Jeremiah 10:1–16

Every witness, in order

1. late 7th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

   The words as first spoken or written

   – No copy survives

   No original survives, and Jeremiah circulated in at least two ancient Hebrew editions: a shorter one behind the Old Greek and the longer one preserved as the Masoretic Text. The oldest copies are six fragmentary Qumran manuscripts (2QJer, 4QJer-a to 4QJer-e), from about 200 BC to the 1st century AD.

2. c. 200 BC (palaeography; reported)

   4QJer-a (4Q70), Qumran Cave 4

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 10:1–16. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Preserves parts of vv. 9–14 in the Masoretic order, including v. 10 ("the LORD is the true God") and the Aramaic v. 11: a longer, Masoretic-type copy.

3. 2nd century BC (reported)

   4QJer-b (4Q71), Qumran Cave 4

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 10:1–16. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Reported by its editors to share the shorter form and order of the Greek: in the reconstruction, v. 9 (silver from Tarshish, the work of craftsmen) stands with v. 5, and vv. 6–8 and 10 (the hymn "There is none like unto thee") are not present; v. 4 has two words in a different order. The reconstruction depends on line lengths, so its absence of vv. 6–8 and 10 is an editorial inference from the surviving fragments, not a fully preserved text (C check against DJD XV).

4. late 1st century BC (reported)

   4QJer-c (4Q72), Qumran Cave 4

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 10:1–16. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Preserves parts of vv. 12–13, in agreement with the Masoretic Text.

5. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

   Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

   Audite verbum quod locutus est Dominus super vos, domus Israël. Hæc dicit Dominus: Juxta vias gentium nolite discere, et a signis cæli nolite metuere, quæ timent gentes, quia leges populorum vanæ sunt. Quia lignum de saltu præcidit opus manus artificis in ascia: argento et auro decoravit illud: clavis et malleis compegit, ut non dissolvatur: in similitudinem palmæ fabricata sunt, et non loquentur: portata tollentur, quia incedere non valent. Nolite ergo timere ea, quia nec male possunt facere, nec bene. Non est similis tui, Domine: magnus es tu, et magnum nomen tuum in fortitudine. Quis non timebit te, o Rex gentium? tuum est enim decus: inter cunctos sapientes gentium, et in universis regnis eorum, nullus est similis tui. Pariter insipientes et fatui probabuntur: doctrina vanitatis eorum lignum est. Argentum involutum de Tharsis affertur, et aurum de Ophaz: opus artificis et manus ærarii. Hyacinthus et purpura indumentum eorum: opus artificum universa hæc. Dominus autem Deus verus est, ipse Deus vivens, et rex sempiternus. Ab indignatione ejus commovebitur terra, et non sustinebunt gentes comminationem ejus. Sic ergo dicetis eis: Dii qui cælos et terram non fecerunt, pereant de terra et de his quæ sub cælo sunt! Qui facit terram in fortitudine sua, præparat orbem in sapientia sua, et prudentia sua extendit cælos: ad vocem suam dat multitudinem aquarum in cælo, et elevat nebulas ab extremitatibus terræ: fulgura in pluviam facit, et educit ventum de thesauris suis. Stultus factus est omnis homo a scientia: confusus est artifex omnis in sculptili, quoniam falsum est quod conflavit, et non est spiritus in eis. Vana sunt, et opus risu dignum: in tempore visitationis suæ peribunt. Non est his similis pars Jacob: qui enim formavit omnia, ipse est, et Israël virga hæreditatis ejus: Dominus exercituum nomen illi.

   Latin numbering: Jeremiah 10:1–16. Jerome translated Jeremiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).

