Jeremiah 10:12

10:12 The Lord is the one who ¹  by his power made the earth.

He is the one who by his wisdom established the world.

And by his understanding he spread out the skies.

Jeremiah 10:16

10:16 The Lord, who is the inheritance ²  of Jacob’s descendants, ³  is not like them.

He is the one who created everything.

And the people of Israel are those he claims as his own. ⁴ 

He is known as the Lord who rules over all.” ⁵ 

[10:12]  ¹ tn The words “The Lord is” are not in the text. They are implicit from the context. They are supplied in the translation here because of the possible confusion of who the subject is due to the parenthetical address to the people of Israel in v. 11. The first two verbs are participles and should not merely be translated as the narrative past. They are predicate nominatives of an implied copula intending to contrast the Lord as the one who made the earth with the idols which did not.

[10:16]  ² tn The words “The Lord who is” are not in the text. They are supplied in the translation for clarity. For the significance of the words that follow them see the study note that follows.

[10:16]  ³ tn Heb “The Portion of Jacob.” “Descendants” is implied, and is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[10:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “And Israel is the tribe of his possession.”

[10:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “Yahweh of armies is his name.”