Jeremiah 10:5

Jeremiah 10:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
• New International Version (NIV)Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good."
• New King James Version (NKJV)They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.”

Context of Jeremiah 10:5

3For 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. Like 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.” 6There is none like You, O LORD. You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. 7Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.

Jeremiah 10:5 word by word

כְּתֹ֨מֶר מִקְשָׁ֥ה הֵ֙מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ נָשׂ֥וֹא יִנָּשׂ֖וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֣א יִצְעָ֑דוּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ מֵהֶם֙ כִּי־לֹ֣א יָרֵ֔עוּ וְגַם־הֵיטֵ֖יב אֵ֥ין אוֹתָֽם׃ סRead the interlinear

• Like scarecrowsתֹּ֫מֶרtômer · palmH8560
• in a cucumber patchמִקְשָׁהmiqshâh · cucumber fieldH4750
• their idolsהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
• cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• They must be carriedנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
• walkצָעַדtsâ‛ad · to marchH6805
• Do notאַל'al · notH408
• fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• harmרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• andגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• neither can theyאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• neither can theyאֵת'êth · withH854
• do any goodיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190

Cross-references for Jeremiah 10:5

• Psalms 115:5They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
• Psalms 135:16They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
• Habakkuk 2:19Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:2You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
• Revelation 13:14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
• Isaiah 46:1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
• Isaiah 41:23Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.
• 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.
• 1 Corinthians 8:4So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 10:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5They are upright as the palm tree - As straight and as stiff as the trees out of which they are hewn.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5They are upright … - Rather, “They are like a palm tree of turned work, i. e.” like one of those stiff inelegant pillars, something like a palm tree, which may be seen in oriental architecture. Some translate thus: “They are like pillar‘s in a garden of cucumbers, i. e.” like the blocks set up to frighten away the birds; but none of the ancient versions support this rendering.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Scarecrows in a garden only scare birds that do not know better. Similarly, idols are feared only by people who do not know better.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. upright--or, "They are of turned work, resembling a palm tree" [Maurer]. The point of comparison between the idol and the palm is in the pillar-like uprightness of the latter, it having no branches except at the top. speak not--(Psa 115:5). cannot go--that is, walk (Psa 115:7; Is 46:1, 7). neither ... do good--(Is 41:23).Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 10:5

• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Palm tree
• Cord
• Custom
• Covenant, the New
• Exodus, the Book of
• Habakkuk
• Jeremy, the Epistle of
• 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