Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 10

Verse 2

the way of the heathen. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:3 ; Leviticus 20:23 ).

heathen = nations.

Verse 3

customs = statutes, or ordinances.

people = peoples.

vain = a breath.

one cutteth a tree = it [is only] a tree which one cutteth.

Verse 5

upright = stiff.

borne = carried.

Verse 6

there is none like, &c. See note on Exodus 15:11 .

Thy name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Verse 7

Who . . . ? Words quoted in "the song of Moses and the Lamb" (Revelation 15:3 , Revelation 15:4 ).

Verse 9

Tarshish. See note on 1 Kings 10:22 .

Uphaz. Probably = Ophir. Compare 1 Kings 9:28 ; 1 Kings 10:11 .

Verse 10

the living God. Both words in plural, referring to the triune God.

everlasting king = king of the ages, or, of eternity.

Verse 11

Thus shall ye say, &c. This verse is in Chaldee, to serve as a confession of their faith in their exile.

not made . . . shall perish. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. 'abadu ye'badu.

Verse 12

world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel.

discretion = understanding.

Verse 13

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 14

confounded = put to shame.

breath. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 15

vanity. The common appellative for idols.

errors = mockeries.

the time of their visitation. See note on Jeremiah 8:12 .

Verse 16

The Portion of Jacob. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 18:20 . Deuteronomy 32:9 ).

Jacob. Not Israel, because the natural seed is spoken of as in Deuteronomy 32:9 . See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 .

Former = Framer.

The LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 .

Verse 17

Gather up = Gather in. Occurs only here.

wares = bundle. For that is all they would be able to take with them.

inhabitant = inhabitress. Put for "the daughter of Zion".

fortress. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the city Jerusalem.

Verse 18

I will sling. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for all that is signified by it. Compare Isaiah 22:17 , Isaiah 22:18 .

find it so = discover the truth of it.

Verse 19

me. Zion now speaks in view of the coming deportation; or, Jeremiah voices the calamity.

a grief: or, my affliction.

and I = but I.

Verse 20

tabernacle = tent, or dwelling.

children = sons.

Verse 21

pastors = shepherds, or rulers.

are become. This points to Jehoiakim's reign.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. (with' eth) = Jehovah Himself. App-4 .

Verse 22

noise = voice.

bruit = rumour. French bruit, a voice, from Breton (Celtic) bruchellein, to roar (as a lion). Compare Greek. bruchao-mai.

north. Compare Jeremiah 1:15 ; Jeremiah 5:15 ; Jeremiah 6:22 , &c.

dragons = jackals.

Verse 23

is not in = belongs not to.

it is not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "nor".

direct = establish.

Verse 24

with = in.

Verse 25

families. Some codices read "kingdoms". Compare Psalms 79:6 .

Thy name = Thee (emphatic). See note on Psalms 20:1 .