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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 10:12

He hath made the earth by his power ,.... The Targum considers these words as a continuation of the answer of the Jews to the Chaldeans, paraphrasing them thus, "and so shall ye say unto them, `we worship him who hath made the earth by his power':' who stands opposed to the gods that made not the heavens and the earth, that had no title to deity, nor right to worship; but the true God has both; and his making the earth out of nothing, and hanging it upon nothing, and preserving it firm... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:13

When he uttereth his voice ,.... Declares his will and pleasure, issues out his commands; or when he thunders, for thunder is his voice, Job 37:2 , there is a multitude of waters in the heavens ; they are covered with clouds, and these clouds full of water; which is brought about by the following means: and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth ; from the north and south, as Kimchi observes from the philosophers; or from all parts of the earth, the most... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:14

Every man is brutish in his knowledge ,.... Or science of making an idol, whether it be of wood, or of gold, or silver, or brass; he is no better than a brute, if he thinks, when he has made it, he has made a god: or, "because of knowledge" F23 מדעת "propter scientiam", Pagninus, Montanus; "a scientia", Calvin, Grotius, Schmidt. ; for want of it; being without the knowledge of God and divine things, he is like the beasts that perish, Psalm 49:20 , every founder is confounded by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:15

They are vanity ,.... They are the fruit of the vain imagination of men; to worship them shows the vanity of the human mind; and they are vain things to trust to: and the work of errors ; of erroneous men, and which lead men into errors; and are worthy to be laughed at, as the Targum paraphrases it. In the time of their visitation they shall perish ; or in the time that I shall visit upon them their sins, as the Targum; that is, when Babylon should be destroyed by the Medes and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:16

The portion of Jacob is not like them ,.... Like those idols, vain, and the work of errors, or shall perish; even the true God, who is the portion of his people, of Jacob, whom he has chosen and redeemed; who call themselves by the name of Jacob, and are Israelites indeed, and plain hearted ones; and who have seen the insufficiency of all other portions, and the excellency of this; for there is none like it, none so large, so rich, so satisfying, and so durable; for God is the portion of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:13

When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters - This is a plain allusion to a storm of thunder and lightning, and the abundance of rain which is the consequence. Water is composed of two gases, hydrogen and oxygen: the electric or galvanic spark decomposes them, and they become air; when recomposed, they form water. The lightning acts upon the hydrogen and oxygen, which are found In the atmospheric air: they are decomposed, and water or rain is the consequence; which, being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:14

Every man is brutish - נבער nibar , is a boor, acts as a brute, who may suppose that a stock of a tree, formed like a man, may be an intellectual being; and therefore shuns the form as though it had life. See Isaiah 44:10 , Isaiah 44:11 . Of which verses, by the way, Dr. Blayney gives the following version to correct that of Bishop Lowth: - Isaiah 44:10 . Who hath formed a god? Or set up a graven image that profiteth not? Isaiah 44:11 . Behold, all that are connected with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:16

The Portion of Jacob is not like them - Every nation had its tutelary god; this was its portion; in reference to this God says Deuteronomy 4:19 , "He has divided the sun, moon, and stars, to all the nations under the heaven." And the Lord had taken the Israelites to be his portion; for "the Lord's portion is his people," Deuteronomy 32:9 , and David says, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance," Psalm 16:5 ; Psalm 119:67 . And hence Isaiah terms the smooth stones of the brook,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:12

Verse 12 Jeremiah speaks now again in Hebrew, for he on purpose spoke in Chaldee, to shew that the ungodly were not to be given way to, if they blasphemed and wantonly derided the holy name of God. But as it is necessary that the confession of the mouth should proceed from faith, as fruit from the root, the Prophet here reminds the Israelites that there is but one true God; for, besides him who created the earth, set in order the world, and extended the heavens, there is no other to be found.... read more

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