Jeremiah 10:8 kjv
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Jeremiah 10:8 nkjv
But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
Jeremiah 10:8 niv
They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols.
Jeremiah 10:8 esv
They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!
Jeremiah 10:8 nlt
People who worship idols are stupid and foolish.
The things they worship are made of wood!
Jeremiah 10 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 10:14 | Every goldsmith is put to shame by the idols he makes; for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. | Jer 51:17-18 |
| Ps 115:4-7 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. | Ps 135:15-18; Isa 44:9-20; Dan 5:4, 23 |
| Isa 40:19-20 | What signifies an idol? A smith makes it, and a goldsmith melts down gold and casts it into images, and forges it with hammers. The one who is too weak to fashion it falls down; men give him silver to provide a strong metal. | Isa 44:12-17; 46:6-7 |
| Hab 2:18 | "What profit is an idol when its maker has fashioned it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For the maker trusts in his own handiwork in producing mute idols." | Ps 135:15-18; Jer 10:3-5, 8 |
| 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 of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are not gods." | Acts 17:29; Rom 1:21-23 |
| Ps 115:8 | Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. | Ps 135:18; Prov 26:4-5 |
| Isa 45:16 | They shame and disgrace themselves; the metalworkers too all of them go together into confusion. | Isa 41:11-12, 22-24 |
| Jer 50:38 | A drought is upon her waters, and she shall be dried up. For it is a land of images, and by their teraphim they go mad. | Jer 50:2; Jer 51:47 |
| Isa 41:23 | "Tell us what is to come, that we may know that you are gods; indeed, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed and utterly see it. | Isa 43:9-10; 48:5, 22 |
| Jer 2:11 | Has a nation changed its gods? —Yet they are no gods! But my people have changed my glory for that which is no gods. | Jer 16:20; Gal 4:8 |
| Ps 106:36 | They served their idols, which became a snare to them. | Ex 23:33; Josh 23:13; Judg 8:27 |
| Jer 10:1 | Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. | Jer 10:8 |
| Jer 10:9 | ships from Tarshish and is brought by merchants. It is pure blue and purple, the work of skilled artisans and of goldsmiths’ craft, and of a dyer’s skill. They are dressed in blue and purple, all of them the work of skilled workmen. | Isa 44:12; 45:16 |
| Jer 51:17 | Every goldsmith is put to shame by his images. For his cast idol is false, and there is no life in them. | Jer 10:14; Hab 2:18 |
| Isa 2:8 | Their land is also full of horses; and there is no end to their chariots. 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 is no end to their chariots. | Jer 50:35-38; Zeph 1:11-13 |
| Isa 2:20 | In that day man shall cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which he made to worship, to the moles and to the bats, | Isa 30:22; 31:7; Rev 9:20 |
| Ps 147:5 | Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; his understanding is beyond measure. | Ps 145:3; Job 5:9; Rom 11:33 |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | ...that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other god but one. | 1 Cor 6:4; Gal 4:8; 1 Thes 1:9 |
| Rom 1:22-23 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. | Ps 106:20; Jer 2:11 |
| Jer 10:5 | They are upright like a palm tree, but speak not; they must be carried, for they cannot go. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. | Jer 14:22; Ps 115:5-7 |
Jeremiah 10 verses
Jeremiah 10 8 Meaning
The verse emphasizes that wisdom and understanding cannot be found in idols. These objects are crafted by human hands and possess no inherent power or divine essence. Therefore, trusting in them is ultimately foolish and futile, contrasting sharply with the true wisdom that comes from God.
Jeremiah 10 8 Context
Jeremiah 10 is a prophetic oracle delivered by the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. The chapter contrasts the true God of Israel with the false gods of the surrounding nations and the idols crafted by human hands. The message is a stark warning against idolatry and a call to trust in the LORD alone. The surrounding verses (Jer 10:1-5, 9-11) describe the foolishness of worshipping idols, highlighting their immobility, inability to speak or act, and their false nature. Jeremiah 10:8 specifically emphasizes that the discernment of such falsehood and foolishness is a sign of genuine wisdom, which is unique to God. Historically, Judah was surrounded by nations that practiced various forms of idolatry, and the people of Israel themselves were prone to falling into these same practices. This chapter serves as a powerful polemic against these tendencies.
Jeremiah 10 8 Word Analysis
- kî (כִּי): This is a versatile Hebrew particle. Here, it functions as a conjunction meaning "for," "because," or "indeed," introducing the reason for the statement that follows or emphasizing its truth.
