Jeremiah 10 · Verse 8

Jeremiah 10:8

But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Jeremiah 10:8, King James Version

Jeremiah 10:8 in other translations

BSBBut they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
WEBBut they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood.
ASVBut they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.
YLTAnd in one they are brutish and foolish, An instruction of vanities is the tree itself.
DARBYBut they are one and all senseless and foolish; the teaching of vanities is a stock.
BBEBut they are together like beasts and foolish: the teaching of false gods is wood.
WebsterBut they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

What does Jeremiah 10:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. altogether--rather, "all alike" [Maurer]. Even the so-called "wise" men (Jr 10:7) of the Gentiles are on a level with the brutes and "foolish," namely, because they connive at the popular idolatry (compare Ro 1:21-28). Therefore, in Daniel and Revelation, the world power is represented under a bestial form. Man divests himself of his true humanity, and sinks to the level of the brute, when he severs his connection with God (Psa 115:8; Jon 2:8). stock is a doctrine of vanities--The stock (put for the worship of all idols whatever, made out of a stock) speaks for itself that the whole theory of idolatry is vanity (Is 44:9-11). Castalio translates, "the very wood itself confuting the vanity" (of the idol).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 The stock is a doctrine of vanities - Dr. Blayney translates, - "The wood itself is a rebuker of vanities." The very tree out of which the god is hewn demonstrates the vanity and folly of the idolaters; for, can all the art of man make out of a log of wood an animate and intelligent being?

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 10:8 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.

וּבְאַחַ֖תu.ve.'a.Chatand in oneH259
יִבְעֲר֣וּyiv.'a.Ruthey are stupidH1197
וְיִכְסָ֑לוּve.yikh.Sa.luand they may be foolishH3688
מוּסַ֥רmu.Sar[the] correction ofH4148
הֲבָלִ֖יםha.va.LimfutilitiesH1892
עֵ֥ץ'etz[is] woodH6086
הֽוּא\׃Hu'itH1931

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

Cross references for Jeremiah 10:8

  • Jeremiah 10:14

    Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

  • Zechariah 10:2

    For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

  • Psalms 135:18

    They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

  • Psalms 115:8

    They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

  • Jeremiah 51:17-18

    Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

  • Isaiah 41:29

    Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

  • Romans 1:21-22

    Because 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. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

  • Habakkuk 2:18

    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?

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • Isaiah 44:19

    And 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?

  • Hosea 4:12

    My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
altogether. Heb. in one, or at once. brutish.
14; 51:17,18; Ps 115:8; 135:18; Isa 41:29; Hab 2:18; Zec 10:2
Ro 1:21,22
the stock.
2:27; Isa 44:19; Ho 4:12

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

Context

  • Jeremiah 10:7

    Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

  • Jeremiah 10:8

    But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

  • Jeremiah 10:9

    Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

Read all of Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah 10:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y todos se infatuarán, y entontecerán. Enseñanza de vanidades es el mismo leño.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
mais jusqu’au dernier ils sont stupides et fous: l’enseignement des vanités est du bois.
German
Elberfelder 1871
sondern sie sind allzumal dumm und töricht; die Unterweisung der Nichtigkeiten ist Holz
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Pariter insipientes et fatui probabuntur: doctrina vanitatis eorum lignum est.