Jeremiah 51:18
Jeremiah 51:18 in Multiple Translations
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
They are nothing, a work of error: in the time of their punishment, destruction will overtake them.
They are useless, an object to be laughed at. They will be destroyed at the time of their punishment.
They are vanitie, and the worke of errours: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Vanity [are] they — work of errors, In the time of their inspection they perish.
They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
They are vain works, and worthy to be laughed at, in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Idols are worthless; they deserve to be ridiculed; there will be a time when they will all be destroyed.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 51:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 51:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הֶ֣בֶל
הֵ֔מָּה
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה
תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים
בְּ/עֵ֥ת
פְּקֻדָּתָ֖/ם
יֹאבֵֽדוּ
הֶ֣בֶל
hebel
H1892
vanity
N-ms
הֵ֔מָּה
hêm
H1992
they(masc.)
Pron
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה
maʻăseh
H4639
deed
N-ms
תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים
taʻtuaʻ
H8595
delusion
N-mp
בְּ/עֵ֥ת
ʻêth
H6256
time
Prep | N-cs
פְּקֻדָּתָ֖/ם
pᵉquddâh
H6486
punishment
N-fs | Suff
יֹאבֵֽדוּ
ʼâbad
H6
to perish
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 51:18
הֶ֣בֶל
hebel
H1892
"vanity"
N-ms
Hebel means emptiness or vanity, describing something transitory and unsatisfactory, like a breath of air. It appears in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes about life's fleeting nature. The KJV translates it as vanity or altogether.
Definition: 1) vapour, breath 1a) breath, vapour 1b) vanity (fig.) adv 2) vainly
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] altogether, vain, vanity. See also: Deuteronomy 32:21; Ecclesiastes 4:7; Psalms 31:7.
הֵ֔מָּה
hêm
H1992
"they(masc.)"
Pron
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Definition: they, these, the same, who
Usage: Occurs in 524 OT verses. KJV: it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye. See also: Genesis 3:7; Deuteronomy 19:17; 2 Kings 1:18.
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה
maʻăseh
H4639
"deed"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to an action or deed, which can be good or bad. It is used to describe various activities, such as work, business, or achievements. The KJV translates it as act, deed, or labor.
Definition: : judgement/punishment 1) deed, work 1a) deed, thing done, act 1b) work, labour 1c) business, pursuit 1d) undertaking, enterprise 1e) achievement 1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment) 1g) work, thing made 1h) work (of God) 1i) product
Usage: Occurs in 221 OT verses. KJV: act, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought. See also: Genesis 5:29; Job 1:10; Psalms 8:4.
תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים
taʻtuaʻ
H8595
"delusion"
N-mp
This word means a false or misleading idea, a delusion that leads people astray. In the Bible, it is used to describe the errors of the Israelites, as seen in Isaiah and Ezekiel.
Definition: 1) errors, delusions 2) (BDB) mockery
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: error. See also: Jeremiah 10:15; Jeremiah 51:18.
בְּ/עֵ֥ת
ʻêth
H6256
"time"
Prep | N-cs
Eth means time, especially now or when, and can refer to an event, experience, or occasion. It is often used to describe a specific moment or period.
Definition: 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion
Usage: Occurs in 258 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when. See also: Genesis 8:11; 2 Chronicles 35:17; Psalms 1:3.
פְּקֻדָּתָ֖/ם
pᵉquddâh
H6486
"punishment"
N-fs | Suff
This noun refers to a visitation, which can be an official oversight, care, or punishment. It is used in different contexts, including mustering, storing, or meting out punishment. The KJV translates it as account, charge, or oversight, among other words.
Definition: 1) oversight, care, custody, mustering, visitation, store 1a) visitation, punishment 1b) oversight, charge, office, overseer, class of officers 1c) mustering 1d) store
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: account, (that have the) charge, custody, that which...laid up, numbers, office(-r), ordering, oversight, [phrase] prison, reckoning, visitation. See also: Numbers 3:32; Isaiah 10:3; Psalms 109:8.
יֹאבֵֽדוּ
ʼâbad
H6
"to perish"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 51:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 51:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:18
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:18
- Sermons on Jeremiah 51:18
Context — Praise to the God of Jacob
16When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
17Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them.
