Jeremiah 10:15

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 10:15 serves as a potent declaration of the utter futility and impending doom of idolatry. This verse encapsulates the prophet's indictment against man-made gods, branding them as empty, deceptive constructs destined for destruction when the true God intervenes in judgment. It stands as a stark contrast to the living, eternal, and sovereign God of Israel, affirming that all forms of false worship are inherently flawed and will ultimately fail.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 10:15 concludes a powerful prophetic indictment against idolatry, spanning [Jeremiah 10:1-16](/jeremiah/10 "Jeremiah 10 - The Folly of Idolatry vs. The True God"). The preceding verses meticulously detail the process of crafting idols from wood and silver, highlighting their inertness and inability to act or speak, rendering them objects of scorn rather than reverence ([Jeremiah 10:3-5](/jeremiah/10-3 "Jeremiah 10:3-5 - The Making of Idols")). In stark contrast, [Jeremiah 10:6-10](/jeremiah/10-6 "Jeremiah 10:6-10 - The Majesty of God") extols the incomparable greatness, power, and eternal nature of Yahweh, the true God, who alone is the Creator and sustainer of all things. Verse 15, therefore, functions as a climactic summary of the worthlessness of these idols in light of God's supreme majesty and impending judgment, directly following a declaration of God's creative power in [Jeremiah 10:12-13](/jeremiah/10-12 "Jeremiah 10:12-13 - God as Creator"), which further emphasizes the vast chasm between the Creator and the created, especially those created by human hands.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The nation was constantly tempted by the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations, including the worship of Baal, Asherah, and other deities associated with fertility, war, and natural phenomena. These pagan religions often involved elaborate rituals, sacrifices, and cultic prostitution, deeply influencing Judahite society through syncretism. Jeremiah's message was a counter-cultural, urgent call to exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The prophet's warnings about "visitation" would have resonated with the looming threat of foreign invasion and divine judgment, which ultimately materialized with the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile, serving as a stark historical confirmation of the prophet's words against idolatry.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the **Futility of Idolatry**, emphasizing that idols are "vanity" (Hebrew: _hebel_), utterly empty and without substance, a theme echoed throughout [Ecclesiastes](/ecclesiastes/1 "Ecclesiastes 1 - All is Vanity") and other prophetic condemnations. Connected to this is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, where the true God's incomparable power is contrasted with the impotence of idols, and His ultimate "visitation" brings about their inevitable "perishing." This underscores God's active involvement in history, bringing justice and vindication against all who defy His exclusive claim to worship. Finally, the verse highlights the theme of **Spiritual Discernment**, urging Judah to distinguish between the living God and lifeless creations, a call to true worship and allegiance that is central to the covenant relationship established in foundational texts like [Deuteronomy 6:4-5](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - The Shema").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **vanity (Hebrew, _hebel'_):** From the root meaning "to breathe" or "vapor," _hebel_ signifies emptiness, futility, worthlessness, or something transitory and unsatisfactory. In Jeremiah 10:15, it describes idols as utterly devoid of substance, power, or lasting value, akin to a fleeting breath or a puff of smoke. This word is famously used in [Ecclesiastes](/ecclesiastes/1 "Ecclesiastes 1 - All is Vanity") to denote the meaninglessness of life apart from God, and here it underscores the absolute nothingness of false gods, rendering them "altogether vain."
* **work (Hebrew, _maʻăseh'_):** This term refers to an action, deed, or product. In this context, it specifically denotes something "made" or "wrought" by human hands. By calling idols "the work of errors," the text emphasizes their human origin and the flawed, deceptive nature of their creation and worship, contrasting them sharply with the divine, uncreated nature of Yahweh.
* **errors (Hebrew, _taʻtuaʻ'_):** This word directly signifies "fraud" or "error." When applied to idols, it means they are not merely ineffective but are inherently deceptive, leading people astray into spiritual delusion and falsehood. Their very existence and the worship they elicit are founded upon a fundamental misunderstanding of divine reality.
* **visitation (Hebrew, _pᵉquddâh'_):** This term denotes an official inspection, oversight, or reckoning. While it can imply a positive intervention (e.g., God's care), in prophetic contexts like this, it frequently refers to a time of divine judgment, punishment, or retribution. It signifies God's active and decisive intervention in human affairs to call people to account for their actions, particularly their idolatry, implying a final reckoning.
* **perish (Hebrew, _ʼâbad'_):** A primitive root meaning "to wander away," "lose oneself," or "to be destroyed." In this context, it conveys the complete and utter destruction or cessation of existence. It emphasizes the finality of the judgment upon idols and those who worship them, indicating that they will be annihilated and rendered powerless, having no way to escape their appointed end.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They are vanity, and the work of errors":** This clause directly attributes worthlessness and deception to the idols. "Vanity" (Hebrew: _hebel_) declares their inherent emptiness, lack of power, and transient nature, contrasting sharply with the living, eternal God. "The work of errors" further emphasizes that their creation and worship are fundamentally misguided, stemming from a profound spiritual delusion and leading people astray from truth into spiritual falsehood. Idols are not merely ineffective; they are products of and pathways to spiritual deception.
* **"in the time of their visitation they shall perish":** This second clause pronounces the inevitable judgment and destruction awaiting these idols. "The time of their visitation" refers to God's appointed moment of reckoning, when He will actively intervene to inspect and judge. At this divinely ordained time, the idols, and by extension the systems and people who rely on them, will be utterly destroyed ("perish"). This highlights God's sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of His truth over all false worship, demonstrating that nothing can stand against His determined will.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 10:15 employs several powerful literary devices to underscore its message. The primary device is **Contrast**, which is pervasive throughout [Jeremiah 10](/jeremiah/10 "Jeremiah 10 - The Folly of Idolatry"). The lifeless, inert, man-made idols are starkly contrasted with the living, eternal, active, and powerful God of Israel, highlighting the vast qualitative difference between them. The term "vanity" serves as a potent **Metaphor** for the utter worthlessness and emptiness of idols, likening them to a fleeting breath or vapor that lacks substance and efficacy. The verse also functions as a **Prophecy** of divine judgment, declaring with certainty that a specific "time of their visitation" will come, leading to their inevitable destruction. This declarative statement carries the weight of **Divine Authority**, underscoring the certainty and finality of God's word against false worship and His ultimate triumph over all rivals.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 10:15 profoundly articulates the biblical critique of idolatry, revealing it not merely as a misguided practice but as a profound spiritual error that leads to inevitable destruction. Theologically, it underscores God's unique sovereignty and His intolerance for rivals, emphasizing that He alone is worthy of worship and that His power is absolute and incomparable. The "visitation" speaks to God's active involvement in history, bringing about justice and demonstrating His ultimate power over all human constructs and false deities. This verse serves as a timeless warning against placing ultimate trust, hope, or allegiance in anything other than the true God, for all such misplaced allegiances are ultimately empty, deceptive, and destined to fail when confronted by divine reality.

