Jeremiah 10:10-12
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The text emphasizes that God is the "true God" not just in contrast to idols, but literally "God in truth." This means He embodies ultimate reality and faithfulness, a profound truth that contrasts sharply with the lifeless falsehoods of the idols.
But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is directly confronting Israel's deeply ingrained idolatry, contrasting the lifeless, man-made gods they worship with the one true God. He's just described these idols as objects that cannot speak, hear, or do evil or good, highlighting their utter powerlessness. This verse bursts forth as the ultimate declaration of the LORD's unique power and eternal reign, setting Him apart from all false deities and emphasizing the terrifying reality of His wrath for those who defy Him.
The idols people chased in Jeremiah's day were like elaborate illusions. But God declared Himself the 'God in Truth.' What does that mean for us?
Jeremiah 10:10 starts with a powerful affirmation: 'the LORD is the true God.' The original wording emphasizes that God is 'God in truth.' This isn't just a label; it points to His absolute reality, His faithfulness, and the fact that He is the ultimate standard of all that is real and good.
Think about it:
God isn't just 'true'; He's described as 'living' and His 'wrath' causes the earth to quake. What does this 'living' aspect reveal about His power?
The phrase 'living God' is a stark contrast to the inanimate idols that were worshipped. These idols were made of wood and stone, utterly devoid of life.
God, however, possesses life in Himself. This means:
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
emet · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
The standard of reality, faithfulness, and reliability. It describes God as the genuine, non-counterfeit Deity who exists as He truly is in opposition to the deceptive nature of false gods.
chay · Hebrew Adjective
A description of God as possessing inherent, self-derived life. Unlike idols which are dead matter, the true God is the source of all life and is actively involved in His creation.
olam · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A title referring to God’s eternal existence, spanning past, present, and future without beginning or end. He is the sovereign Ruler whose kingdom does not perish.
qetseph · Hebrew Noun
God's settled, righteous opposition and reaction against sin, rebellion, and evil. It is an expression of His holiness as He judges the wicked and upholds His moral order.
elâh · Aramaic Noun
Refers to objects of worship that are not the true God. In the Old Testament, these are characterized as man-made, lifeless, and ultimately powerless to save or act.
shamayim · Hebrew Noun
The physical universe, including the celestial bodies and the atmosphere, created by God and subject to His sovereign rule. It signifies the totality of God's creative work.
erets · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the created physical realm. Biblically, it signifies the sphere of human habitation and the domain over which God exercises His sovereignty.
koach · Hebrew Noun
The inherent capability and efficacy of God to bring His will to pass. It denotes His ability to act decisively in history and creation.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
God’s perfect capacity to understand, order, and discern the best way to accomplish His purposes. It is the attribute by which He designed the foundations of the universe.
tebunah · Hebrew Noun
Divine insight, discernment, and intelligence. It refers to God’s comprehensive knowledge and cognitive sovereignty over all existence.
Jeremiah's powerful declaration comes at the nadir of Judah's history, amidst the devastation of the Babylonian exile. It's a direct contrast to the lifeless idols worshiped by both Judah and their conquerors, asserting that the LORD alone is the true, living, eternal God whose power shakes the very nations.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This event serves as a stark warning about the consequences of idolatry and disobedience.
c. 609-605 BC
Josiah's Reforms Challenged
King Josiah's intense religious reforms, aimed at purging idolatry, face resistance and are ultimately cut short by his death in battle. This marks a turning point, with Judah regressing towards its old ways.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquers Judah and takes prominent citizens, including young nobles like Daniel, into exile. This signifies the rising power of Babylon and Judah's declining sovereignty.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
More Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon following a rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. The situation grows increasingly dire for the remnant left in Jerusalem.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies raze Jerusalem and destroy Solomon's Temple, the heart of Judah's worship. The remaining population is exiled, marking the devastating climax of God's judgment on unfaithfulness.
c. 586 - 539 BC
Exile in Babylon
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, far from their homeland and sacred sites. During this time, Jeremiah's prophecies, including this declaration of God's sovereignty, would have resonated deeply with the despairing exiles.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's declaration by contrasting the lifeless idols of the nations with the true God, emphasizing His unique divinity and kingship over all.
Psalm 115:4-7Here, the lifeless nature of idols ('hands have made') is directly contrasted with the living God who has power and sovereignty, mirroring Jeremiah's point about the 'living God'.
1 Thessalonians 1:9Paul describes the Thessalonians' conversion from idols to serving the 'living and true God,' directly reflecting the theological contrast Jeremiah makes in this verse.
Revelation 19:11-16This passage depicts Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as a righteous King executing judgment with divine authority, resonating with Jeremiah's depiction of the everlasting King whose wrath causes nations to tremble.
pulpitJeremiah 10:10: "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."
Verse 10. - The true God; literally, a God in truth, the accusative of apposition being chosen instead of the usual genitive construction, to emphasize the idea of "truth."
cambridgeJeremiah 10:10: "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."
10 . LXX omit, but there is more to be said for MT. here than in the cases above. As Jeremiah 10:11 is clearly a gloss, Jeremiah 10:12 would be very abrupt without an introduction of this kind. the true God ] better (as mg.) God in truth .
The text emphasizes that God is the "true God" not just in contrast to idols, but literally "God in truth." This means He embodies ultimate reality and faithfulness, a profound truth that contrasts sharply with the lifeless falsehoods of the idols.
Jeremiah is directly confronting Israel's deeply ingrained idolatry, contrasting the lifeless, man-made gods they worship with the one true God. He's just described these idols as objects that cannot speak, hear, or do evil or good, highlighting their utter powerlessness. This verse bursts forth as the ultimate declaration of the LORD's unique power and eternal reign, setting Him apart from all false deities and emphasizing the terrifying reality of His wrath for those who defy Him.
Jeremiah is directly confronting Israel's deeply ingrained idolatry, contrasting the lifeless, man-made gods they worship with the one true God. He's just described these idols as objects that cannot speak, hear, or do evil or good, highlighting their utter powerlessness. This verse bursts forth as the ultimate declaration of the LORD's unique power and eternal reign, setting Him apart from all false deities and emphasizing the terrifying reality of His wrath for those who defy Him.
"But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heave…" — The text emphasizes that God is the "true God" not just in contrast to idols, but literally "God in truth." This means He embodies ultimate reality and faithfulness, a profound truth that contrasts s…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
