Jeremiah 10:4

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 10:4

4. fasten . . . move not—that is, that it may stand upright without risk of falling, which the god (!) would do, if left to itself ( :-). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 10:1-16

A satire on idolatry 10:1-16This scathing exposé of the folly of idolatry resembles several polemics in Isaiah (cf. Isaiah 40:18-20; Isaiah 41:6-7; Isaiah 44:9-20; Isaiah 46:5-7). Jeremiah 10:12-16 appear again in Jeremiah 51:15-19."Why did so easy a target as idolatry need so many attacks in the Old Testament? Jeremiah 10:9 suggests one reason: the appeal of the visually impressive; but perhaps Jeremiah 10:2 goes deeper, in pointing to the temptation to fall into step with the majority."... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 10:4

They decorated their idols with precious metal and nailed them in place so they would not fall over. How ridiculous it is to worship something that cannot even keep itself upright, much less its devotees! read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 10:4-25

Incorrigible Judah 8:4-10:25The twin themes of Judah’s stubborn rebellion and her inevitable doom tie this section of miscellaneous messages together. The section contains mostly poetic material, and the prophecies bear the marks of Jehoiakim’s early reign (perhaps shortly after 609 B.C.). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:1-25

1-16. The folly of idolatry.This section of the prophecy is of doubtful authorship. For (a) it introduces a break in the sense; (b) there is less smoothness between the parts than we generally find in Jeremiah’s writings; (c) its language differs considerably from his use elsewhere, and closely resembles that of Isaiah 40-44; (d) the writer emphasises the fact that false gods are incapable of hurting, while Jeremiah elsewhere speaks rather of them as powerless to aid; (e) Isaiah 44:2, Isaiah... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Jeremiah 10:1-25

Jeremiah 10:11 Dr. Stock, in his History of the Church Missionary Society, says that Claudius Buchanan, in his valedictory address to the first men sent to India, refers to this unique Chaldaic verse embedded in the Hebrew of Jeremiah's prophecy. 'Just as if,' says Buchanan, 'while you are receiving instructions in your own tongue, one sentence should be given you in the Tamil or Cinghalese language which you should deliver to the Hindus.' Reference. X. 16. A. Maclaren, Expositions of Holy... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-16

CHAPTER VITHE IDOLS OF THE HEATHEN AND THE GOD OF ISRAELJeremiah 10:1-16THIS fine piece is altogether isolated from the surrounding context, which it interrupts in a very surprising manner. Neither the style nor the subject, neither the idioms nor the thoughts expressed in them, agree with what we easily recognise as Jeremiah’s work. A stronger contrast can hardly be imagined than that which exists between the leading motive of this oracle as it stands, and that of the long discourse in which... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:1-25

Jeremiah 8:1-22; Jeremiah 9:1-26; Jeremiah 10:1-25; Jeremiah 26:1-24In the four chapters which we are now to consider we have what is plainly a finished whole. The only possible exception {Jeremiah 10:1-16} shall be considered in its place. The historical occasion of the introductory prophecy, {Jeremiah 7:1-15} and the immediate effect of its delivery, are recorded at length in the twenty-sixth chapter of the book, so that in this instance we are happily not left to the uncertainties of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Jeremiah 10:1-25

CHAPTER 10 The Vanity of Idols 1. Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven (Jeremiah 10:1-5 ) 2. The contrast: The vanity of idols and the Lord, the King of Nations (Jeremiah 10:6-18 ) 3. The affliction of the prophet and his prayer (Jeremiah 10:19-25 ) Jeremiah 10:1-5 . The heathen paid attention to the signs of heaven, such as eclipses, comets, meteoric showers, etc. They were dismayed at these things. All they did, their customs and observances in connection with idol worship, was... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Jeremiah 10:4

10:4 They deck it {c} with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it may not move.(c) The prophets use thus plainly and simply to set forth the vile absurdity of the idolaters that men might learn to be ashamed of that to which their corrupt nature is most subject, Isaiah 44:12 . read more

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