Logos Bible Study

Jeremiah 10:3–6

The NET BibleOther versions

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10:3For the religion4 of these people is worthless.

They cut down a tree in the forest,

and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.5

10:4He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold.

He uses hammer and nails to fasten it6 together

so that it will not fall over.

10:5Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field.

They cannot talk.

They must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not be afraid of them

because they cannot hurt you.

And they do not have any power to help you.”7

10:6I said,8

“There is no one like you, Lord.9

You are great.

And you are renowned for your power.10

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Footnotes

  1. 4 Heb “statutes.” According to 350 חֻקָּה 2.b it refers to the firmly established customs or practices of the pagan nations. Compare the usage in Lev 20:23; 2 Kgs 17:8. Here it is essentially equivalent to דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) in v. 1, which has already been translated “religious practices.”
  2. 5 This passage is dripping with sarcasm. It begins by talking about the “statutes” of the pagan peoples as a “vapor” using a singular copula and singular predicate. Then it suppresses the subject, the idol, as though it were too horrible to mention, using only the predications about it. The last two lines read literally: “[it is] a tree which one cuts down from the forest; the work of the hands of a craftsman with his chisel.”
  3. 6 The pronoun is plural in Hebrew, referring to the parts.
  4. 7 Heb “And it is not in them to do good either.”
  5. 8 The words “I said” are not in the Hebrew text, but there appears to be a shift in speaker. Someone is now addressing the Lord. The likely speaker is Jeremiah, so the words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
  6. 9 The form that introduces this line has raised debate. The form מֵאֵין (me’en) normally means “without” and introduces a qualification of a term expressing desolation or “so that not” and introduces a negative result (cf. 35 II אַיִן 6.b). Neither of these nuances fit either this verse or the occurrence in v. 7. 35 II אַיִן 6.b.γ notes that some have explained this as a strengthened form of אַיִן (’ayin) which occurs in a similar phrase five other times (cf., e.g., 1 Kgs 8:23). Though many including question the validity of this solution it is probably better than the suggestion that gives of repointing to מֵאַיִן (me’ayin, “whence”), which scarcely fits the context of v. 7, or the solution of I אַיִן, which suggests that the ם (mem) is a double writing (dittograph) of the final consonant from the preceding word. That would assume that the scribe made the same error twice or was influenced the second time by the first erroneous writing.
  7. 10 Heb “Great is your name in power.”

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

A tree from the forest is cut down

and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

They decorate it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so that it cannot move.

Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,

and they cannot speak;

they have to be carried,

for they cannot walk.

Do not be afraid of them,

for they cannot do evil,

neither is it in them to do good.”

There is none like you, O Lord;

you are great, and your name is great in might.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For the practices of the peoples are worthless;

they cut a tree out of the forest,

and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

They adorn it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so it will not totter.

Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,

their idols cannot speak;

they must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them;

they can do no harm

nor can they do any good.”

No one is like you, Lord;

you are great,

and your name is mighty in power.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

for the customs of the peoples are worthless.

Someone cuts down a tree from the forest;

it is worked by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.

He decorates it with silver and gold.

It is fastened with hammer and nails,

so it won’t totter.

Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,

their idols cannot speak.

They must be carried because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them for they can do no harm—

and they cannot do any good.

Lord, there is no one like you.

You are great;

your name is great in power.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

Their ways are futile and foolish.

They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.

They decorate it with gold and silver

and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails

so it won’t fall over.

Their gods are like

helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field!

They cannot speak,

and they need to be carried because they cannot walk.

Do not be afraid of such gods,

for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.”

Lord, there is no one like you!

For you are great, and your name is full of power.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For the statutes of the peoples are vanity,

for it is a tree cut down from the forest,

the work of the hands of a craftsman with the tool.

He decorates it with silver and gold,

they strengthen it with nails and hammers,

so that it does not stagger.

They are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,

they cannot speak.

Indeed, they must be carried,

for they cannot march.

You must not be afraid of them,

for they cannot do evil;

furthermore, to do good is not in them.”

There is none like you, O Yahweh,

you are great and your name is great in might.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

Public Domain