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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-16

The prophet Isaiah, when he prophesied of the captivity in Babylon, added warnings against idolatry and largely exposed the sottishness of idolaters, not only because the temptations in Babylon would be in danger of drawing the Jews there to idolatry, but because the afflictions in Babylon were designed to cure them of their idolatry. Thus the prophet Jeremiah here arms people against the idolatrous usages and customs of the heathen, not only for the use of those that had gone to Babylon, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:8

But they are altogether brutish and foolish ,.... In comparison of the Lord, there is no knowledge and wisdom in them, this is a certain fact; they are verily brutish and foolish; or they are one and all so, there is not a wise man among them: or, "in one thing they are brutish" F18 ובאחת יבערו "in hoc uno Munster", Tigurine version; "et certe in una quadem re obbrutescunt", Piscator. So Jarchi and Abarbinel. , &c.; namely, in their idolatry; however wise they may be in other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:9

Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish ,.... In Cilicia, where the Apostle Paul was born; according to Josephus, as Jerom says, it was a country in India. The Targum renders it, from Africa, and calls it silver "rolled up", or "covered"; so the Vulgate Latin; such was beaten with a hammer into plates, and might be rolled up for better convenience of shipment; and with which they covered and decked their idols, to make them look glittering and pompous, and command some awe and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:10

But the Lord is the true God ,.... In opposition to all nominal and fictitious deities, which are not by nature God, only by name, and in the foolish imagination of the people: or, "the Lord God is truth" F20 אלהים אמת "Deus veritas", Pagninus, Montanus, Coceeius. ; that cannot lie, is true to his covenant and promises, and will never deceive those that worship and serve him, and rely upon him: he is the living God ; that has life in himself, and is the author and giver of life... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:8

The stock is a doctrine of vanities - Dr. Blayney translates, - "The wood itself is a rebuker of vanities." The very tree out of which the god is hewn demonstrates the vanity and folly of the idolaters; for, can all the art of man make out of a log of wood an animate and intelligent being? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:9

Brought from Tarshish - Some suppose this to be Tartessus in Spain, from which the Phoenicians brought much silver. Uphaz, Calmet thinks to be the river Pison; some think Ophir is intended. Blue and purple is their clothing - These were the most precious dyes; very rare, and of high price. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:10

But the Lord - The original word should be preserved, however we agree to pronounce it: יהוה Yehovah is the true God. He is without beginning, and without end. This is true of no being else. He is the living God - His being is underived; and he gives life to all. He is the very Fountain whence all life is derived. And an everlasting king - As he has made, so he governs, all things. His sway is felt both in the heavens and in the earth. At his wrath the earth shall tremble - ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:8

Verse 8 The Prophet shews here, in one sentence, that the wisest in the whole world could be proved guilty of the greatest madness, or of a twofold folly, because they willingly worshipped the trunks of trees, and they worshipped stones; for Under one kind he includes the other. There is no one, he says, however intelligent, who does not approve of the superstitions of the people, who does not bend the knee before a wood or a stone. There have been, indeed, a few in the world who ridiculed such... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:9

Verse 9 The Prophet, anticipating what might be said, refers to the splendor and pomp of idols, and declares that all was frivolous and extremely puerile. Whence was it that the world shewed so much honor to idols, except that their pomp dazzled the eyes of men? The devil has also by this artifice ever deluded the unbelieving; for he has exhibited in idols something that involved men’s minds in darkness. The Prophet then assails these foolish imaginations, and says, Silver is brought from... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:10

Verse 10 The Prophet here exults and triumphs in the name of his God, as though he had overcome and put to flight the erroneous notions of the heathens: for he had spoken, as it appears, contemptuously of their gross errors, and shewed that the wise men of the world were extremely sottish, who were so charmed with wood and stone. He now highly extols the glory of God, and says, But Jehovah is God; that is, let the nations worship their gods, let them recite fables as to their power, and falsely... read more

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