Jeremiah 10:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Idol-makers are foolish; their creations are false and lifeless.
The Context of Jeremiah 10:14
Idol-makers deceive themselves; their creations are lifeless falsehoods.
What Does Jeremiah 10:14 Mean?
Every person devoted to idolatry is brutish in knowledge—lacking true understanding of how the world works. Every craftsman who fashions idols is confounded—confused about what he has actually created. He believes he is making a god, but he has only made falsehood.
The deepest truth emerges in the final clause: there is no breath in them. Breath (nephesh in Hebrew, ruach for spirit) represents life, consciousness, and soul. Idols are inert matter—wood, stone, metal. No life animates them. They cannot speak, think, feel, or act because they fundamentally lack the essence of being.
Jeremiah 10:14 in the Original Language
breath (נְשָׁמָה, neshamah) — breath, spirit, soul; the animating force of life
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 10:14
What does Jeremiah 10:14 mean?
Idol-makers are foolish; their creations are false and lifeless.
What is the context of Jeremiah 10:14?
Idol-makers deceive themselves; their creations are lifeless falsehoods.