* [Psalm 115:4-8](/psalm/115-4 "Psalm 115:4-8 - The Impotence of Idols")
* [Isaiah 44:9-20](/isaiah/44-9 "Isaiah 44:9-20 - The Folly of Idol Making")
* [1 Corinthians 8:4](/1_corinthians/8-4 "1 Corinthians 8:4 - An Idol is Nothing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the modern world may not engage in overt worship of carved images, the principle of Jeremiah 10:15 remains profoundly relevant. Any object, pursuit, ideology, relationship, or even self-identity that replaces God as the ultimate source of our security, meaning, or satisfaction becomes a functional idol. These contemporary "idols"—whether wealth, power, fame, comfort, career, intellectualism, or even self-worship—are ultimately "vanity" and "works of errors" because they cannot deliver on their promises of lasting peace, security, or fulfillment. They are inherently limited, fragile, and unable to sustain us, especially in times of crisis or "visitation" (when life's challenges expose their emptiness). This verse calls us to a radical self-examination, urging us to identify and dismantle any false gods in our hearts, ensuring that our ultimate trust and devotion rest solely in the living, true God, who alone is steadfast, eternal, and capable of providing genuine hope and salvation that endures beyond any earthly "visitation."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "vanities" or "works of errors" that I might be trusting in today, consciously or unconsciously, instead of God?**
* **How does the concept of God's "visitation" challenge my sense of security in worldly things, and what does it reveal about their true nature?**
* **In what practical ways can I more fully align my trust and devotion with the living God, rather than fleeting pursuits, in my daily life?**

### FAQ

**What does "vanity" mean in the context of Jeremiah 10:15?**

Answer: In Jeremiah 10:15, "vanity" (Hebrew: _hebel_) signifies emptiness, futility, and utter worthlessness. It describes idols as having no real power, substance, or ability to help or save. It's a strong declaration that these man-made gods are nothing more than a fleeting breath or vapor, utterly devoid of divine essence or efficacy, especially when compared to the true, living God described in [Jeremiah 10:10](/jeremiah/10-10 "Jeremiah 10:10 - The Lord is the True God"), who is the "everlasting King."

**What is meant by "the time of their visitation"?**

Answer: "The time of their visitation" refers to a divinely appointed moment of reckoning or judgment. In biblical prophecy, "visitation" (Hebrew: _pᵉquddâh_) often denotes God's active intervention to inspect, account for, and ultimately punish sin and idolatry. For the idols and their worshippers in Jeremiah's time, this meant a period of divine judgment, likely manifested through foreign invasion and destruction, demonstrating God's supreme power over all false gods and those who trust in them. This concept of a decisive divine intervention for judgment is seen in other prophetic warnings, such as [Isaiah 10:3](/isaiah/10-3 "Isaiah 10:3 - The Day of Visitation"), where the day of "visitation" brings desolation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 10:15, with its declaration of the vanity and ultimate perishing of idols, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "vanity" of idols points to humanity's desperate need for a true and living God, one who is not made with hands but is the very embodiment of divine power and presence. Jesus, as the "image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God")), perfectly reveals the God whom idols fail to represent, for in Him "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" ([Colossians 1:19](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19 - All the Fullness of God in Christ")). His life, death, and resurrection demonstrate the ultimate triumph over all false gods, empty philosophies, and spiritual powers that hold humanity captive, which are rendered "vanity" and publicly shamed in light of His cross and resurrection ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Powers")). The "visitation" of judgment upon idols foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over sin, death, and all rival claims to ultimate allegiance. Those who put their faith in Him will not "perish" but have eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")), for He alone is the true God and eternal life ([1_John 5:20](/1_john/5-20 "1_John 5:20 - Jesus is the True God and Eternal Life")), making all other objects of worship truly empty and doomed to fail.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI 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.