Jeremiah 51:17 kjv
Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
Jeremiah 51:17 nkjv
Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by the carved image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them.
Jeremiah 51:17 niv
"Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
Jeremiah 51:17 esv
Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.
Jeremiah 51:17 nlt
The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge!
The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make,
for their carefully shaped works are a fraud.
These idols have no breath or power.
Jeremiah 51 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 10:14 | Every goldsmith is put to shame by the idols he has made; they are false and have no breath in them. | God's judgment on idol makers |
| Jeremiah 51:18 | They are worthless and a laughable product; they will be destroyed when their time comes. | Idols are destined for destruction |
| Psalm 115:4-8 | But the idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot handle, feet, but cannot walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. | Parallels the description of idols |
| Isaiah 44:9-20 | Details the foolishness of idol worship and the making of idols. | Extended critique of idolatry |
| Romans 1:22 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. | Futility of human thinking apart from God |
| 1 Corinthians 8:4 | …that there is no god but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. | Affirmation of one true God |
| Ephesians 4:17-18 | So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. | Spiritual blindness of unbelievers |
| Acts 17:29 | Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. | God is not like human creations |
| 1 Kings 18:26-29 | Account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, highlighting the powerlessness of idols. | Demonstrates the impotence of idols |
| Psalm 96:5 | For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. | Contrast between idols and the Creator |
| Jeremiah 2:5-6 | God asks: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves." | Link between idol worship and spiritual worthlessness |
| John 14:6 | Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” | The unique path to God |
| Isaiah 40:28 | Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not faint or be weary; his understanding is unsearchable. | The incomprehensible knowledge of God |
| Acts 14:15 | ...saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” | Turning from idols to the living God |
| 1 Samuel 12:21 | Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit or save, for they are worthless. | Warning against useless idols |
| Psalm 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. | Repeats the theme of idol foolishness |
| Romans 2:20 | ...an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the defenseless, who has the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law. | Law as a source of true knowledge |
| James 3:15 | This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, even demonic. | False wisdom originating from lower sources |
| Jeremiah 8:9 | The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and snared; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, and in them is no wisdom. | Wisdom rejected is wisdom lost |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | "What profit is an idol when its maker has carved it, or an image that teaches lies? When the maker trusts in his own creation to make mute idols..." | Idols teach lies and profit nothing |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 17 Meaning
This verse declares that all humanity is foolish, lacking true knowledge and understanding of God. Their idols, crafted from vanity and unable to perform miracles, are their teachers. This foolishness leads to their downfall and destruction, contrasted with the ultimate reign of the eternal God.
Jeremiah 51 17 Context
Jeremiah 51 continues God's judgment against Babylon for its wickedness and oppression. The preceding verses detail Babylon's impending destruction. This specific verse serves as a declaration from God, emphasizing the profound ignorance and folly of the nations who practice idolatry, particularly the Babylonians. It highlights their reliance on lifeless idols instead of the true, living God who created all things. This prophetic declaration is delivered to the people of Judah, reminding them of the error of idolatry and reinforcing God's sovereignty.
Jeremiah 51 17 Word Analysis
- Every man (אִישׁ֒, ish): Individually, every person, emphasizing universality.
- is (חָכָ֔ם, chakam): rendered "is" from chakam, meaning to be wise, skillful, or prudent. Here it implies a claim or appearance of wisdom.
- senseless (נָבָ֖ל, naval): Base, foolish, degenerate, stupid. Describes one who acts without regard for God or wisdom.
- and (וְ֠, ve): Conjunction.
- put (בּ֔וֹשׁ, bush): rendered "put" from bush, meaning to be ashamed, confused, confounded.
- to shame (אֱלֹהָ֑יו, Elohav): His gods. This is a genitive construction following bush (ashamed) meaning "ashamed of his gods."
- by (מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה, ma'aseh): The work, doings, or creation.
- his (יָדָ֔יו, yadav): His hands.
- idols (יְצ֣וּר, yetzur): Sculptured or formed image. Refers to idols that are fashioned.
- for (כִּֽי־, ki-: Because, for.
- they (מַסֵּ֣ךְ, massek: A cast image or idol.
- are (אֵֽין־, ein-): There is not, not.
- a (בָּהֶם֙, bahem: In them, concerning them.
- molten (ר֛וּחַ, ruach): Spirit, wind, breath. Referring to the lack of animating spirit.
- image (וְאֵין־, ve'ein-): And there is not.
- and (יֵשֵׁן֙, yeshen): Sleeping, dormant. Emphasizing lifelessness.
- in (י֔וֹמֹת, yomot): Days. Refers to the appointed time or duration.
- them (בְּעֵ֤ת, b'et): In the time of their visitation or judgment.
- there (יִשָּׁמֵ֥ד, yishmaded): Will be destroyed, ruined.
- is (אֹ֑רֶךְ, orech): Length. Referring to a long or enduring presence.
- no (מַרְאֵֽה־, mar'eh-): Appearance, form.
- life (חַ֔יִים, chayim): Life, lives.
- breath (חֲבָלִ֖ים, chavalim): Bonds, destruction, ruin. Referring to the state of the idols and their followers.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Every man is senseless and put to shame by his idols": This phrase directly links foolishness (naval) with the shame (bush) caused by reliance on idols (elohav, yetzur). The idols, products of human hands (ma'aseh yadav), cannot prevent this shame.
- "for they are molten images, and there is no breath in them": This highlights the fundamental flaw of idols – their manufactured, lifeless nature (massek, ruach). They are not living beings, possessing neither intelligence nor the power to act or save.
- "They are worthless, and a laughable product": The idols are described as futile (ein-) and a mere fabrication (yetzur). The implication is that they are comical in their supposed divinity.
- "In the time of their visitation they will be destroyed": This points to divine judgment. The idols and those who worship them will face destruction (yishmaded) when God chooses to act (b'et, yomot), signifying the end of their temporary "existence."
Jeremiah 51 17 Bonus Section
The phrase "no breath in them" (ein ruach bahem) carries significant theological weight. In Hebrew thought, ruach can represent spirit, wind, or breath, often associated with life and divine power. Idols, by lacking ruach, are shown to be utterly dead and powerless, starkly contrasting with Yahweh, who breathes life into creation and into His prophets (Ezekiel 37). This verse anticipates the coming of the Messiah, who is described as having the "spirit of the LORD" resting upon Him (Isaiah 11:2) and through whom true spiritual life is given. The ultimate vanity of idols is further emphasized by the New Testament teaching that true worship is "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
Jeremiah 51 17 Commentary
Jeremiah powerfully indicts idolatry by exposing its inherent folly. The creators and worshippers of idols are "senseless" because they have exchanged the knowledge of the eternal God for lifeless creations of their own hands. The idols, whether cast (massek) or merely fashioned (yetzur), are devoid of any true spirit (ruach) or life (chayim). They cannot see, hear, speak, or act, making them utterly worthless. Their ultimate destiny is destruction (yishmaded), a fate that reflects the ultimate ruin brought upon those who place their trust in them. This verse serves as a stark warning against false worship, underscoring that true wisdom and life are found only in the Creator.