Jeremiah 51:18 kjv
They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Jeremiah 51:18 nkjv
They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
Jeremiah 51:18 niv
They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish.
Jeremiah 51:18 esv
They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
Jeremiah 51:18 nlt
Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies!
On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.
Jeremiah 51 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 10:14 | "Every goldsmith is put to shame by the graven image; For his molded idol is false, And there is no breath in them." | Idolatry is foolishness |
| Jeremiah 10:8 | "But at the same time and together they are dense and foolish; The discipline of idols is wood." | Idols lack sense/understanding |
| Psalm 115:8 | "Those who make them become like them, So do the ignorant." | Becoming like what one worships |
| Psalm 97:7 | "Confounded be all those who serve graven images, Who boast in mere idols; Worship him, all you gods!" | Shame of idol worship |
| Isaiah 44:20 | "He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has led him astray. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" | Deception of idolatry |
| Isaiah 2:8 | "Their land is also full of horses, And there is no end to their chariots; Their land is also full of horses, And there is no end to their cavalry." | Dependence on earthly power |
| Isaiah 40:19-20 | "The smith crafts it, the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and the silversmith casts chains. He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that does not rot; he seeks out a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not totter." | Crafting of idols |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | "What profit is the idol when its maker has shaped it, or the metal image, a teacher of lies? For the maker trusts in his own handiwork when he makes mute idols." | Profitless nature of idols |
| 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 | "What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is sacrificed to idols is anything? No, but I say that what they sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to be sharing with demons." | What is sacrificed to idols |
| 1 Corinthians 8:4 | "Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, I know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one." | Idols are nothing |
| 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 inventiveness of man." | God is not like idols |
| Romans 1:21-23 | "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, animals, and creeping things." | Futility and foolishness |
| Jeremiah 50:38 | "A drought on her waters, and they will be dried up; For it is a land of idols, and they are fanatically devoted to frightful things." | Land of idols |
| Psalm 135:15-18 | "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them." | Characteristics of idols |
| Isaiah 44:9-10 | "Those who fashion idols are all of them futile, and their most cherished ornaments are worthless. They themselves bear witness on their behalf that they see nothing and know nothing, so that they may be put to shame." | Futility of idol makers |
| Jeremiah 46:26 | "I will give them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his forces." | Judgment on those who trust idols |
| Zechariah 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! A sword will strike his arm and his right eye! His arm will be completely withered, his right eye utterly blinded!” | False shepherds |
| Daniel 2:11 | "and speaking thus, you have offended God. And you will be thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. And they will speak to the king, 'May the king live forever!'" | False wisdom/claims |
| John 8:32 | "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." | Truth vs. Falsehood |
| 1 Timothy 6:20 | "O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the godless babble and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge," | Falsehood vs. True Knowledge |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 18 Meaning
This verse emphatically declares that all men are brutish and foolish, lacking true knowledge. Their idolatry is described as vanity, meaning it is empty, worthless, and ultimately a deception.
Jeremiah 51 18 Context
Jeremiah 51 prophesies the judgment against Babylon. Chapter 51:18 follows an indictment against Babylon for its idolatry and arrogance. Jeremiah has been prophesying during a period of intense geopolitical turmoil, with Babylon rising to prominence as a world power and a force of destruction against Judah. The imagery of Babylonian idols is presented as the embodiment of their false worship and the ultimate cause of their downfall. This verse speaks directly to the people of Judah, contrasting the perceived power of Babylonian gods with the power of Yahweh, their God, and the ultimate emptiness of all man-made idols. The surrounding verses continue to elaborate on the destruction Babylon will face.
Jeremiah 51 18 Word analysis
- Every:
- Implies universality and totality.
- There is no exception; the statement applies to all humanity.
- man:
- Refers to humankind in general, male and female.
- Highlights human nature and its inherent flaws.
- is:
- Simple statement of being; a declarative verb.
- brutish:
- Hebrew:
iwir( 'iyır ) - Meaning: Senseless, stupid, stupidly senseless.
- Significance: Lacking reason, like a dumb animal; unthinking, oblivious.
- Reflects an absence of divine discernment or understanding.
- Hebrew:
- and:
- Connects the descriptor "brutish" with the following descriptor.
- foolish:
- Hebrew:
kisiyl( kîsîyl ) - Meaning: Fool, dullard, stupid person.
- Significance: Characterized by folly or lack of wisdom; foolishness rooted in an inability to grasp or apply true knowledge, especially divine truth.
- Often associated with a deliberate turning away from God's instruction.
- Hebrew:
- withers:
- Hebrew:
yabbash( yâbaš ) - Meaning: To be dry, dried up, withered.
- Significance: Represents decay, lifelessness, and fruitlessness.
- Implies a withering away of what is unnatural or unsupported by truth.
- Hebrew:
- himself:
- Reflexive pronoun; the action is directed back onto the subject.
- for:
- Indicates cause or reason.
- his:
- Possessive pronoun, referring to "man".
- learning:
- Hebrew:
muwsar( mûsâr ) - Meaning: Discipline, instruction, correction, chastening.
- Significance: Refers to training and education, but in this context, it's the lack or perversion of divine instruction and wisdom that leads to foolishness. It implies an education devoid of God.
- The Septuagint renders this as "ignorance" or "unwisdom".
- Hebrew:
- is:
- Simple statement of being.
- vain:
- Hebrew:
habel( hăḇāl ) - Meaning: Vapor, vanity, emptiness, nothingness, futile.
- Significance: Describes something that is without substance, purpose, or effect. In the context of idols, it means they are non-entities, powerless, and illusory.
- The word also carries the sense of a "breath" or "puff of wind," highlighting ephemeral and unsubstantial nature.
- It connects directly to the futility of idolatry described throughout Scripture.
- Hebrew:
Jeremiah 51 18 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "brutish" ('iyır) is unique and potent, emphasizing an almost animal-like lack of discernment. The repetition of the idea of emptiness or vanity through the word "vain" (habel) powerfully underscores the utter worthlessness of idolatry. This verse functions as a thematic cornerstone for much of Jeremiah's message concerning the consequences of spiritual infidelity. It foreshadows a future where true knowledge (John 8:32, 1 Timothy 6:20) would be revealed, contrasting sharply with the "vain" pursuits of fallen humanity. The connection to "having no breath in them" from other passages about idols (Ps 115:5-7) is also implicit here; they are lifeless objects incapable of imparting life or truth.
Jeremiah 51 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 51:18 is a stark pronouncement on the universal condition of humanity apart from God. It states that all people, by their very nature, exhibit foolishness and lack true understanding, particularly concerning spiritual matters. This foolishness is directly linked to their worship and the trust they place in idols. Idols are called "vain" or "emptiness," signifying their powerlessness and lack of any real substance or truth. Those who create and worship them are described as brutish and foolish, having rejected God's discipline and instruction for man-made devices. This passage critiques not just the physical act of idol worship but the entire mindset that substitutes created things or human inventions for the Creator. It suggests a fundamental disconnection from truth, leading to a life devoid of true meaning or purpose. The "learning" or "instruction" that is "vain" refers to the education and knowledge pursued in isolation from God, which ultimately yields no lasting value and leads to spiritual decay.