Jeremiah 51:17 - “Every man has become brutish without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Jeremiah 51:17" mean?
Jeremiah 51:17, part of a longer passage criticizing the idol worship of Babylon, speaks to the utter futility and emptiness of idolatry. Let's break down the verse:
"Every man has become brutish without knowledge." This is a scathing indictment. "Brutish" suggests acting like an unthinking animal, lacking understanding and reason. The verse is saying that in their devotion to idols, the people have abandoned their intellect and moral sense. They have become foolish and ignorant ("without knowledge") because they are pursuing something utterly worthless. They lack true understanding of God and true meaning in life.
"Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image." The goldsmith is the craftsman who creates the idols. This part highlights the irony and ultimate futility of idol making. The goldsmith, who should take pride in his work, is ultimately "disappointed" (or put to shame). He recognizes, on some level, the inherent emptiness of what he has created.
"For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them." This is the core reason for the disappointment. The "molten image" (an idol cast from metal) is a "falsehood" because it pretends to be something it is not: a god. It cannot actually help or protect anyone. Crucially, "there is no breath in them." This signifies that the idols are lifeless, inert, and utterly powerless. They have no spirit, no life force, and thus cannot answer prayers or provide any real benefit.
In essence, the verse is saying:
The people have become foolish in their devotion to idols. Even the idol makers themselves are ultimately disillusioned because they know their creations are just lifeless, powerless objects. The whole system of idol worship is a sham, a lie that provides no real substance or hope.
Context within Jeremiah's message:
This passage is part of Jeremiah's prophecies against Babylon, a nation that was soon to face judgment from God. Idol worship was a key aspect of Babylonian religion, and Jeremiah used these verses to demonstrate the emptiness and foolishness of their faith system. By ridiculing the idols and the people who worship them, Jeremiah is asserting the supremacy and power of the true God, Yahweh. He is calling the people to turn away from these false gods and return to the one true God who has life and power.
Jeremiah 51:17 - “Every man has become brutish without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
What does "Jeremiah 51:17" mean?
Jeremiah 51:17, part of a longer passage criticizing the idol worship of Babylon, speaks to the utter futility and emptiness of idolatry. Let's break down the verse:
"Every man has become brutish without knowledge." This is a scathing indictment. "Brutish" suggests acting like an unthinking animal, lacking understanding and reason. The verse is saying that in their devotion to idols, the people have abandoned their intellect and moral sense. They have become foolish and ignorant ("without knowledge") because they are pursuing something utterly worthless. They lack true understanding of God and true meaning in life.
"Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image." The goldsmith is the craftsman who creates the idols. This part highlights the irony and ultimate futility of idol making. The goldsmith, who should take pride in his work, is ultimately "disappointed" (or put to shame). He recognizes, on some level, the inherent emptiness of what he has created.
"For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them." This is the core reason for the disappointment. The "molten image" (an idol cast from metal) is a "falsehood" because it pretends to be something it is not: a god. It cannot actually help or protect anyone. Crucially, "there is no breath in them." This signifies that the idols are lifeless, inert, and utterly powerless. They have no spirit, no life force, and thus cannot answer prayers or provide any real benefit.
In essence, the verse is saying:
The people have become foolish in their devotion to idols. Even the idol makers themselves are ultimately disillusioned because they know their creations are just lifeless, powerless objects. The whole system of idol worship is a sham, a lie that provides no real substance or hope.
Context within Jeremiah's message:
This passage is part of Jeremiah's prophecies against Babylon, a nation that was soon to face judgment from God. Idol worship was a key aspect of Babylonian religion, and Jeremiah used these verses to demonstrate the emptiness and foolishness of their faith system. By ridiculing the idols and the people who worship them, Jeremiah is asserting the supremacy and power of the true God, Yahweh. He is calling the people to turn away from these false gods and return to the one true God who has life and power.