Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” New Living Translation Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.” English Standard Version Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” 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.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.” New American Standard Bible “They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good.” NASB 1995 “Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good.” NASB 1977 “Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good.” Legacy Standard Bible Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, And they cannot speak; They must be carried Because they cannot take a step! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good.” Amplified Bible “They are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; They cannot speak; They have to be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not be afraid of them, For they can do no harm or evil, Nor can they do any good.” Christian 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 they cannot do any good. Holman Christian 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 they cannot do any good. 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. Contemporary English Version An idol is no better than a scarecrow. It can't speak, and it has to be carried, because it can't walk. Why worship an idol that can't help or harm you? English Revised 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation These trees are like scarecrows in cucumber gardens. They aren't able to speak. They have to be carried, because they can't walk. Don't be afraid of them. They can't harm you. They can't do you any good either. Good News Translation Such idols are like scarecrows in a field of melons; they cannot speak; they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them: they can cause you no harm, and they can do you no good." International Standard Version Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They can't speak! They must always be carried because they can't walk! Don't be afraid of them because they can do no harm, nor can they do any good." Majority 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.? NET Bible Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you." New Heart English Bible They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and do not speak: they must be carried, because they can't go. Do not be afraid of them; for they can't do evil, neither is it in them to do good." Webster's Bible Translation 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. World English Bible They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak. They must be carried, because they can’t move. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey [are] stiff as a palm, and they do not speak, "" They are surely carried, for they do not step, "" Do not be afraid of them, for they do no evil, "" Indeed, to do good is also not in them.” 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. Smith's Literal Translation They are of turned work, as the palm tree, and they shall not speak; being lifted up they shall be lifted up, for they shall not mount up. Ye shall not be afraid of them, for they will not do evil, and also doing good is not with them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey are framed after the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not speak: they must be carried to be removed, because they cannot go. Therefore, fear them not, for they can neither do evil nor good. Catholic Public Domain Version They have been fabricated in the likeness of a palm tree, and they will not speak. They must be carried to be moved, because they do not have the ability to walk. Therefore, do not be willing to fear them, for they can do neither evil nor good.” New American Bible Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, they cannot speak; They must be carried about, for they cannot walk. Do not fear them, they can do no harm, neither can they do good. New Revised Standard Version Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey are set up straight as palm trees, but they do not speak; they must be carried, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither can they do good. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated They stand like palm trees and they do not speak; certainly they move them because they do not walk. You shall not be in awe of them, because they do no evil, neither do good’ OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They are like a pillar in a garden of cucumbers, 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation they will set them up that they may not move; it is wrought silver, they will not walk, it is forged silver They must certainly be borne, for they cannot ride of themselves. Fear them not; for they cannot do any evil, and there is no good in them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Sovereignty of God…4They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. 5Like 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.” 6There is none like You, O LORD. You are great, and Your name is mighty in power.… Cross References Isaiah 44:9-20 All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ... Psalm 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ... Psalm 135:15-18 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ... Habakkuk 2:18-19 What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.” Isaiah 46:5-7 To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? / They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. Isaiah 41:6-7 Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” / The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, saying of the welding, “It is good.” He nails it down so it will not be toppled. Isaiah 40:18-20 To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? / To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? / One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple. 1 Kings 18:26-29 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ... Deuteronomy 4:28 And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Isaiah 2:8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. Isaiah 45:20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save. Acts 17:29 Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. Hosea 8:4-6 They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria. Treasury of Scripture 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. speak. Psalm 115:5-8 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: … Psalm 135:16-18 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; … Habakkuk 2:19 Woe 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. be borne. Isaiah 46:1,7 Bel 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… do evil. Isaiah 41:23,24 Shew 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… Isaiah 44:9,10 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… Isaiah 45:20 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. Jump to Previous Able Afraid Borne Carried Cucumber Cucumbers Evil Fear Field Garden Good Harm Idols Lifted Needs Palm Palm-Tree Pillar Plants Power Speak Step Stiff Tree Turned Upright Voice Walk Walking WorkJump to Next Able Afraid Borne Carried Cucumber Cucumbers Evil Fear Field Garden Good Harm Idols Lifted Needs Palm Palm-Tree Pillar Plants Power Speak Step Stiff Tree Turned Upright Voice Walk Walking WorkJeremiah 10 1. The unequal comparison of God and idols.17. The prophet exhorts to flee from the calamity to come. 19. He laments the spoil of the tabernacle by foolish pastors. 23. He makes an humble supplication. Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch This phrase paints a vivid picture of the idols being as lifeless and ineffective as scarecrows. In the Hebrew context, the word for "scarecrows" (Hebrew: "t'marim") can also mean "palm trees," suggesting something that stands tall but is ultimately lifeless and powerless. The imagery of a "cucumber patch" is significant as it represents a place of growth and life, contrasting with the deadness of the idols. Historically, scarecrows were used to ward off birds, but they had no real power, much like the idols Jeremiah is critiquing. 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 Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Like scarecrowsכְּתֹ֨מֶר (kə·ṯō·mer) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8560: Palm tree, post in a cucumber patch, מִקְשָׁ֥ה (miq·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4749: Rounded work, moulded by hammering their idols הֵ֙מָּה֙ (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They cannot וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no speak. יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue They must be carried נָשׂ֥וֹא (nā·śō·w) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take because כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they cannot לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no walk. יִצְעָ֑דוּ (yiṣ·‘ā·ḏū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6805: To pace, step regularly, to mount, to march, to hurl Do not אַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not fear תִּֽירְא֤וּ (tî·rə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten them, מֵהֶם֙ (mê·hem) Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They for כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they can do no לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no harm, יָרֵ֔עוּ (yā·rê·‘ū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad and וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and neither can they אֵ֥ין (’ên) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle do any good.” הֵיטֵ֖יב (hê·ṭêḇ) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing Links Jeremiah 10:5 NIVJeremiah 10:5 NLT Jeremiah 10:5 ESV Jeremiah 10:5 NASB Jeremiah 10:5 KJV Jeremiah 10:5 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 10:5 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 10:5 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 10:5 French Bible Jeremiah 10:5 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 10:5 They are like a palm tree (Jer.) |
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