18They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
19The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and of the tribe of His inheritance— the LORD of Hosts is His name. 20“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 10:8 | But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood! |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Zephaniah 2:11 | The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 43:12–13 | 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. He will demolish the sacred pillars of the temple of the sun in the land of Egypt, and he will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’” |
| 5 | 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. |
| 6 | 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. |
| 7 | 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. |
| 8 | Acts 14:15 | “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. |
| 9 | Jonah 2:8 | Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion. |
| 10 | Jeremiah 10:15 | They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish. |
Jeremiah 51:18 Summary
[This verse is saying that the idols that people make and worship are completely useless and will one day be destroyed. They are like worthless trinkets that will be thrown away, as seen in Psalm 115:4-8. The Bible teaches us that God is the only one who is truly powerful and worthy of worship, and that we should put our trust in Him alone, as written in Jeremiah 17:7-8. By putting our faith in God, we can find true life and salvation, and avoid the emptiness and destruction that comes from idolatry.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that the idols are 'worthless, a work to be mocked'?
This means that the idols are useless and deserving of scorn, as they are mere creations of human hands and have no real power or value, as seen in Isaiah 44:9-20 where the futility of idol-making is described.
Why will the idols 'perish in the time of their punishment'?
This refers to the judgment of God upon the idols and those who worship them, as prophesied in Jeremiah 25:14, where God promises to punish the nations that have opposed Him.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger passage that contrasts the power and majesty of the true God with the weakness and foolishness of idols, as seen in Jeremiah 51:19, where God is described as the Maker of all things.
What is the significance of the phrase 'in the time of their punishment'?
This phrase suggests that God's judgment is not immediate, but will come at a time when He sees fit, as described in Ecclesiastes 3:17, where it is written that God will judge the righteous and the wicked.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be putting my trust in 'idols' or false sources of comfort and security, rather than in the one true God?
- How can I apply the truth of this verse to my own life, recognizing the worthlessness of worldly pursuits and the importance of seeking God's kingdom first, as taught in Matthew 6:33?
- What does it mean for me to 'perish' in my sin, and how can I find salvation and life in Christ, as described in John 3:16?
- In what ways can I be a witness to the power and majesty of the true God, and help to expose the emptiness of idolatry, as seen in Acts 17:22-31?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:18
They [are] vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. [See comments on Jeremiah 10:15].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:18
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:18
Jeremiah 51:18 They [are] vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.Ver. 18. They are vanity.] See Jeremiah 10:15.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:18
(15-19) He hath made the earth by his power . . .—The five verses are a reproduction of Jer 10:12-16, fitted in here to enhance the majesty of Him Who decrees the destruction of Babylon, and appoints Israel to be the instrument of that destruction. The word “Israel,” as the italics show, is wanting in the Hebrew, and we have a sufficient sense without it. “He is the former of all things, and of the rod (i.e., the tribe) of his inheritance.” The English version follows the Vulgate and the Targum in treating the omission as an error of transcription. (See Notes on Jeremiah 10:12-16.)
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:18
15–19. These vv. are taken almost verbatim from Jeremiah 10:12-16. The object of the insertion is to emphasize the powerlessness of Babylon’s idols against Jehovah.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:18
GOD AGAINST THE IDOLS OF BABYLON, Jeremiah 51:15-26.15-19. He hath made the earth by his power — These verses are almost an exact transcript of Jer 10:12-16, and hold up before the people the
Sermons on Jeremiah 51:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Arab-02 Egypt - My People by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker discusses a revelation from Egypt, where the Lord is seen riding on a fast cloud. The idols of Egypt rise from his face, causing the heart of Egypt to m |
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(Isaiah) Judgment of the Nations by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the fall of Babylon as described in the book of Isaiah. He emphasizes the vividness and power of God's word, which conveys the panic and terr |
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A Highway Out of Egypt! by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson delivers a powerful sermon titled 'A Highway Out of Egypt!' where he expounds on Isaiah 19's prophecy, emphasizing God's promise to bring back lost children and bac |
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Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding Isaiah's prophecies in the context of the surrounding nations that influenced Israel's history. He explains how Judah and |
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Isaiah Chapter 5 Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding the geopolitical context of Isaiah's prophecies, particularly the neighboring nations that influenced Israel and Judah. He |
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Changing the Course of History - by Prayer by Peter Hammond | Peter Hammond preaches on the power of prayer and obedience to God, emphasizing that Christians are not destined for defeat but for victory. He shares inspiring stories of how pray |
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Words of Expostulation by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the preacher begins by describing a vision of a great feast where armies have met and there has been a terrible slaughter. He relates this vision to the spiritual b |