KJV King James Version
They [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.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Jeremiah 10:5
They [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.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
WEB World English Bible
They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak: they must be carried, because they can’t go. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
ASV American Standard Version
They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
As a palm they are stiff, and they speak not, They are surely borne, for they step not, Be not afraid of them, for they do no evil, Yea, also to do good is not in them.
Surrounding context — 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.
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.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 They [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.
6 Forasmuch as [there is] none like unto thee, O LORD; thou [art] great, and thy name [is] great in might.
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.
8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock [is] a doctrine of vanities.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
כְּתֹ֨מֶרH8560 · to.merpalmמִקְשָׁ֥הH4750 · miq.shahcucumber fieldהֵ֙מָּה֙H1992 · hem.mahthey(masc.)וְלֹ֣אH3808 · lonotיְדַבֵּ֔רוּH1696 · da.varto speak: speakנָשׂ֥וֹאH5375 · na.sato lift: raiseיִנָּשׂ֖וּאH5375 · na.sato lift: raiseכִּ֣יH3588 · kiforלֹ֣אH3808 · lonotיִצְעָ֑דוּH6805 · tsa.adto marchאַל־H408 · alnotתִּֽירְא֤וּH3372 · ya.reto fearמֵהֶם֙H9038 · hemthemכִּי־H3588 · kiforלֹ֣אH3808 · lonotיָרֵ֔עוּH7489 · ra.abe evilוְגַם־H1571 · gamalsoהֵיטֵ֖יבH3190 · ya.tavbe goodאֵ֥יןH369 · a.yinnothingאוֹתָֽם׃ סH854 · etwith
Cross-references
Isaiah 46:7They 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.1 Corinthians 12:2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.Isaiah 41:23-24Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together.Psalm 115:5-8They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:Psalm 135:16-18They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;Revelation 13:14-15And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.Habakkuk 2:19Woe 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.1 Corinthians 8:4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.Isaiah 46:1Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages [were] heavy loaden; [they are] a burden to the weary [beast].Isaiah 44:9-10They 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.Isaiah 45:20Assemble 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.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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