Jeremiah 10:5 Meaning and Explanation
“They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Idols are silent, immobile, and powerless—they can neither harm nor help.
The Context of Jeremiah 10:5
Idols cannot speak, move, or perform any action good or evil.
What Does Jeremiah 10:5 Mean?
Idols stand rigid like palm trees, yet lack the most basic quality of divinity: the ability to speak or communicate. They must be physically carried from place to place because they cannot walk, which contradicts every attribute one would expect of a god. This immobility extends to impotence.
The core argument: these silent, motionless objects can neither harm nor benefit anyone. They have no moral agency, no will, no capacity for action. Fearing them or consulting them is therefore irrational—they are intrinsically powerless.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 10:5
What does Jeremiah 10:5 mean?
Idols are silent, immobile, and powerless—they can neither harm nor help.
What is the context of Jeremiah 10:5?
Idols cannot speak, move, or perform any action good or evil.