Jeremiah 10 · Verse 2

Jeremiah 10:2

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.
Jeremiah 10:2, King James Version

Jeremiah 10:2 in other translations

BSBThis is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them.
WEBThe LORD says, “Don’t learn the way of the nations, and don’t be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.
ASVthus saith Jehovah, Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.
YLTThus said Jehovah: Unto the way of the nations accustom not yourselves, And by the signs of the heavens be not affrighted, For the nations are affrighted by them.
DARBYThus saith Jehovah: Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are dismayed at them.
BBEThis is what the Lord has said: Do not go in the way of the nations; have no fear of the signs of heaven, for the nations go in fear of them.
WebsterThus 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.

What does Jeremiah 10:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. 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 of the stars, which some, as Plato, thought to be endued with spirit and reason. All heavenly phenomena, eclipses, comets, &c., are included. one cutteth a tree, &c.--rather, "It (that which they busy themselves about: a sample of their 'customs') is a tree cut out of the forest" [Maurer].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Learn 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 here are cautioned against it. The signs of the heavens may mean either the sun, moon, planets, and particular stars or constellations; or the figures or characters by which they represented these heavenly bodies.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 10:1-16

The absurdity of idolatry. (Jr 10:1-16) Destruction denounced against Jerusalem. (Jr 10:17-25) Verses 1-16 The prophet shows the glory of Israel's God, and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is due to him…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 10:1-16 →

Jeremiah 10:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כֹּ֣ה\׀kohthusH3541
אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe saysH559
יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-<to>H413
דֶּ֤רֶךְDe.rekh[the] way ofH1870
הַגּוֹיִם֙ha.go.Yimthe nationsH1471
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּלְמָ֔דוּtil.Ma.duyou learnH3925
וּמֵאֹת֥וֹתu.me.'o.Totand from [the] signs ofH226
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תֵּחָ֑תּוּte.Cha.tuyou be dismayedH2865
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
יֵחַ֥תּוּye.Cha.tuthey are dismayedH2865
הַגּוֹיִ֖םha.go.Yimthe nationsH1471
מֵהֵֽמָּה\׃me.He.mahfrom them

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 10:2

  • Leviticus 20:23

    And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

  • Leviticus 18:3

    After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

  • Luke 21:25-28

    And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

  • Ezekiel 20:32

    And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

  • Deuteronomy 12:30-31

    Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

  • Isaiah 47:12-14

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Learn.
Le 18:3; 20:23; De 12:30,31; Eze 20:32
be.
Isa 47:12-14; Lu 21:25-28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 10:1

    Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

  • Jeremiah 10:2

    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.

  • Jeremiah 10:3

    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.

Read all of Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah 10:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así dijo Jehová: No aprendáis el camino de las gentes, ni de las señales del cielo tengáis temor, aunque las gentes las teman.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi dit l’ Éternel: N’apprenez pas le chemin des nations, et ne soyez pas effrayés des signes des cieux, car les nations s’en effraient.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So spricht Jehova: Lernet nicht den Weg der Nationen, und erschrecket nicht vor den Zeichen des Himmels, weil die Nationen vor ihnen erschrecken.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc dicit Dominus: Juxta vias gentium nolite discere, et a signis cæli nolite metuere, quæ timent gentes,