Jeremiah 10:20 Meaning and Explanation
“My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The nation's dwelling place is destroyed; its structure collapses and its people are gone.
The Context of Jeremiah 10:20
National destruction includes exile: the people are taken away and the land is left desolate.
What Does Jeremiah 10:20 Mean?
The tabernacle (tent structure representing the nation's central place) is ruined and spoiled. The cords that hold the tent upright are broken, rendering it incapable of standing. This is a complete structural collapse, not a temporary damage. The tent—metaphor for Israel's communal life—cannot be repaired or restored by human effort.
The most painful element is absence: 'my children are gone forth of me, and they are not.' The people who once maintained the tent have been removed. No one remains to do the manual work of setting up and maintaining the community's common space. The nation is emptied of its people and purpose.
Jeremiah 10:20 in the Original Language
tabernacle (אֹהֶל, ohel) — tent, dwelling place; can refer to the Temple or to Israel as a community
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 10:20
What does Jeremiah 10:20 mean?
The nation's dwelling place is destroyed; its structure collapses and its people are gone.
What is the context of Jeremiah 10:20?
National destruction includes exile: the people are taken away and the land is left desolate.