Jeremiah 16:20
18 And I will first repay them double their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and they have filled My inheritance with their abominations.”
19 O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.
Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!”
21 “Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.
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
- Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!”
- KJV
- Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
- WEB
- Should a man make to himself gods which yet are no gods?”
- ASV
- Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?
- DARBY
- Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no-gods?
- BLB
- Can man make gods for himself? And they [are] not gods!”
- ÅB
- Skal et menneske gjøre seg guder? De er jo ikke guder.
- OTB
- Kan et menneske lage guder for seg selv? Men de er ikke guder!
- B1930
- Skal et menneske gjøre sig guder? De er jo ikke guder.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 115:4–8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:19
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.
Read in contextGalatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Read in contextActs 19:26
And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
Read in contextIsaiah 36:19
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
Read in contextJeremiah 2:11
Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
Read in contextPsalms 135:14–18
For the LORD will vindicate His people and will have compassion on His servants.
Read in contextHosea 8:4–6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
Read in context