Jeremiah 10:23

Jeremiah 10:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
• New International Version (NIV)Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
• New King James Version (NKJV)O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Context of Jeremiah 10:23

21For the shepherds [of the people] have become [like brutes,] irrational and stupid, And have not searched for the Lord or asked about Him or realized their need for Him; Therefore they have not been wise and have not prospered, And all their flocks are scattered. 22The sound of a report! Behold, [the invader] comes— A great commotion from the country of the north (Babylonia)— To make the cities of Judah A desolation, a haunt and dwelling place of jackals. O Lord, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life]. 24O Lord, correct me [along with Your people], but with mercy and in just measure— Not in Your anger, or You will crush me and bring me to nothing. 25Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know nor recognize You And on the families that do not call Your name. For they have devoured Jacob; They have devoured him and consumed him And made his land a desolate waste.

Jeremiah 10:23 word by word

יָדַ֣עְתִּי יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָאָדָ֖ם דַּרְכּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־לְאִ֣ישׁ הֹלֵ֔ךְ וְהָכִ֖ין אֶֽת־צַעֲדֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• not in manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• that walkethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• to directכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
• his stepsצַ֫עַדtsa‛ad · stepH6806

Cross-references for Jeremiah 10:23

• Psalms 17:5My steps have held closely to Your paths; My feet have not staggered.
• Psalms 37:23The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].
• Psalms 119:116Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness].
• Proverbs 16:1The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man, But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
• Proverbs 20:24Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the Lord. How then can a man [fully] understand his way?

Commentaries on Jeremiah 10:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself - I will not pretend to dispute with thee; thou dost every thing wisely and justly; we have sinned, and thou hast a right to punish; and to choose that sort of punishment thou thinkest will best answer the ends of justice. We cannot choose; thou hast appointed us to captivity; we must not repine: yet,Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19-25Verses 19-25 The lamentation of the daughter of Zion, the Jewish Church, at the devastation of the land, and her humble prayer to God for mercy. Jeremiah 10:19 Grievous - Rather, “mortal,” i. e., fatal, incurable. A grief - Or, “my grief.” Jeremiah 10:20 tabernacle - i. e., “tent.” Jerusalem laments that her tent is plundered and her children carried into exile, and so “are not,” are dead Matthew 2:18, either absolutely, or dead to her in the remote land…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 The Jews who continued in their own land, felt secure. But, sooner or later, sinners will find all things as the word of God has declared, and that its threatenings are not empty terrors. Submission will support the believer under every grief allotted to him; but what can render the load of Divine vengeance easy to be borne by those who fall under it in sullen despair? Those cannot expect to prosper, who do not, by faith and prayer, take God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-25Jeremiah asked the Lord to unleash His anger not only on Judah but also on the nations that destroyed Israel. See Isaiah 26:9–11 and Habakkuk 1:17. These other kingdoms were so brutal that they turned the countryside into a barren wasteland. Jeremiah 10:25 quotes Psalm 79:6–7.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Despairing of influencing the people, he turns to God. way of man not in himself--(Pr 16:1; 20:24; Jas 4:13, 14). I know, O Jehovah, that the march of the Babylonian conqueror against me (Jeremiah identifying himself with his people) is not at his own discretion, but is overruled by Thee (Is 10:5-7; compare Jr 10:19). that walketh--when he walketh, that is, sets out in any undertaking. direct ... steps--to give a prosperous issue to (Psa 73:23).Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 10:23

• Faith
• Humility
• Ignorance

In the dictionaries

• Cord
• Custom
• Covenant, the New
• Exodus, the Book of
• Intercession
• Jeremiah (2)
• Zedekiah (2)

Commentaries on Jeremiah 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings