Jeremiah 10:3–4
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.
†For the customes of the people are vaine: for one cutteth a tree out of the forrest (the worke of the handes of the workeman) with the axe.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. statutes or ordinances are vanity.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
They decke it with siluer and with golde, they fasten it with nayles, and with hammers that it mooue not.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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From verse 3
- 1 Peter 1:18Rank 1 from verse 3
18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
18For as much as ye know that yee were not redeemed with corruptible things, as siluer and golde, from your vaine conuersation receiued by tradition from your fathers;
- Isaiah 44:9–20Rank 2 from verse 3
9¶ They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
12The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
14He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
18They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
20He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
9¶ †*They that make a grauen image are all of them vanitie, and their delectable things shall not profit, and they are their owne witnesses, they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
10Who hath formed a God, or moulten a grauen image that is profitable for nothing?
11*Behold, all his fellowes shall be ashamed: and the workemen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand vp; yet they shal feare, and they shalbe ashamed together.
12*‖The smith with the tonges both worketh in the coales, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his armes: yea he is hungrie, and his strength faileth; hee drinketh no water, and is faint.
13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule: he maketh it out with the line: he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compasse, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beautie of a man; that it may remaine in the house.
14‖He heweth him downe cedars, and taketh the Cypresse and the Oke, which he strengthneth for himselfe among the trees of the forrest: he planteth an Ashe, and the raine doth nourish it.
15Then shall it bee for a man to burne: for hee will take thereof and warme himselfe; yea he kindleth it and baketh bread; yea he maketh a God, and worshippeth it: he maketh it a grauen image, and falleth downe thereto.
16He burneth part thereof in the fire: with part thereof he eateth flesh: he rosteth rost, and is satisfied: yea hee warmeth himselfe, and saith; Aha, I am warme, I haue seene the fire.
17And the residue thereof he maketh a God, euen his grauen image: hee falleth downe vnto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth vnto it, and saith; Deliuer me, for thou art my God.
18†They haue not knowen, nor vnderstood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot vnderstand.
19††And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor vnderstanding to say; I haue burnt part of it in the fire, yea also I haue baked bread vpon the coales thereof: I haue rosted flesh and eaten it; and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall downe to the stocke of a tree?
20He feedeth of ashes: a deceiued heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliuer his soule, nor say; Is there not a lie in my right hand?
- Leviticus 18:30Rank 3 from verse 3
30Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.
30Therefore shal ye keepe mine Ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customes, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not your selues therein: I am the LORD your God.
- Jeremiah 10:8Rank 4 from verse 3
- Romans 1:21Rank 5 from verse 3
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
21Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened:
- Isaiah 45:20Rank 6 from verse 3
20¶ Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
20¶ Assemble your selues and come: draw neere together ye that are escaped of the nations: they haue no knowledge that set vp the wood of their grauen image, and pray vnto a god that cannot saue.
- Matthew 6:7Rank 7 from verse 3
- 1 Kings 18:26–28Rank 8 from verse 3
26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
26And they took the bullocke which was giuen them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning, euen vntil noone, saying, O Baal, ‖heare vs. But there was no voyce, nor any that ‖answered: And they ‖leapt vpon the altar which was made.
27And it came to passe at noone, that Eliiah mocked them, and saide, Crie †aloud: for he is a god, either ‖he is talking, or he †is pursuing, or hee is in a iourney, or peraduenture he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28And they cried loud, and cut themselues after their maner, with kniues, and lancers, till †the blood gushed out vpon them.
- Hosea 8:4–6Rank 9 from verse 3
4They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
5¶ Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
6For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
4They haue set vp Kings, but not by me: they haue made Princes, and I knew it not: of their siluer and their golde haue they made them idoles, that they may be cut off.
5¶ Thy calfe, O Samaria, hath cast thee off: mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it bee ere they attaine to innocencie?
6For from Israel was it also, the workeman made it, therefore it is not God: but the calfe of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
- Habakkuk 2:18–19Rank 10 from verse 3
18¶ What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
19Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
18¶ *†What profiteth the grauen image, that the maker thereof hath grauen it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his worke, trusteth therin, to make dumbe idoles.
19Woe vnto him that saith to the wood, Awake: to the dumbe stone, Arise, it shall teach: behold, it is layed ouer with gold and siluer, and there is no breath at all in the middest of it.
