Jeremiah 10:3

Jeremiah 10:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
• New International Version (NIV)For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

Context of Jeremiah 10:3

1Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. 4They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. 5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

Jeremiah 10:3 word by word

כִּֽי־חֻקּ֥וֹת הָֽעַמִּ֖ים הֶ֣בֶל ה֑וּא כִּֽי־עֵץ֙ מִיַּ֣עַר כְּרָת֔וֹ מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵ֥י־חָרָ֖שׁ בַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃Read the interlinear

• Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• the customsחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
• of the peoplesעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• are worthlessהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• are worthlessהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• they cut downכָּרַתkârath · to cut: cutH3772
• a treeעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
• from the forestיַ֫עַרya‛ar · woodH3293
• it is shapedמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• with a chiselמַעֲצָדma‛ătsâd · axeH4621
• by the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• of a craftsmanחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796

Cross-references for Jeremiah 10:3

• Jeremiah 10:8But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.
• Leviticus 18:30You must keep My charge not to practice any of the abominable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the LORD your God.”
• 1 Kings 18:26And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.
• Matthew 6:7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
• Romans 1:21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
• 1 Peter 1:18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
• Isaiah 40:19To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
• Isaiah 44:9All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.
• Isaiah 45:20Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
• Hosea 8:4They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
• Habakkuk 2:18What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 10:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The customs of the people are vain - חקות chukkoth ; the statutes and principles of the science are vain, empty, and illusory. They are founded in nonsense, ignorance, idolatry, and folly. One cutteth a tree out of the forest - See the notes on Isaiah 40:19; (note), and Isaiah 44:9; (note), etc., which are all parallel places and where this conduct is strongly ridiculed.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3The customs - Better, as the marg, “the ordinances,” established institutions, “of the peoples, i. e.” pagan nations.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The stars cannot predict anything; only the Lord knows the future. A craftsman carved a wooden idol from a tree until it resembled a creature on earth (Isaiah 40:18–20; 44:9–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251. Israel--the Jews, the surviving representatives of the nation.Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 10:3

• Gentiles
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Axe
• Cord
• Custom
• Ax (axe); Ax-Head
• Covenant, the New
• Custom (2)
• Exodus, the Book of
• Habakkuk
• Jeremy, the Epistle of
• Tongs

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