Jeremiah 10:15

They [are] vanity, [and] the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

They are vanity {H1892}, and the work {H4639} of errors {H8595}: in the time {H6256} of their visitation {H6486} they shall perish {H6}.

they are nothings, ridiculous objects; when the day for their punishment comes, they will perish.

They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 10:15 (KJV)

Jeremiah 10:15 powerfully encapsulates the prophet's message regarding the futility and ultimate destruction of idolatry. This verse serves as a stark conclusion to a passage (Jeremiah 10:1-16) that vividly contrasts the lifelessness of man-made gods with the living, true God of Israel.

Context

This verse is situated within a broader prophetic warning against the practices of pagan nations and the temptation for Judah to adopt their idolatrous ways. The verses immediately preceding (e.g., Jeremiah 10:3-9) describe in detail how idols are fashioned from wood and precious metals, decorated, and then fixed in place so they cannot move. Jeremiah emphasizes their helplessness and inability to do either good or harm, setting the stage for the declaration in verse 15. The true God, by contrast, is presented as the everlasting King, the living God, and the Creator.

Key Themes

  • The Futility of Idolatry: The core message is that idols are "vanity." This word, from the Hebrew hevel (Χ”ΦΆΧ‘ΦΆΧœ), signifies emptiness, breath, futility, or worthlessness. It's the same term famously used throughout Ecclesiastes to describe the transient and ultimately meaningless nature of life apart from God. Idols have no power, no life, and offer no real help or salvation.
  • Spiritual Error and Deception: Describing them as "the work of errors" highlights that idol worship is fundamentally misguided. It leads people away from truth and into spiritual delusion, causing them to trust in false hopes and engage in practices that offend the true God. This aligns with other biblical warnings against exchanging the truth for a lie, as seen in Romans 1:25.
  • Divine Judgment and Inevitable Perishing: "In the time of their visitation they shall perish" speaks to God's appointed time of judgment. "Visitation" in this context refers to God's active intervention, often for reckoning or punishment. When God intervenes, these powerless idols and, by extension, those who cling to them, will be utterly destroyed and cease to exist. This underscores the sovereignty of God and the ultimate triumph of His truth over all false worship. The perishing of idols is a recurring prophetic theme, as seen in Isaiah 2:18.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word hevel (Χ”ΦΆΧ‘ΦΆΧœ), translated as "vanity," is crucial. It conveys not just emptiness but also ephemerality – like a puff of smoke or a fleeting breath. This sharply contrasts with the eternal and steadfast nature of the Lord God.

Practical Application

While modern society may not typically bow down to carved wooden images, the principle of Jeremiah 10:15 remains profoundly relevant. Any object, pursuit, ideology, or even person that takes the place of God in our lives becomes an "idol" – something we trust in, derive our identity from, or seek ultimate satisfaction from, instead of the Creator. These modern "idols" are ultimately "vanity" and "works of errors" because they cannot deliver on their promises of lasting peace, security, or fulfillment. Ultimately, they will "perish" or disappoint, especially in times of crisis or "visitation," when only the true God can provide steadfast hope and salvation. The verse calls believers to examine their hearts and ensure their trust rests solely in the living God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 14:22

    Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

  • Isaiah 41:24

    Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination [is he that] chooseth you.

  • Jeremiah 51:18

    They [are] vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

  • Zechariah 13:2

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

  • Isaiah 2:18

    And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

  • Isaiah 2:21

    To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Jeremiah 8:12

    Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
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