Jeremiah 51:19 kjv
The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
Jeremiah 51:19 nkjv
The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things; And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The LORD of hosts is His name.
Jeremiah 51:19 niv
He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including the people of his inheritance? the LORD Almighty is his name.
Jeremiah 51:19 esv
Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.
Jeremiah 51:19 nlt
But the God of Israel is no idol!
He is the Creator of everything that exists,
including his people, his own special possession.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies is his name!
Jeremiah 51 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 10:14 | Every goldsmith is put to shame by the idols he has made. | Echoes folly of idols |
| Isaiah 44:9 | Those who make idols are all put to shame, they who craft them. | Parallels inability of idols |
| Isaiah 44:12 | The smith with the hammer hardens it... but all of them are speechless. | Emphasizes lack of life |
| Isaiah 44:17 | and the rest he makes into a god, his idol; and he falls down. | Shows the creator's delusion |
| Isaiah 45:16 | They are all of them ashamed and humiliated. | Unified shame of idol makers |
| Psalms 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. | Describes material of idols |
| Psalms 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of man's hands. | Confirms man's creation |
| Daniel 2:11 | "There is no other god who can show this to you." | God's uniqueness contrasted |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | "What profit is a carved image, that its maker has carved it?" | Questions value of idols |
| Isaiah 2:18 | The idols He will completely abolish. | Prophetic declaration |
| Jeremiah 10:5 | They cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot move. | Highlights lack of mobility |
| 1 Corinthians 8:4 | ...there is no god but one. | New Testament parallel |
| 1 Corinthians 10:19 | What am I implying then that a sacrifice made to an idol is significant, or that the idol itself is significant? | Paul's rhetorical question |
| Romans 1:22-23 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man... | Links wisdom to idolatry |
| Deuteronomy 4:16-17 | lest you corrupt yourselves and make for yourselves an idol in the form of any figure... | God's command against images |
| Isaiah 40:19-20 | Who made him a god or cast an idol and not be ashamed? | Repetitive questioning |
| Jeremiah 51:17 | They are all brutish and foolish; they are all void of wisdom. | Judgment on the nation |
| Jeremiah 51:18 | ...the people of Hamath and Arpad; they are all void of wisdom. | Specific examples |
| Acts 17:29 | ...we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, or an image carved by man's art and design. | Apostolic teaching |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 19 Meaning
The portion of God's judgment declared by Jeremiah pronounces that any who craft images are fools, their molten images are useless, and these idols have no spirit or life within them. They are inherently worthless and destined for ruin.
Jeremiah 51 19 Context
Jeremiah 51 is a chapter that contains a prophecy of judgment against Babylon. The chapter details the devastation and ruin that will befall the mighty city of Babylon, described as a "cup of fury" poured out upon the nations. Within this broader prophecy of destruction for an unfaithful nation, Jeremiah is also addressing the pervasive issue of idolatry prevalent in ancient near-eastern societies, including Babylon itself. The prophet emphasizes the emptiness and powerlessness of these false gods as a contrast to the sovereign power of the true God, Yahweh. The audience of this prophecy would have included the people of Judah, whom God was using to judge these nations, and implicitly, all people living under the oppressive rule of such kingdoms.
Jeremiah 51 19 Word Analysis
- Every (כֹּל): Indicates universality or totality.
- goldsmith: Refers to a craftsman who works with gold.
- ashamed: Signifies disgrace, confusion, or embarrassment, highlighting the futility of their efforts.
- by: Indicates the means or agency through which shame is brought.
- the idols: Refers to images or representations of deities, which are considered false gods.
- which he has made: Emphasizes that these objects are man-made, artificial creations.
- their molten images: Specifically refers to idols cast from melted metal.
- are a lie: Asserts that these images are fundamentally untrue and deceptive representations of divine power.
- and there is no breath in them: Crucially states that these idols lack any animating spirit or life force, highlighting their inherent lifelessness.
Group Analysis:
- "Every goldsmith ... by the idols which he has made" – This collective phrase points to the universal failure of those who labor to create religious artifacts, highlighting the inherent worthlessness of their products.
- "Their molten images ... breath in them" – This grouping stresses the artificial nature and absolute lifelessness of these fabricated deities, contrasting them with the living God who breathes life into creation.
Jeremiah 51 19 Bonus Section
The concept of idols having "no breath in them" is central to distinguishing true divinity from human invention. This emphasizes that God is the ultimate source of life itself (Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4), a quality utterly absent in the objects people fashion. The condemnation of idolatry extends beyond mere physical statues to any misplaced trust or devotion that takes God's rightful place in a person's life, whether it be wealth, power, or even relationships. The prophet's message serves as a timeless reminder of the imperative to direct all worship and devotion to the living God alone.
Jeremiah 51 19 Commentary
This verse starkly contrasts the impotent idols of pagan nations with the power and truth of the one true God. The craftsmanship and material investment in creating these images are ultimately exposed as futile, as they are merely dead creations of human hands, devoid of any divine essence or ability. The shame associated with these idols underscores the folly of worshiping that which is not God. True wisdom, as illuminated throughout Scripture, lies in recognizing and worshipping the Creator who gives life and sustains all things.