God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 10:2
2This is what the Lord says: Don’t learn the practices of the nations. Don’t be frightened by the signs in the sky because the nations are frightened by them.
Jeremiah 10:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says the Lord: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
Context of Jeremiah 10:2
1Listen to the message that the Lord has spoken to you, nation of Israel. This is what the Lord says: Don’t learn the practices of the nations. Don’t be frightened by the signs in the sky because the nations are frightened by them. 3The religion of the people is worthless. Woodcutters cut down trees from the forest. The hands of craftsmen prepare them with axes. 4Craftsmen decorate them with silver and gold and fasten them ⌞together⌟ with hammers and nails so that they won’t fall over.
Read all of Jeremiah 10Jeremiah 10:2 word by word
כֹּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אֶל־דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם֙ אַל־תִּלְמָ֔דוּ וּמֵאֹת֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם אַל־תֵּחָ֑תּוּ כִּֽי־יֵחַ֥תּוּ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵהֵֽמָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Learnלָמַדlâmad · to learn: learnH3925
- not the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- of the heathenגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- and be not dismayedחָתַתchâthath · to to be dismayedH2865
- at the signsאוֹת'ôth · sign: miraculousH226
- of heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- at themהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
Cross-references for Jeremiah 10:2
- Leviticus 18:3You used to live in Egypt. Don’t live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don’t live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards.
- Leviticus 20:23Never follow the practices of the people I am forcing out of your way. I cannot stand them because they did all these things.
- Deuteronomy 12:30After they’ve been destroyed, be careful you aren’t tempted to follow their customs. Don’t even ask about their gods and say, “How did these people worship their gods? We want to do what they did.”
- Ezekiel 20:32What you have in mind will never happen. You think that you want to be like other nations, like the different people in other countries. You want to serve wood and stone.
- Isaiah 47:12Keep practicing your spells and your evil magic. You have practiced them ever since you were young. You may succeed. You may cause terror.
- Luke 21:25“Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations of the earth will be deeply troubled and confused because of the roaring and tossing of the sea.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 10:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Learn not the way of the heathen - These words are more particularly addressed to the ten tribes scattered among the heathen by the Assyrians, who carried them away captive; they may also regard those in the land of Israel who still had the customs of the former heathen settlers before their eyes. Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed - The Chaldeans and Egyptians were notoriously addicated to astrology; and the Israelites…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Signs of heaven - Extraordinary appearances, such as eclipses, comets, and the like, which seemed to the pagan to portend national calamities. To attribute importance to them is to walk in pagan ways.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The Lord instructed Israel, especially Judah, to behave differently from other nations. He warned them to avoid people like astrologers who claim to predict the future using stars.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Eichorn thinks the reference here to be to some celestial portent which had appeared at that time, causing the Jews' dismay. Probably the reference is general, namely, to the Chaldeans, famed as astrologers, through contact with whom the Jews were likely to fall into the same superstition. way--the precepts or ordinances (Le 18:3; Ac 9:2). signs of heaven--The Gentiles did not acknowledge a Great First Cause: many thought events depended on the power…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 10:2
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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