Jeremiah 10:3-9 KJV

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 10:3

For the customs of the people are vain ,.... Or, "their decrees", or "statutes" F15 חקות "decreta", Targ.; "statua", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt. , their determinations and conclusions, founded upon the observation of the stars; or, their "rites and ceremonies" F16 Ritus, Vatablus; "ceremoniae", Tigurine version. in religion, in the worship of the sun and moon, and the hosts of heaven. The Syriac version is, "the idols of the people are nothing"; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:4

They deck it with silver and with gold ,.... Cover it with plates of silver and gold, for the sake of ornament, that it may look grand, majestic, and venerable; and by this means draw the eye and attention, and so the devotion of people to it: they fasten it with nails and hammers, that it move not . The sense is, either that the idol was fastened to some post or pillar, or in some certain place on a pedestal, that it might not fall, it not being able otherwise to support itself; or the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:5

They are upright as the palm tree ,.... Being nailed to a post, or fastened to a pillar, or set upon a pedestal, and so stand erect without bending any way; and are like a palm tree, which is noted for its uprightness; hence the church's stature is compared to it, Song of Solomon 7:7 , here it is a sarcasm, and a bitter one: but speak not ; man, that is of an erect stature, in which he differs from other creatures, has the faculty of speech, which they that go upon four feet have not;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:6

Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord ,.... None like him, for the perfections of his nature, for the works of his hands, and for the instances of his kindness and beneficence, both in a way of grace and providence; there is none like him for doing good, or doing evil; that is, for bestowing favours, or inflicting punishments; there is none like him for goodness or greatness, as follows: thou art great ; in his nature; of great power, wisdom, faithfulness, truth, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:7

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations ?.... Not that the fear of him among the nations was general, or that he was owned by them as their King; but inasmuch as of right he was their King, so he ought to have been feared and reverenced by them; and it was an instance of great stupidity and ingratitude not to do it. The Targum renders it, "King of all people;' and the Syriac version, "King of all worlds"; some reference seems to be had to this passage in Revelation 15:3 , where,... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:3

The customs of the people are vain - חקות chukkoth ; the statutes and principles of the science are vain, empty, and illusory. They are founded in nonsense, ignorance, idolatry, and folly. One cutteth a tree out of the forest - See the notes on Isaiah 40:19 ; (note), and Isaiah 44:9 ; (note), etc., which are all parallel places and where this conduct is strongly ridiculed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:5

They are upright as the palm tree - As straight and as stiff as the trees out of which they are hewn. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:7

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:5

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