah 10:24 nlt

So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle.
Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 24 Meaning

The Lord expresses His compassionate response to the suffering of His people. He grieves and feels the pain inflicted upon them, declaring He will not utterly destroy them.

Jeremiah 10 24 Context

Jeremiah 10:24 comes from the heart of Jeremiah's ministry, a time when the people of Judah were facing impending judgment due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. This chapter begins with a strong condemnation of the false gods worshipped by surrounding nations and by many within Judah. Jeremiah vividly describes the impotence of idols made by human hands, contrasting them with the power and reality of the true God. The verse itself is a prayer or an expression of deep spiritual feeling by Jeremiah, acknowledging God's righteous discipline while pleading for His mercy and restraint in His judgment. The overall context is one of warning, calling for repentance, and asserting God's sovereignty over all nations and all forms of worship. It directly addresses and critiques the pagan practices prevalent at the time, highlighting the folly of relying on idols instead of the Creator God.

Jeremiah 10 24 Word Analysis

• Yahhway (יהוה): The personal name of God, often translated as "LORD" (all caps) in English Bibles. It signifies His covenantal faithfulness and eternal existence. The Lord God Himself is speaking through Jeremiah, revealing His own internal disposition.
• ararikem (wrev awrewv): "Correct me" or "discipline me."
  • ar (awev) - root verb meaning "to chastise," "to correct," "to reprove," "to instruct."
  • arikem (awrev-kem) - Niphal imperfect, 2nd person masculine plural of arik (awre). This indicates a continuous action, a ongoing process of discipline. The Lord acknowledges that correction is due and will be applied.
• miʃpaT (wswPa)`: "Justice," "equity," "right." It implies that the discipline should be fair and proportionate, not arbitrary or excessively severe.
• qel anp K,a (ahel awpke)`: "Your anger."
  • qel (`ahel) - "not."
  • anp (awp) - "anger," "wrath."
  • K,a (`ke) - 2nd person masculine plural possessive suffix "your." The Lord admits His potential for anger, but submits to His own perfect justice.
• ja MewK ja JebKa(jayweKjaywe): "Lest you bring me to nothing" or "that I not be brought to an end."
  • ja (`ay) - a negative particle introducing a result or purpose, often "lest" or "so that not."
  • MewK Ma (`wewk-ma) - "to make small," "to diminish," "to make nothing."
  • ja JebKa (jaywe-ka) - Niphal imperfect, 1st person common singular of Ma (ma) meaning "to make." This implies a passive reception of the action, being made small or brought to nothing. It expresses a fear of annihilation.

Grouped Analysis:

• "O Yahweh, correct me" (Yahhway, ararikem) - This opening is a plea, a submission to divine authority, acknowledging the rightfulness of God’s discipline. It highlights a deep relational trust, where discipline is understood as guidance, not arbitrary punishment.
• "but with justice" (miʃpaT wswPa)`)- This is a crucial qualifier. The prayer isn't for an absence of discipline, but for it to be administered according to God's righteous character, not based on uncontrolled emotion or overwhelming fury.
• "not in Your anger" (qel anp K,a (ahel awpke) - This expresses the core concern: that the discipline, however necessary, not be so overwhelming or severe as to utterly destroy the object of correction. It reflects an understanding of God’s potential wrath but relies on His promise of mercy.
• "lest You bring me to nothing" (ja MewK ja JebKa(jayweKjayw`e) - This reveals the ultimate fear: total annihilation. The plea is for survival, for the preservation of a remnant, even through the furnace of judgment.

Jeremiah 10 24 Bonus Section

This verse is remarkable because it’s attributed as a prayer from Jeremiah himself, demonstrating the prophet's own struggle and deep spiritual understanding even in expressing his message for God. It shows a vulnerability and a trust in God’s character even when confronting severe judgment. The specific language of "not bringing to nothing" implies that complete annihilation is not God’s ultimate desire; rather, He seeks to correct, refine, and restore, even if judgment appears overwhelming. This reflects God’s ultimate salvific plan for His people. It’s a powerful statement on the balance of justice and mercy in God’s dealings with humanity.

Jeremiah 10 24 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:24 is not just a lament but a prayer reflecting a profound theological understanding of God's justice and mercy. It acknowledges God’s sovereign right to correct His people when they stray, but simultaneously pleads for His mercy to temper His judgment. The prophet understands that God’s justice, if unmixed with His longsuffering, could lead to total destruction. This verse echoes the desire for the people to endure the refining process, not be consumed by it. It anticipates God's covenantal faithfulness, as He Himself declared He would not make a complete end of Israel, though discipline would surely come. This sentiment is mirrored in other parts of Scripture where prophets and people cry out for God's mercy during times of severe trial. The prayer expresses a nuanced view of divine discipline, recognizing it as necessary for purification and restoration, but fearing its potential for absolute annihilation if not restrained by divine compassion and faithfulness.