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

1Listen to the message that the Lord has spoken to you, nation of Israel. 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. The 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. 5These trees are like scarecrows in cucumber gardens. They aren’t able to speak. They have to be carried, because they can’t walk. Don’t be afraid of them. They can’t harm you. They can’t do you any good either.

Jeremiah 10:3 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the customsחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
• of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• vainהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• cuttethכָּרַתkârath · to cut: cutH3772
• a treeעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
• out of the forestיַ֫עַרya‛ar · woodH3293
• the workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• of the workmanחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
• with the axeמַעֲצָדma‛ătsâd · axeH4621

Cross-references for Jeremiah 10:3

• Jeremiah 10:8They are complete idiots. They learn nonsense from wooden idols.
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
• Leviticus 18:30So you must follow my instructions. Don’t live by the standards of the people who lived there before you. What they do is disgusting. Never become unclean that way. I am the Lord your God.”
• 1 Kings 18:26They took the bull he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They said, “Baal, answer us!” But there wasn’t a sound or an answer. So they danced around the altar they had made.
• Matthew 6:7“When you pray, don’t ramble like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot.
• Romans 1:21They knew God but did not praise and thank him for being God. Instead, their thoughts were pointless, and their misguided minds were plunged into darkness.
• 1 Peter 1:18Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
• Isaiah 40:19Craftsmen make idols. Goldsmiths cover them with gold. Silversmiths make silver chains for them.
• Isaiah 44:9All who make idols are nothing. Their precious treasures are worthless. Their own witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.
• Isaiah 45:20Come here, you refugees from the nations. Ignorant people carry wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save ⌞anyone⌟.
• Hosea 8:4“They chose their own kings, kings I didn’t approve. They chose their own princes, princes I didn’t know. They chose to make idols with their own silver and gold. Because of this, they will be destroyed.
• Habakkuk 2:18“What benefit is there in a carved idol when its maker has carved it? What benefit is there in a molded statue, a teacher of lies, when its maker has molded it? The one who formed it trusts himself to make worthless 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