Jeremiah 10:16

Lexham English Bible

Contextual Overview

¹ Hear the word that Yahweh speaks to you, O house of Israel. ² Thus says Yahweh: "You must not learn the way of the nations, and you must not be dismayed by the signs of the heavens, for the nations are dismayed by them. ³ 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. ⁴ He decorates it with silver and gold, they strengthen it with nails and hammers, so that it does not stagger. ⁵ 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." ⁶ There is none like you, O Yahweh, you are great and your name is great in might. ⁷ Who would not revere you, O king of the nations? For you it is fitting. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like you. ⁸ At the same time they are stupid and foolish, in the instruction of idols, it is wood. ⁹ Silver beaten from Tarshish is brought, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman and the hands of the goldsmith. Blue and purple are their clothing, all of them are the work of skillful people. ¹⁰ But Yahweh is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king. Because of his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his anger.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

portion: Jeremiah 51:19, Psalms 16:5, Psalms 16:6, Psalms 73:26, Psalms 119:57, Psalms 142:5, Lamentations 3:24

former: Jeremiah 10:12, Proverbs 16:4, Isaiah 45:7

Israel: Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 32:9, Psalms 74:2, Psalms 135:4, Isaiah 47:6

The Lord: Jeremiah 31:35, Jeremiah 32:18, Jeremiah 50:34, Isaiah 47:4, Isaiah 51:15, Isaiah 54:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:1 - Thus Exodus 15:11 - like unto thee Exodus 34:9 - take us 1 Samuel 10:1 - his inheritance 2 Samuel 22:32 - For who 1 Kings 8:23 - no God 1 Kings 8:53 - thine inheritance 2 Chronicles 6:14 - no God 2 Chronicles 32:13 - were the gods Psalms 28:9 - bless Psalms 33:12 - his own Psalms 86:8 - Among Psalms 94:14 - forsake Isaiah 40:18 - General Isaiah 46:5 - General Isaiah 48:2 - The Lord Jeremiah 27:4 - Thus Amos 4:13 - The Lord Zechariah 2:12 - inherit Galatians 4:7 - heir Hebrews 11:3 - faith

Cross-References

Judges 1:21
But the descendants of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived among the descendants of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

2 Samuel 24:18
Then Gad came to David on that same day and said to him, "Go up and erect an altar to Yahweh at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

Zechariah 9:7
I will remove its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth. And it too will be a remnant for our God; and it will be like a tribal chief in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusite.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The portion of Jacob is not like them,.... Like those idols, vain, and the work of errors, or shall perish; even the true God, who is the portion of his people, of Jacob, whom he has chosen and redeemed; who call themselves by the name of Jacob, and are Israelites indeed, and plain hearted ones; and who have seen the insufficiency of all other portions, and the excellency of this; for there is none like it, none so large, so rich, so satisfying, and so durable; for God is the portion of his, in all the perfections of his nature, which all, some way or other, are for their good and advantage; and in all his persons, and under every character; even all he has is theirs, now and hereafter:

for he is the former of all things: which idols are not, being the maker of creatures themselves; wherefore the Creator must be a better portion than they; and as he has all things at his dispose, he bestows them on his people, and they cannot want:

and Israel is the rod of his inheritance; chosen and possessed by him, and dear unto him; and wonderful this is, that on the one side he should be the portion of his people; and, on the other, that they should be his portion and his inheritance, when so few in number, and despised by and among men, and but sinful dust and ashes; and especially when what follows is considered:

the Lord of hosts is his name: his title is the Lord of armies, above and below; he rules both in heaven and in earth, and has the inhabitants of both worlds, angels and men, at his command; and yet he chooses a handful of people to be his possession and inheritance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The portion, of Jacob - i. e., Yahweh. He is not like gods made by a carpenter and goldsmith.

Of all things - literally, of the all, the universe.

The rod of his inheritance - See Psalms 74:2; compare Isaiah 63:17. The rod is the scepter, and Israel the people over whom Yahweh especially rules.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 10:16. The Portion of Jacob is not like them — Every nation had its tutelary god; this was its portion; in reference to this God says Deuteronomy 4:19, "He has divided the sun, moon, and stars, to all the nations under the heaven." And the Lord had taken the Israelites to be his portion; for "the Lord's portion is his people," Deuteronomy 32:9, and David says, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance," Psalms 16:5; Psalms 119:57. And hence Isaiah terms the smooth stones of the brook, to which Divine honours were paid, the portion of those idolaters, Isaiah 57:6. But in the text he says, "The PORTION, i.e., the God of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things," and they are formed by their foolish worshippers.