Jeremiah 10:5

Fear Faith Courage and strength

³ 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.

⁴ They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not 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 neither can they do any good.”

⁶ There is none like You, O LORD. You are great, and Your name is mighty in power.

⁷ Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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 neither can they do any good.”
KJV: 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.
WEB: They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak. They must be carried, because they can’t move. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
ASV: They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.
DARBY: They are as a palm-column of turned work, and they speak not; they are carried, for they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
BLB: They [are] like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, and they do not speak; They must be carried, because they can not step. You should not be afraid of them, for they can do no harm, and also to do good [is] not in them.”

ÅB: Som en dreiet søyle er de ting som blir laget, og de kan ikke tale; bæres må de; for de kan ikke gå! Frykt ikke for dem! For de kan ikke gjøre ondt, og å gjøre godt står heller ikke i deres makt.
OTB: De er som en fugleskremsel i en agurkåker, ute av stand til å tale; de må bæres fordi de ikke kan gå. Frykt dem ikke; de kan ikke gjøre noen skade, og heller ikke kan de gjøre noe godt.»
B1930: Som en dreiet søile er de ting som blir laget, og de kan ikke tale; bæres må de; for de kan ikke gå! Frykt ikke for dem! For de kan ikke gjøre ondt, og å gjøre godt står heller ikke i deres makt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 46:7
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
Read in context
Psalms 115:5–8
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
Read in context
Isaiah 41:23–24
Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 8:4
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
Read in context
Habakkuk 2:19
Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
Read in context
Psalms 135:16–18
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
Read in context
Isaiah 46:1
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
Read in context