- tôv (טוֹב): This word means "good." In this context, it relates to the wisdom and discernment described as being inherent in the LORD.
- mĕlĕketh (מֶלֶכֶת): This is the feminine noun for "kingship" or "sovereignty." While unusual in this precise form, it implies the ruling power and inherent "goodness" or positive attribute.
- YHWH: This is the personal name of God, the Tetragrammaton. It is the most sacred and frequently used name for God in the Old Testament, denoting His covenant faithfulness and eternal existence.
- yāda‘ (יָדַע): A fundamental Hebrew verb meaning "to know," "to understand," "to be acquainted with." Here, it signifies a deep, relational knowledge and understanding.
- nâḇôn (נָבוֹן): An adjective meaning "discerning," "understanding," "intelligent." It denotes a capacity for sound judgment and comprehension.
- hēmmâh (הֵמָּה): The masculine plural pronoun "they" or "they themselves." It refers back to the idols mentioned in the preceding verses.
- taḥt (תַּחַת): A preposition meaning "under," "beneath." It suggests a state of being inferior or subordinate to the LORD's wisdom.
- yĕ‘ārîm (יְעָרִים): The plural of ya‘ar (יַעַר), meaning "forest." However, the King James Version renders this "men of the forest." Some translations interpret it more figuratively or acknowledge a possible textual variant. Considering the context of idols, "wild animals" or "forest creatures" is more aligned with the concept of untamed, inanimate beings that cannot possess true wisdom.
- ’ělôhîm (אֱלֹהִים): The plural noun for "God" or "gods." When referring to the LORD, it signifies His supreme power and plurality in nature (though understood as unity in person). When referring to idols, it highlights their multiplicity and ultimate falsity.
- yîṯîn (יִתֵּן): From the root nāṯan (נָתַן), meaning "to give." Here, it's in the Hiphil conjugation, meaning "to cause to be," or "to bestow." It conveys the active impartation of something.
- yĕ‘ulîm (יְעוּלִים): The plural of ya‘ûl (יָעוּל), which refers to an ibex or wild goat. This animal is known for its agility and ability to navigate rugged terrains. The implication is that even such creatures, which possess natural instincts and capabilities, do not impart wisdom to inanimate objects or beings. It represents the natural world as distinct from divine wisdom.
- nāṯan (נָתַן): Same root as yîṯîn. Here used again in the perfect tense, "he has given." It reinforces the idea that God, and not idols, is the source of wisdom.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "For a twofold evil has my people committed: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jer 2:13) - This verse echoes the sentiment that turning away from the LORD (the "fountain of living waters") for lesser, broken things is a profound error, paralleling the error of seeking wisdom from idols.
- "Who knows the mind of the LORD? Or who has been his counselor?" (Rom 11:34) - This question highlights the inimitable and supreme understanding of God, reinforcing that true wisdom originates solely from Him and cannot be understood or supplied by human creation.
- "The people walk in darkness, but they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit." (Matt 15:14) - This New Testament passage illustrates the utter futility and danger of relying on those who lack true spiritual discernment, mirroring the warning against trusting in lifeless idols.
Jeremiah 10 8 Bonus Section
The passage highlights the pervasive temptation for humanity to create a god in their own image or according to their own desires, rather than acknowledging and worshipping the true Creator. Idols represent a form of spiritual shortcut, an attempt to control or manipulate the divine rather than submitting to it. The emphasis on the workmanship of idols, as detailed in surrounding verses, underscores this human-centered approach, which is fundamentally opposed to God-centered worship. The verse can be practically understood as a reminder to critically evaluate the sources of our knowledge and guidance. Are we seeking wisdom from eternal truths and the divine, or from fleeting human constructs and materialistic pursuits?
Jeremiah 10 8 Commentary
Jeremiah 10:8 directly addresses the futility of seeking wisdom and understanding from idols. It asserts that these crafted objects are inherently devoid of any true insight. The LORD alone possesses true goodness and discerning wisdom; no idol, whether made of silver, gold, or carved wood, can impart this. The verse contrasts the inherent qualities of God with the manufactured nature of idols. God's wisdom is not something to be "given" or bestowed by earthly means; it is an attribute of His being. The text also draws a subtle distinction between God's true "kingship" (represented by mĕlĕketh) and the impotence of idols. The reference to "wild beasts" or "forest creatures" (yĕ‘ārîm and yĕ‘ulîm) suggests that even the natural world, with its instincts and behaviors, does not grant insight to idols. True wisdom comes from the LORD, who created all things. The inability of idols to provide anything of true value, compared to God who "gives" wisdom, is a core message.