Jeremiah 10:14-16

10:14 All these idolaters ¹  will prove to be stupid and ignorant.

Every goldsmith will be disgraced by the idol he made.

For the image he forges is merely a sham. ² 

There is no breath in any of those idols. ³ 

10:15 They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked. ⁴ 

When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

10:16 The Lord, who is the inheritance ⁵  of Jacob’s descendants, ⁶  is not like them.

He is the one who created everything.

And the people of Israel are those he claims as his own. ⁷ 

He is known as the Lord who rules over all.” ⁸ 

[10:14]  ¹ tn Heb “Every man.” But in the context this is not a reference to all people without exception but to all idolaters. The referent is made explicit for the sake of clarity.

[10:14]  ² tn Or “nothing but a phony god”; Heb “a lie/falsehood.”

[10:14]  ³ tn Heb “There is no breath in them.” The referent is made explicit so that no one will mistakenly take it to refer to the idolaters or goldsmiths.

[10:15]  ⁴ tn Or “objects of mockery.”

[10:16]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “The Portion of Jacob.” “Descendants” is implied, and is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[10:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “And Israel is the tribe of his possession.”

[10:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “Yahweh of armies is his name.”