Jeremiah 10:3
1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 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.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.
- ASV
- For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.
- DARBY
- For the statutes of the peoples are vanity; for [it is] a tree cut out of the forest, worked with a chisel by the hands of the artizan;
- BLB
- For the customs of the peoples are vanity! For one cuts [down] a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of a craftsman, with the ax.
- ÅB
- For folkenes skikker er tomhet. De feller et tre i skogen, og treskjæreren lager det til med øksen;
- OTB
- For folkenes skikker er forgjeves; de hugger tre fra skogen, en håndverker former det med et verktøy.
- B1930
- For folkenes skikker er tomhet. De feller et tre i skogen, og treskjæreren lager det til med øksen;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Read in contextIsaiah 44:9–20
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Read in contextLeviticus 18:30
Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.
Read in contextJeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Read in contextRomans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Read in contextMatthew 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Read in contextIsaiah 45:20
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Read in context1 Kings 18:26–28
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
Read in context