Jeremiah 10:6

"There is none like unto thee, O Jehovah; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee. But they are together brutish and foolish: in instruction of idols! it is but a stock. There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skillful men. But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King; at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation."

This is a contemptuous description of idols as contrasted with the eternal and almighty God. Tarshish is thought to have been in Spain. Uphaz is unknown; and Harrison thought that it might even be, "a metallurgical term meaning `refined gold.' "[14] No matter how expensive were the decorations applied to idols, they were nevertheless "essentially nothing," unable either to harm or to benefit their worshippers.

Although he missed the truth about Jeremiah 10:11, calling it "a gloss,"[15] Thompson nevertheless made a significant contribution to the proper understanding of this passage. He wrote:

"In view of many attempts to rearrange Jeremiah 10:1-66, we might ask if such is really the right procedure. It may be far better to try to make sense out of what lies before us in the text ("Amen," J.B.C.). We discern a reasonable pattern in which alternating assertions are made about idols and Yahweh."

Jeremiah 10:1, introductory statement.

Jeremiah 10:2-5, a warning against idols.

Jeremiah 10:6-7, the supremacy of Yahweh.

Jeremiah 10:8-9, the futility of idols.

Jeremiah 10:10-13, the creative power of Jehovah.

Jeremiah 10:14-15, idols and their makers judged.

Jeremiah 10:16, final acknowledgment of Yahweh's supremacy.

Seen in this way, the whole passage has coherence and order.[16]

This is a perfect demonstration that the passage does not need any rearrangement at all. It is perfectly logical and appropriate right where it is.