Jeremiah 10:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In a world where impressive things can easily command our attention, this confession teaches us where reverence belongs. Jeremiah has described images that must be carried and secured in place. Verse 6 turns from their helplessness to the living LORD, whose greatness is neither made nor maintained by human hands.
Jeremiah answers the emptiness of idols by confessing the LORD's incomparable greatness. No crafted object, national power, or human wisdom can stand beside him; his name is mighty because he truly acts with power.
The Context of Jeremiah 10:6
Jeremiah 10 addresses the house of Israel as it faces the religious customs and fears of surrounding peoples. Verses 2-5 describe an idol made from a tree, decorated with costly materials, fastened so it cannot fall, and carried because it cannot move itself. Verses 6-7 then become a direct confession and question addressed to the LORD. Verses 8-9 return to the foolishness of idols, while verses 10-16 identify the LORD as the living, everlasting King and Maker of all things. The chapter later turns toward Judah's coming distress and prayer for correction.
What Does Jeremiah 10:6 Mean?
The verse begins, "Forasmuch as," drawing a conclusion from the description of the idol. Because an image cannot speak, walk, do evil, or do good, Jeremiah addresses the LORD: "there is none like unto thee." This is more than saying that God is strongest among rivals. The contrast in the passage is between the Creator who acts and objects produced by craftsmen. "Thou art great" names the LORD's true majesty. "Thy name is great in might" joins his revealed name with his effective power. His name is not an ornament attached to an image. It belongs to the One whose deeds show who he is.
Jeremiah's confession belongs to the chapter's central contrast between work made by hands and the God who made the earth. The prophet does not deny that silver, gold, skilled labor, or political kingdoms can appear impressive. Verses 3-5 and 9 acknowledge careful workmanship and rich materials. Yet none of these things can give life to an idol or make it worthy of fear. In verses 10-13, the LORD's greatness is displayed in his living rule, his power over the earth, and his wisdom in establishing the world. Verse 6 prepares us to hear those claims as worship, not merely as information about God.
The Bible repeatedly joins God's name with his mighty acts. At the sea, Moses praised the LORD for triumphing gloriously; in the Psalms, God's name is celebrated among the nations. Jeremiah 10 carries that same conviction into a setting where people are tempted to trust visible religious objects. The verse calls God's people to speak truthfully about him when competing loyalties seek reverence. Its language also prepares for the chapter's title, "the LORD of hosts," in verse 16. The God known by name is not distant from his people. He is their Maker and their portion, able to judge falsehood and sustain those who seek him.
Bible Verses Related to Jeremiah 10:6
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
- Exodus 15:11
“Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”
- Psalm 86:8-10
“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.”
- Jeremiah 10:12
“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:11
How to Apply Jeremiah 10:6 Today
We can let visible things quietly become measures of security: possessions, skill, public approval, institutions, or plans. Jeremiah's words invite honest gratitude for good gifts while reserving worshipful trust for the LORD. In prayer, it can help to name the thing that has recently seemed largest in our imagination, then confess God's greatness over it. This verse also gives simple language for worship when elaborate words fail: there is none like the LORD, he is great, and his name is mighty. Such confession steadies us when human strength proves limited.
Reflection & Prayer
What has seemed unusually powerful or necessary in our thinking this week? Bring it before the LORD without pretending it has no weight. Pray: "O LORD, there is none like thee. Teach us to honor thy great name and to place our confidence in thy living power."