Jeremiah 10:1-5

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 10:1

Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel. Or, "upon you"; or, "concerning you" F11 עליכם "super vos", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "de vobis", Vatablus; "super vobis", Cocceius. ; it may design the judgment of God decreed and pronounced upon them; or the prophecy of it to them, in which they were nearly concerned; or the word of God in general, sent unto them by his prophets, which they were backward of hearing; and seems to refer particularly to what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 10:2

Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the Heathen ,.... Of the nations round about them, particularly the Chaldeans; meaning their religious ways, their ways of worship, their superstition and idolatry, which they were very prone unto, and many of which they had learned already; and were in danger of learning more, as they were about to be dispersed in divers countries, and especially in Chaldea, which was a very superstitious and idolatrous nation: and be not dismayed at the signs of... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:1

Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you - Dr. Dahler supposes this discourse to have been delivered in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim. It contains an invective against idolatry; showing its absurdity, and that the Creator alone should be worshipped by all mankind. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 10:2

Learn not the way of the heathen - These words are more particularly addressed to the ten tribes scattered among the heathen by the Assyrians, who carried them away captive; they may also regard those in the land of Israel who still had the customs of the former heathen settlers before their eyes. Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed - The Chaldeans and Egyptians were notoriously addicated to astrology; and the Israelites here are cautioned against it. The... 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

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