Jeremiah 10 4

Jeremiah 10:4 kjv

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Jeremiah 10:4 nkjv

They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple.

Jeremiah 10:4 niv

They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.

Jeremiah 10:4 esv

They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.

Jeremiah 10:4 nlt

They decorate it with gold and silver
and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails
so it won't fall over.

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 4 Meaning

Jeremiah 10:4 vividly describes the making of an idol, highlighting human effort and the use of precious materials to craft a lifeless object. The verse portrays the careful and laborious process of covering a carved wooden figure with silver and gold, then securing it firmly with hammers and nails. The intent is to prevent the man-made deity from falling or moving, thereby satirically revealing its inherent powerlessness and dependence on human hands for its very existence and stability. It underscores the futility of worshipping something that needs to be anchored by its creators.

Jeremiah 10 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 10 is a powerful and direct polemic against the idolatry practiced by the nations surrounding Judah, and by Judah itself, which had adopted these pagan customs. Verses 1-16 specifically draw a sharp contrast between the "way of the nations" and the singular glory of Yahweh, the true God of Israel. While Jeremiah 10:3 describes the initial carving of a "log" from a forest, verse 4 meticulously details the subsequent steps: decorating the carved image and then mechanically fastening it. This whole section is part of Jeremiah's prophetic message delivered during a tumultuous time when Judah was grappling with spiritual declension, facing the imminent threat of Babylonian exile, and needed to remember the one true God amidst the allure of foreign gods. The chapter intends to shake the people out of their syncretistic practices and return to exclusive worship of Yahweh by exposing the absurdity and impotence of idols.

Jeremiah 10 4 Word analysis

• They adorn it: The Hebrew וַיְיַפֵּהוּ (vayyyapēhū), from the root יָפָה (yafah), means 'to make beautiful,' 'to adorn,' 'to beautify.' This highlights the superficial aesthetic appeal and the human effort to make the inert object visually pleasing, mimicking something worthy of reverence.

• with silver and gold: Hebrew בְּכֶסֶף וּבְזָהָב (b'keseph uv'zahav). These are valuable, earthly materials, highly esteemed by humans. Their use on the idol ironically elevates human creations by investing them with preciousness, rather than the intrinsic value of a divine being. This choice of materials makes the idols appear opulent but does not impart life or power.

• they fasten it: The Hebrew יְחַזְּק֙וּהוּ֙ (yechazz'quhu) from the root חָזַק (chazaq), means 'to strengthen,' 'to make firm,' 'to secure.' It emphasizes the physical, laborious act required by humans to provide stability to an otherwise unstable, inanimate object. This term clearly implies the idol's natural tendency to be weak or topple without intervention.

• with hammers and nails: Hebrew בְּמַקָּבוֹת וּבְמַסְמְרֹֽות (b'maq'qavot uv'masm'rot). These are tools of human craftsmanship and manual labor. Their mention underscores that the idol's stability is not inherent but entirely dependent on the strength of human construction and the application of physical mechanics.

• so that it will not totter: The Hebrew לֹא יִתְמוֹטָט (lo yitmōtat) from מוֹט (mōt), meaning 'to totter,' 'to shake,' 'to sway,' 'to fall.' This phrase reveals the ultimate vulnerability of the idol. It cannot stand on its own. Its inability to maintain stability without external fastening is a stark contrast to the immovable, unshakeable nature of the true God.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They adorn it with silver and gold": This phrase details the cosmetic enhancements applied to the idol. It suggests a focus on outward appearance and human perceived value, reflecting a superficial understanding of divinity. It also highlights the misallocation of precious resources to inanimate objects rather than to glorifying the Creator or caring for His creation.
  • "they fasten it with hammers and nails": This emphasizes the sheer physicality and engineering required to make the idol "stand." It strips away any illusion of inherent power or divine intervention, exposing the entire process as a mere human construction project. The act of "fastening" fundamentally implies instability and the idol's dependence on its human makers.
  • "so that it will not totter": This culminating phrase serves as the punchline of the polemic. It humorously and ironically reveals the idol's profound weakness. Far from being a source of stability or power, the idol itself is inherently unstable, incapable of self-support, and entirely reliant on human craftsmanship to remain upright. It mocks the idea of seeking stability from something that cannot even stand on its own.

Jeremiah 10 4 Bonus section

This verse, along with the surrounding passages (especially Isa 44 and Ps 115), illustrates the prophet's use of a literary device known as polemical satire. By describing the process of idol-making in such a mundane and almost ridiculous fashion, Jeremiah intends to expose the sheer irrationality of worshipping such an object. The idol is crafted by human hands from a tree, covered with human wealth, and fixed by human tools – it's a testament to humanity's endeavors, not divinity. The need for hammers and nails subtly critiques the perceived "firmness" or "solidity" attributed to these deities; their stability is not a reflection of their power, but of their construction. This message carries over into New Testament warnings against spiritual idolatry, which might manifest as placing trust or ultimate value in anything other than God, whether it be wealth, power, or human wisdom (e.g., Col 3:5 on covetousness as idolatry). The idol requiring stabilization also symbolically represents anything people cling to for security or comfort that ultimately has no true power to sustain them.

Jeremiah 10 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:4 presents a withering critique of idolatry, laying bare its fundamental absurdity. The painstaking process described – from embellishing with expensive metals to meticulously securing it with tools – mocks the effort invested in objects devoid of life or inherent power. It's a stark commentary on misplaced worship, demonstrating that idols owe their form, beauty, and even stability entirely to their human creators. This contrasts sharply with the true God, Yahweh, who is the self-existent, sovereign Creator, requiring no human support or embellishment. The idol's need for fastening epitomizes its impotence; it is not merely powerless but also physically fragile and unstable. This serves as a vital lesson that true divine power lies not in human craft or costly materials, but in an intrinsic, self-sustaining nature.