Discovery BoxJeremiah 10:5
Context10:5 Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field.
They cannot talk.
They must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of them
because they cannot hurt you.
And they do not have any power to help you.” 1
Jeremiah 23:10
Context23:10 For the land is full of people unfaithful to him. 2
They live wicked lives and they misuse their power. 3
So the land is dried up 4 because it is under his curse. 5
The pastures in the wilderness are withered.
Jeremiah 32:18
Context32:18 You show unfailing love to thousands. 6 But you also punish children for the sins of their parents. 7 You are the great and powerful God who is known as the Lord who rules over all. 8
Jeremiah 42:11
Context42:11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear. 9 Do not be afraid of him because I will be with you to save you and to rescue you from his power. I, the Lord, affirm it! 10
[10:5] 1 tn Heb “And it is not in them to do good either.”
[23:10] 2 tn Heb “adulterers.” But spiritual adultery is clearly meant as also in 3:8-9; 9:2, and probably also 5:7.
[23:10] 3 tn For the word translated “They live…lives” see usage in Jer 8:6. For the idea of “misusing” their power (Heb “their power is not right” i.e., used in the wrong way) see 2 Kgs 7:9; 17:9. In the original text this line (really two lines in the Hebrew poetry) are at the end of the verse. However, this places the antecedent too far away and could lead to confusion. The lines have been rearranged to avoid such confusion.
[23:10] 4 tn For the use of this verb see 12:4 and the note there.
[23:10] 5 tc The translation follows the majority of Hebrew
[32:18] 3 tn Or “to thousands of generations.” The contrast of showing steadfast love to “thousands” to the limitation of punishing the third and fourth generation of children for their parents’ sins in Exod 20:5-6; Deut 5:9-10; Exod 34:7 has suggested to many commentators and translators (cf., e.g., NRSV, TEV, NJPS) that reference here is to “thousands of generations.” The statement is, of course, rhetorical emphasizing God’s great desire to bless as opposed to the reluctant necessity to punish. It is part of the attributes of God spelled out in Exod 34:6-7.
[32:18] 4 tn Heb “pays back into the bosom of their children the sin of their parents.”
[32:18] 5 tn Heb “Nothing is too hard for you who show…and who punishes…the great [and] powerful God whose name is Yahweh of armies, [you who are] great in counsel…whose eyes are open…who did signs…” Jer 32:18-22 is a long series of relative clauses introduced by participles or relative pronouns in vv. 18-20a followed by second person vav consecutive imperfects carrying on the last of these relative clauses in vv. 20b-22. This is typical of hymnic introductions to hymns of praise (cf., e.g., Ps 136) but it is hard to sustain the relative subordination which all goes back to the suffix on “hard for you.” The sentences have been broken up but the connection with the end of v. 17 has been sacrificed for conformity to contemporary English style.