6. AD 1008

   Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

   ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

   שִׁמְע֣וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אֶל־דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם֙ אַל־תִּלְמָ֔דוּ וּמֵאֹת֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם אַל־תֵּחָ֑תּוּ כִּֽי־יֵחַ֥תּוּ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵהֵֽמָּה׃ כִּֽי־חֻקּ֥וֹת הָֽעַמִּ֖ים הֶ֣בֶל ה֑וּא כִּֽי־עֵץ֙ מִיַּ֣עַר כְּרָת֔וֹ מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵ֥י־חָרָ֖שׁ בַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃ בְּכֶ֥סֶף וּבְזָהָ֖ב יְיַפֵּ֑הוּ בְּמַסְמְר֧וֹת וּבְמַקָּב֛וֹת יְחַזְּק֖וּם וְל֥וֹא יָפִֽיק׃ כְּתֹ֨מֶר מִקְשָׁ֥ה הֵ֙מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ נָשׂ֥וֹא יִנָּשׂ֖וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֣א יִצְעָ֑דוּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ מֵהֶם֙ כִּי־לֹ֣א יָרֵ֔עוּ וְגַם־הֵיטֵ֖יב אֵ֥ין אוֹתָֽם׃ מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמ֖וֹךָ יְהוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל אַתָּ֛ה וְגָד֥וֹל שִׁמְךָ֖ בִּגְבוּרָֽה׃ מִ֣י לֹ֤א יִֽרָאֲךָ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּ֥י לְךָ֖ יָאָ֑תָה כִּ֣י בְכָל־חַכְמֵ֧י הַגּוֹיִ֛ם וּבְכָל־מַלְכוּתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמֽוֹךָ׃ וּבְאַחַ֖ת יִבְעֲר֣וּ וְיִכְסָ֑לוּ מוּסַ֥ר הֲבָלִ֖ים עֵ֥ץ הֽוּא׃ כֶּ֣סֶף מְרֻקָּ֞ע מִתַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ יוּבָ֗א וְזָהָב֙ מֵֽאוּפָ֔ז מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חָרָ֖שׁ וִידֵ֣י צוֹרֵ֑ף תְּכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ לְבוּשָׁ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֲכָמִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ וַֽיהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ אֱמֶ֔ת הֽוּא־אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּ֖ים וּמֶ֣לֶךְ עוֹלָ֑ם מִקִּצְפּוֹ֙ תִּרְעַ֣שׁ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹֽא־יָכִ֥לוּ גוֹיִ֖ם זַעְמֽוֹ׃ כִּדְנָה֙ תֵּאמְר֣וּן לְה֔וֹם אֱלָ֣הַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־שְׁמַיָּ֥א וְאַרְקָ֖א לָ֣א עֲבַ֑דוּ יֵאבַ֧דוּ מֵֽאַרְעָ֛א וּמִן־תְּח֥וֹת שְׁמַיָּ֖א אֵֽלֶּה׃ עֹשֵׂ֥ה אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּכֹח֔וֹ מֵכִ֥ין תֵּבֵ֖ל בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ נָטָ֥ה שָׁמָֽיִם׃ לְק֨וֹל תִּתּ֜וֹ הֲמ֥וֹן מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵ֣ה ארץ הָאָ֑רֶץ בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיּ֥וֹצֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃ נִבְעַ֤ר כָּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כָּל־צוֹרֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכּ֖וֹ וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃ הֶ֣בֶל הֵ֔מָּה מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים בְּעֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ לֹֽא־כְאֵ֜לֶּה חֵ֣לֶק יַעֲקֹ֗ב כִּֽי־יוֹצֵ֤ר הַכֹּל֙ ה֔וּא וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֵׁ֖בֶט נַֽחֲלָת֑וֹ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃

   Thus you shall say to them: The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens (v. 11, in Aramaic)

   Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 10:1–16.

7. 1611

   King James Bible

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

   Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 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. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 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. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 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. They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.

8. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

   Greek Jeremiah 10:1–14 (library's Giguet; Greek order and numbering)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Old Greek Jeremiah (a shorter edition)

   How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

   Écoutez la parole du Seigneur, celle qu’il a dite pour vous, maison d’Israël. Voici ce que dit le Seigneur: Ne vous instruisez point selon les voies des gentils; ne craignez point les signes du ciel qu’ils adorent en se prosternant. Car les objets du culte des gentils sont choses vaines: c’est un arbre abattu dans la forêt, œuvre d’un charpentier; C’est un métal fondu, orné d’argent ou d’or battus; et on les a affermis avec des clous: On les a dressés, et ils ne bougeront plus. (Vulg., 9.) C’est de l’argent travaillé, il ne marchera jamais; c’est une image en argent de Tharsis; viendra aussi l’or de Mophaz, et la main du fondeur; ce sont Elles ne peuvent aller qu’on ne les porte; elles ne monteront pas à cheval. Ne les craignez point, elles ne vous feront point de mal, et il n’y a pas de bien à en attendre. Dites-leur: Que des dieux qui n’ont créé ni le ciel ni la terre périssent sur la terre et sous le ciel. 9. (12.) C’est le Seigneur qui a fait la terre par sa puissance, qui a affermi le monde par sa sagesse, qui a étendu le ciel par son intelligence, (13.) Et l’amas des eaux sous le ciel. Et il a rassemblé les nuages des extrémités de la terre; il a mêlé les éclairs à la pluie, et tiré la lumière de ses trésors. (14.) Tout homme n’est qu’un insensé en fait de science; l’orfévre a été confondu dans ses idoles; car il a fait des choses mensongères, des corps sans vie. 12. (15.) Vaines et ridicules sont ces œuvres, de la visite elles périront.

   Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only), in the Greek book's own order and verse numbering; a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Jeremiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart. The Greek runs: Hebrew vv. 1–5a, 9, 5b, 11, 12–16…; Hebrew vv. 6–8 and 10 have no Greek equivalent. Giguet marks the Vulgate numbers in parentheses.