The Meaning of Jeremiah 10:5 Explained

Jeremiah 10:5

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.

Darby: They are as a palm-column of turned work, and they speak not; they are carried, for they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Jeremiah 10:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

These idols were similar to scarecrows, whose only power is to frighten birds. They did not speak to command, counsel, or comfort their worshippers. They could not walk to come to the aid of their devotees. People had to carry them; they were burdens to be borne rather than bearers of their suppliants" burdens. God"s people should not fear them because they do neither harm nor good. They are "do-nothing" gods.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 10:1-10 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 10:5 mean?

Like a palm tree upright they [are] and cannot they speak must they be carried because cannot they go [by themselves] Not do be afraid of them for they do evil and also do any good [can] not they -
כְּתֹ֨מֶר מִקְשָׁ֥ה הֵ֙מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ נָשׂ֥וֹא יִנָּשׂ֖וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֣א יִצְעָ֑דוּ אַל־ תִּֽירְא֤וּ מֵהֶם֙ כִּי־ יָרֵ֔עוּ וְגַם־ הֵיטֵ֖יב אֵ֥ין אוֹתָֽם ס

כְּתֹ֨מֶר  Like  a  palm  tree 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תֹּמֶר 
Sense: palm tree, post, column.
מִקְשָׁ֥ה  upright 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִקְשָׁה  
Sense: hammered work, finely decorated cultic objects of gold or silver.
הֵ֙מָּה֙  they  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
וְלֹ֣א  and  cannot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ  they  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
נָשׂ֥וֹא  must 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
יִנָּשׂ֖וּא  they  be  carried 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
כִּ֣י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
לֹ֣א  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִצְעָ֑דוּ  they  go  [by  themselves] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: צָעַד  
Sense: to step, march, stride.
תִּֽירְא֤וּ  do  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מֵהֶם֙  of  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יָרֵ֔עוּ  they  do  evil 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
וְגַם־  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הֵיטֵ֖יב  do  any  good 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: יָטַב  
Sense: to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad.
אֵ֥ין  [can]  not 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation