Jeremiah 10:5

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

speak: Psalms 115:5-8, Psalms 135:16-18, Habakkuk 2:19, 1 Corinthians 12:2, Revelation 13:14, Revelation 13:15

be borne: Isaiah 46:1, Isaiah 46:7

do evil: Isaiah 41:23, Isaiah 41:24, Isaiah 44:9, Isaiah 44:10, Isaiah 45:20, 1 Corinthians 8:4

Reciprocal: Judges 6:31 - if he be 1 Kings 18:26 - no voice 2 Kings 17:7 - and had feared 2 Kings 17:35 - fear other gods 2 Chronicles 28:23 - sacrifice to them Song of Solomon 7:7 - thy stature Isaiah 16:12 - but Jeremiah 16:19 - wherein Zephaniah 1:12 - The Lord

Cross-References

Genesis 10:1
These are the generations of the sons of Noah—Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Children were born to them after the flood.

Genesis 10:9
He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it was said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Yahweh."

Genesis 10:20
These are the descendants of Ham, according to their families and their languages, in their lands, and in their nations.

Genesis 10:25
And to Eber two sons were born. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and the name of his brother was Joktan.

Psalms 72:10
Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute. Let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts,

Isaiah 24:15
Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, the name of Yahweh the God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.

Isaiah 40:15
Look! The nations are like a drop from a bucket, and they are counted like dust of the balances! Look! He weighs the islands like a thin covering.

Isaiah 41:5
The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble. They have drawn near, and they have come.

Isaiah 42:4
He will not grow faint, and he will not be broken until he has established justice in the earth. And the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Isaiah 42:10
Sing a new song to Yahweh; praise him from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea and that which fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

They are upright as the palm tree,.... Being nailed to a post, or fastened to a pillar, or set upon a pedestal, and so stand erect without bending any way; and are like a palm tree, which is noted for its uprightness; hence the church's stature is compared to it, Song of Solomon 7:7, here it is a sarcasm, and a bitter one:

but speak not; man, that is of an erect stature, in which he differs from other creatures, has the faculty of speech, which they that go upon four feet have not; but the idols of the Gentiles, though erect, have not the power of speaking a word; and therefore can give no answer to their worshippers; see Psalms 115:5,

they must needs be borne: or, "in carrying be carried" q; when being made they are fixed in the designed place, or are moved from place to place; they are then carried in men's arms, or on their shoulders:

because they cannot go; they have no life, and so are incapable of motion of themselves; they have feet, but walk not; and cannot arise and bestir themselves for the help of those that pray unto them,

Psalms 115:7,

be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil; that is, inflict judgment, cause drought, famine, or pestilence, or any other evil or calamity:

neither is it also in them to do good; to give rains and fruitful seasons, or bestow any favour, temporal or spiritual; see Jeremiah 14:21.

q נשוא ינשוא "portando portantur", Schmidt; "portabitur" Pagninus; "portabuntur", Montanus; "omnino portanda sunt", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They are upright ... - Rather, “They are like a palm tree of turned work, i. e.” like one of those stiff inelegant pillars, something like a palm tree, which may be seen in oriental architecture. Some translate thus: “They are like pillar’s in a garden of cucumbers, i. e.” like the blocks set up to frighten away the birds; but none of the ancient versions support this rendering.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 10:5. They are upright as the palm tree — As straight and as stiff as the trees out of which they are hewn.