King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 16:20 Mean?

“Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?”

Context

And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.

O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?

Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD. The LORD: or, JEHOVAH

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Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. reason for God's vengeance on Babylon: in executing God's will against His people, she had done so with wanton cruelty (Is 10:5, &c.; Jr 50:17; 51:33; Zec 1:15). **polluted my inheritance--**(Is 43:28). **the ancient--**Even old age was disregarded by the Chaldeans, who treated all alike with cruelty (La 4:16; 5:12) [Rosenmuller]. Or, "the ancient" means Israel, worn out with calamities in the latter period of its history (Is 46:4), as its earlier stage of history is called its "youth" (Is 54:6; Eze 16:60).

Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, David Brown. Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 16:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.