- Jeremiah 2:5Rank 11 from verse 3
5¶ Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
5¶ Thus sayth the LORD, What iniquitie haue your fathers found in me, that they are gone farre from mee, and haue walked after vanitie, and are become vaine?
- Isaiah 40:19–31Rank 12 from verse 3
19The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
21Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
25To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
26Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
27Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28¶ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
19The workeman melteth a grauen image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it ouer with golde, and casteth siluer chaines.
20†He that is so impouerished that he hath no oblation, chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh vnto him a cunning workeman, to prepare a grauen image that shall not be mooued.
21Haue yee not knowen? haue yee not heard? hath it not beene tolde you from the beginning? haue yee not vnderstood from the foundations of the earth?
22‖* It is he that sitteth vpon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grashoppers; that stretcheth out the heauens as a curtaine, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwel in:
23*That bringeth the princes to nothing; hee maketh the Iudges of the earth as vanitie.
24Yea they shal not be planted, yea they shall not be sowen, yea their stocke shall not take roote in the earth: and he shall also blow vpon them, & they shall wither, and the whirlewinde shall take them away as stubble.
25To whom then will ye liken me, or shal I be equall, saith the Holy One?
26Lift vp your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names, by the greatnesse of his might, for that hee is strong in power, not one faileth.
27Why sayest thou, O Iacob, and speakest O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my iudgement is passed ouer from my God?
28¶ *Hast thou not knowen? hast thou not heard, that the euerlasting God, the LORD, the Creatour of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is wearie? there is no searching of his vnderstanding.
29He giueth power to the faint, and to them that haue no might, he increaseth strength.
30Euen the youths shall faint, and be weary, and the yong men shall vtterly fall.
31†But they that waite vpon the LORD, shall renew their strength: they shall mount vp with wings as Eagles, they shal runne and not be weary, and they shall walke, and not faint.
From verse 4
- Isaiah 46:7Rank 1 from verse 4
7They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
7They beare him vpon the shoulder, they cary him and set him in his place, and hee standeth; from his place shall he not remooue: yea one shall cry vnto him, yet can he not answere, nor saue him out of his trouble.
- Isaiah 40:19–20Rank 2 from verse 4
19The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
19The workeman melteth a grauen image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it ouer with golde, and casteth siluer chaines.
20†He that is so impouerished that he hath no oblation, chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh vnto him a cunning workeman, to prepare a grauen image that shall not be mooued.
- Isaiah 41:6–7Rank 3 from verse 4
6They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
6†They helped euery one his neighbour, and euery one sayd to his brother, Be of good courage.
7‖‖‖So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anuill, saying; It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nayles that it should not be moued.
- Isaiah 44:12Rank 4 from verse 4
12The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
12*‖The smith with the tonges both worketh in the coales, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his armes: yea he is hungrie, and his strength faileth; hee drinketh no water, and is faint.
- Psalms 115:4Rank 5 from verse 4
- Psalms 135:15Rank 6 from verse 4
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
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DEFINED WORDS
Jeremiah 10:3
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Empty, fruitless, ineffective, unprofitable, worthless, false, unsubstantial, or conceited.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Labour, occupation, an assigned task, or service. Sense 2: An action, deed, operation, effect, product, thing made, or manner of workmanship. Sense 3: To labour, act, operate, perform, make, produce, accomplish, or bring about.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: The end parts of the arms used for holding and working. Sense 2: Figures of power, possession, agency, or aid.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Any man employed in labor, whether in tillage or manufactures; by way of eminence, a skillful artificer or laborer.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
DEFINED WORDS
Jeremiah 10:4
To adorn, array, clothe, or cover with ornaments, splendour, precious material, or another stated decoration.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
A precious white metal used for money, vessels, ornaments, images, trade, valuation, and refining; by extension, money or wealth reckoned in that metal.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To make firm, fixed, secure, closed, or attached; to seize and hold.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Heavy-headed tools used for striking.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To change place; to stir, shake, prompt, influence, or set in action.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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Surrounding Verses
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2Thus 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.
2Thus sayeth the LORD, Learne not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signes of heauen, for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3For 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.
3†For the customes of the people are vaine: for one cutteth a tree out of the forrest (the worke of the handes of the workeman) with the axe.
Selected passage4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
4They decke it with siluer and with golde, they fasten it with nayles, and with hammers that it mooue not.
Selected passage5They 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.
5***They are vpright as the palme tree, but speake not: they must needes bee borne, because they cannot goe: be not afraid of them, for they cannot doe euil, neither also is it in them to doe good.