Jeremiah 10 3

Jeremiah 10:3 kjv

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Jeremiah 10:3 nkjv

For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

Jeremiah 10:3 niv

For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

Jeremiah 10:3 esv

for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

Jeremiah 10:3 nlt

Their ways are futile and foolish.
They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 3 Meaning

Jeremiah 10:3 declares the inherent emptiness and futility of the customs of other nations, specifically detailing the manufacturing process of their idols. The verse highlights that what these peoples revere as deities are, in reality, nothing more than raw materials – trees taken from a common forest – meticulously crafted by human hands using basic tools like an axe. This observation immediately diminishes the idols, contrasting their created nature and human origin with the living, uncreated God of Israel. It serves as a direct critique, demonstrating the logical absurdity of worshipping something that skilled laborers must fashion.

Jeremiah 10 3 Context

Jeremiah chapter 10 is a powerful prophetic declaration distinguishing the unique majesty of the LORD, the true God of Israel, from the worthless idols of the Gentile nations. This chapter serves as a stark warning to Judah, who, despite experiencing God's covenants and wonders, was increasingly tempted by the idolatrous practices of surrounding cultures, particularly those influenced by the dominant Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Verse 3 immediately follows a general admonition (vv. 1-2) against learning the ways of the Gentiles, specifically regarding signs in the heavens, and launches into a detailed exposé of their foolish idolatry. The historical setting is the late 7th and early 6th century BCE, a period marked by political instability and spiritual apostasy in Judah, leading up to its eventual exile. Jeremiah's message is both a polemic against foreign worship systems and an urgent call for Judah to remain faithful to the incomparable Creator God, whose power is evident in all creation, in contrast to the inert, human-crafted deities described here. This verse, by demystifying the physical act of idol-making, undercuts the very basis of Gentile worship and reveals its inherent lack of divine truth or power.

Jeremiah 10 3 Word analysis

• For: Hebrew `ki` (כִּי). A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "for," introducing the reason for the previous statement about not learning the ways of the Gentiles.
• the customs: Hebrew `huqqoth` (חֻקּוֹת). From `choq`, meaning "statute," "ordinance," or "decree." Here, it refers to the fixed practices, rituals, or observances of the nations, particularly their religious ones. It implies something established but in this context, something fatally flawed.
• of the peoples: Hebrew `ha-ʿammim` (הָעַמִּים). Refers to the Gentile nations or non-Israelite peoples. This distinguishes their practices from the divine law given to Israel.
• are futile: Hebrew `hevel` (הֶבֶל). This powerful word literally means "breath," "vapor," "mist," or "nothingness." It conveys vanity, futility, meaninglessness, absurdity, and utter worthlessness. Famously used throughout Ecclesiastes ("Vanity of vanities..."). It immediately devalues the core of Gentile worship.
• for one cuts: Hebrew `ki yekareth` (כִּי יְכָרֵת). `Ki` again for "because" or "for." `yekareth` is the Qal imperfect form of `karat`, meaning "to cut off," "to fell," or "to cut down." The indefinite "one" refers to a person, specifically the artisan, highlighting human agency.
• a tree: Hebrew `ʿetz` (עֵץ). Simple and common word for "tree" or "wood." Emphasizes the mundane, natural origin of the raw material used for the idol.
• from the forest: Hebrew `mi-ya'ar` (מִיַּעַר). "From a forest," a natural, untended environment. This underscores the common, unholy origin of the idol's material. There's nothing sacred about the tree's source.
• the work: Hebrew `maʿaseh` (מַעֲשֵׂה). "Work," "deed," "making," "product." Stresses the manufacturing aspect; the idol is a product of labor.
• of the hands: Hebrew `yedei` (יְדֵי). The construct plural form of `yad`, "hand." This powerfully signifies human effort, skill, and limited ability. It is not divine creation.
• of a craftsman: Hebrew `kharash` (חָרָשׁ). Meaning "craftsman," "artisan," "engraver," "carpenter," "blacksmith." A skilled laborer, underscoring that the idol is the result of human ingenuity and physical effort.
• with an axe: Hebrew `ba-maʿatzad` (בַּמַּעֲצָד). "With an axe" or "adze." A common woodworking tool, further emphasizing the mundane, human process involved. It highlights the material, physical, and non-spiritual means of idol production.

• "For the customs of the peoples are futile": This opening phrase establishes the core thesis of the verse: the practices, specifically the religious customs of other nations, are inherently empty and without real value. The use of `hevel` ("futile" or "vanity") delivers a sharp, immediate judgment on the ultimate worthlessness of anything contrary to God's truth.
• "for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of a craftsman with an axe": This segment provides the concrete, logical reason why their customs are futile. It lays bare the simple, human, and material origin of the so-called "gods." By detailing the ordinary process – obtaining a tree from a natural forest, and a human craftsman using a common tool – the prophet dismantles any pretense of divinity, portraying idols as nothing more than products of human manufacture. It contrasts the spontaneous, divine creation of the true God with the labored, earthly creation of idols.

Jeremiah 10 3 Bonus section

• The Polemic's Strength: The strength of Jeremiah's argument here lies in its blunt demystification. Instead of abstract theological arguments, he grounds the critique of idolatry in a very practical, observable reality. This "ground-level" analysis makes the folly of idol worship inescapable.
• Contrasting Creation: The verse sets up an immediate contrast between divine creation (God, the unmade Maker) and human craftsmanship (man, the created maker of inanimate objects). A tree, itself part of God's creation, is irreverently repurposed into an object of worship, a profound irony.
• The Impersonal Nature of "One Cuts": The use of the indefinite "one" or "they cut" rather than a named individual, underlines that this is not an act of divine inspiration but a commonplace, human trade, highlighting the lack of a unique or sacred calling behind the making of idols.
• Idolatry as Self-Deception: By manufacturing their own deities, people effectively worship their own capabilities, ingenuity, and a reflection of human power, rather than the true sovereign power. This becomes a form of profound self-deception and misplaced reverence.

Jeremiah 10 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:3 vividly exposes the absurdity of idol worship by deconstructing its physical origin. It’s a masterful polemic against paganism, revealing that the "gods" worshipped by other nations are, quite literally, crafted objects born from mundane materials and human effort. The prophet doesn't just state that idolatry is wrong; he demonstrates why it's foolish by detailing the common steps of cutting a tree and shaping it with an axe. This description emphasizes the finite, human agency in creating what they then deem sacred. The use of "futile" (hevel) encapsulates the emptiness of practices centered on these man-made objects, which stand in stark contrast to the living, self-existent God who made the cosmos. The verse serves as a crucial reminder for Judah, and for all believers, that the object of our worship dictates the true worth and validity of our faith – we are called to worship the Creator, not the created, especially not the creation of human hands.