Bible Strands
Jeremiah 51:18
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jeremiah pronounces judgment on worthless idols, contrasting them with the Lord who is the Maker of all. The declaration addresses those who trust in crafted images during a time of divine reckoning.
The words — The text uses הֶבֶל (hevel), meaning futility or worthlessness, and מַעֲשֵׂה תַעְתּוּעִים (ma'aseh ta'atu'im), literally a work of mockery. It also employs פְּקֻדָּתָם (pequddatam) for their punishment and יֹאבֵדוּ (yo'vedu) for they will perish.
The thread — The theme of idolatrous futility and divine judgment against false gods appears in Exodus 12:12, Isaiah 19:1, and Isaiah 46:1. These passages similarly depict Yahweh striking down idols or their gods cowering before His coming.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that crafted objects possess no power and will be destroyed when God executes judgment. It requires readers to abandon trust in human-made substitutes and acknowledge the Creator alone.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Cross-references
- Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
- Isaiah 19:1 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.
- Isaiah 46:1 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
- Jeremiah 10:8 But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
- Jeremiah 10:15 They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
- Jeremiah 18:15 Yet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their ways, leaving the ancient roads to walk on rutted bypaths instead of on the highway.
- Jeremiah 43:12 I will kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples and take their gods as captives. So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself in his garment, and he will depart from there unscathed.
- Jeremiah 46:25 The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh.
- Jeremiah 48:7 Because you trust in your works and treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials.
- Jeremiah 50:2 “Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’