Jeremiah 10:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

Customs

1 Peter 1:18

One

Habakkuk 2:18

General references

Exodus 20:4

Isaiah 40:19

Acts 16:21

Bible References

Customs

The people of those nations are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless!

This is what the Lord says: "What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.

You must obey my charge to not practice any of the abominable statutes that have been done before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the Lord your God.'"

So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "Baal, answer us." But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.

When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.

For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed -- not by perishable things like silver or gold,

One

A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it.

All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.

Gather together and come! Approach together, you refugees from the nations! Those who carry wooden idols know nothing, those who pray to a god that cannot deliver.

They enthroned kings without my consent! They appointed princes without my approval! They made idols out of their silver and gold, but they will be destroyed!

What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things?

General references

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.

A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it.

and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice, since we are Romans."