BOOK 24 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah book home•Chapter 10 of 52•25 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Jeremiah 10 Overview

Jeremiah contrasts powerless handmade idols with the living Creator-King, warns that Judah’s coming upheaval is deserved, and ends with a prayer for measured correction rather than annihilating anger.

JeremiahBook

10Chapter

25Verses

Major ProphetsDivision

Before you read Jeremiah 10

Coming from

Jeremiah wishes for tears enough to mourn Judah’s deceit, violence, and adultery; the LORD announces judgment, professional mourners are summoned, and the chapter ends by redefining true boasting as knowing the LORD who delights in lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness.

In this chapter

Leads into

Jeremiah proclaims the covenant curses against a people who refuse the words given at the exodus, exposes a conspiracy of idolatry throughout Judah, and learns that men of his own hometown Anathoth are plotting to kill him.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter places idolatry within the approaching national crisis. Foreign customs appear impressive, but idols cannot speak, move, create, or control history.

The interpretive center of Jeremiah 10 is the chapter’s own movement: the living god is incomparable to idols. Read its poetry, signs, historical references, and later biblical connections from that center rather than treating isolated phrases as detached slogans.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

The living God is incomparable to idols

He made heaven and earth, rules as King, and controls creation.

Idolatry reverses the Creator-creature order

Humans shape objects and then fear or trust what they made.

Correction can be requested as disciplined mercy

Jeremiah asks the LORD to correct in judgment or measure, not in consuming anger.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Psalm 115:4-8

The psalm likewise mocks idols with mouths, eyes, ears, and feet that cannot function.

Acts 17:24-29

Paul contrasts the Creator with images shaped by art and human imagination.

Isaiah 44:9-20

Isaiah’s extended idol satire closely parallels Jeremiah’s argument.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use 'learn not the way of the heathen' as proof that every non-Israelite cultural custom is sinful.

The immediate subject is idolatrous religious practice and omens.

Do not read the decorated-tree verses as a direct description of modern Christmas trees.

The text describes shaping and adorning an idol that is then treated as a god.

Read Jeremiah 10 watching for…

fear of heavenly signs

the handmade idol

the living God and everlasting King

the coming upheaval

Jeremiah’s prayer for measured correction

Chapter outline2 sections

1-16Israel must not learn heathen ways; idols are powerless, but the LORD is the true and living God 17-25Judah is told to gather for exile, and Jeremiah prays for correction and judgment on the nations

Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

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

They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

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.

Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.

Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.

My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

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Jeremiah 10:13

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