Jeremys letter 6:18 - And as the courts are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as being committed to suffer death; even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers.
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What does "Jeremys letter 6:18" mean?
This verse from the Letter of Jeremy, part of the apocryphal Book of Baruch, is a sarcastic critique of idolatry, specifically the worship of idols housed in temples. Let's break down the meaning:
"And as the courts are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as being committed to suffer death...": This part of the verse describes the high security surrounding someone who has committed treason against a human king. They are heavily guarded to prevent escape and ensure they face punishment (death). The point is to establish a comparison.
"...even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers.": This is the crucial point of the satire. The priests are diligently securing their temples (where the idols are housed) with doors, locks, and bars. The implied reason is to prevent thieves from stealing the idols.
The Overall Meaning:
The verse is mocking the absurdity of idol worship. It draws a parallel between the treatment of a dangerous criminal and the "treatment" of idols. The implied argument is:
If these idols were truly powerful gods, they wouldn't need human protection.
The very fact that priests have to lock and bar the temples to prevent theft reveals that these idols are just powerless objects, not beings deserving of worship.
It's ironic that a powerful King protects himself with guards, and helpless idols require the same treatment. This reveals that the so-called gods are weaker than mortal men, and therefore ridiculous to worship.
In essence, the verse uses sarcasm to highlight the powerlessness and ridiculousness of idols, questioning the intelligence of those who worship them. It's a form of religious polemic, aiming to discredit idolatry and promote the worship of the true God. The Letter of Jeremy itself is a lengthy argument making just this point.
Jeremys letter 6:18 - And as the courts are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as being committed to suffer death; even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers.
What does "Jeremys letter 6:18" mean?
This verse from the Letter of Jeremy, part of the apocryphal Book of Baruch, is a sarcastic critique of idolatry, specifically the worship of idols housed in temples. Let's break down the meaning:
"And as the courts are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as being committed to suffer death...": This part of the verse describes the high security surrounding someone who has committed treason against a human king. They are heavily guarded to prevent escape and ensure they face punishment (death). The point is to establish a comparison.
"...even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers.": This is the crucial point of the satire. The priests are diligently securing their temples (where the idols are housed) with doors, locks, and bars. The implied reason is to prevent thieves from stealing the idols.
The Overall Meaning:
The verse is mocking the absurdity of idol worship. It draws a parallel between the treatment of a dangerous criminal and the "treatment" of idols. The implied argument is:
If these idols were truly powerful gods, they wouldn't need human protection.
The very fact that priests have to lock and bar the temples to prevent theft reveals that these idols are just powerless objects, not beings deserving of worship.
It's ironic that a powerful King protects himself with guards, and helpless idols require the same treatment. This reveals that the so-called gods are weaker than mortal men, and therefore ridiculous to worship.
In essence, the verse uses sarcasm to highlight the powerlessness and ridiculousness of idols, questioning the intelligence of those who worship them. It's a form of religious polemic, aiming to discredit idolatry and promote the worship of the true God. The Letter of Jeremy itself is a lengthy argument making just this point.