Jeremiah 10:23-24
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What’s really striking here is that Jeremiah isn't just saying humans are weak; he's acknowledging the absolute sovereignty of God over every single decision and action, even those of the enemies coming against them. He knows that even the "way of man," the path taken by conquerors or by his own people, isn't truly their own but is ultimately directed by the Lord's providential hand.
I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Facing imminent destruction from enemy invasion, Jeremiah shifts from addressing the people to crying out to God. He acknowledges that Judah's current plight and their very path forward are not under their own control, admitting that it's not up to them to determine their steps or success. This realization comes after God's charges against their misguided ways, leading to a plea for God's just correction rather than His furious wrath.
Ever feel like your plans are running wild, or that no matter how hard you try, things just don't go your way? Jeremiah reminds us that this feeling points to a profound truth.
Jeremiah's confession in this verse is a powerful acknowledgment of human limitation. He declares, 'I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.' This isn't about fatalism; it's about recognizing that our lives and choices are ultimately guided by a power greater than our own. Even our ability to 'walk' and 'direct our steps' isn't solely within our own power. Our plans, our efforts, and our perceived control are all subject to God's overarching providence.
When plans fail and the enemy is near, where do you turn? Jeremiah's response offers a model for navigating despair.
Finding himself at a loss with a people who wouldn't listen, Jeremiah turns his gaze and his words upward, directly to God. This verse marks a shift from addressing the people to a profound prayer. It's a reminder that when human efforts seem futile and circumstances dire, our ultimate recourse is prayer. Jeremiah’s confession isn't just an intellectual assent to God’s sovereignty; it’s a heartfelt acknowledgment made to God, seeking His direction and intervention even amidst judgment.
Understand the original words
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derek · Hebrew Noun
The path, course, or manner of life that an individual follows; it often represents the moral or existential direction one takes in life, which requires God’s sovereign guidance.
yassĕrēnî · Hebrew Verb
To discipline, chastise, or educate; in a biblical context, it is the process by which God corrects His people to restore them to righteousness and conformity to His will.
mišpāṭ · Hebrew Noun
A standard of judgment characterized by righteousness, fairness, and conformity to God's character; it is the basis upon which God exercises discipline that is tempered by mercy.
’ap · Hebrew Noun
The intense, holy, and settled indignation of God against sin and evil; it is the manifestation of His righteousness when confronted by persistent rebellion against His holiness.
This verse comes from the prophet Jeremiah, a contemporary of the Babylonian exile. The dire historical context of Jerusalem's fall and the people's forced relocation to Babylon fuels Jeremiah's confession: in times of such overwhelming national judgment, human plans and efforts are futile. True hope and direction only come from God.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacks Jerusalem and deports a number of prominent Judeans, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and a period of significant political and spiritual crisis for Judah.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon. This event intensifies the sense of national doom and loss among the exiles.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the culmination of the Babylonian threat and a devastating blow to Judah's national and religious identity.
c. 586-539 BC
Exile in Babylon
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, experiencing profound loss and questioning God's faithfulness. Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel minister during this period, offering messages of judgment and hope.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, opening the way for the exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
This proverb echoes Jeremiah's sentiment by stating that while people plan their course, it is the Lord who ultimately directs their steps, highlighting human dependence on divine guidance.
Proverbs 20:24This verse directly parallels Jeremiah 10:23, emphasizing that the LORD determines a person's path and that human understanding of their own way is limited.
James 4:13-15James speaks directly to those who boast about their plans for the future, reminding them that life is temporary and their ability to direct their steps is subject to God's will, mirroring Jeremiah's confession of human limitations.
Isaiah 10:5-7This passage shows God using the Assyrian king as an instrument of His judgment, illustrating how even powerful, seemingly self-directed human actions are ultimately under God's sovereign control.
Psalm 73:23The psalmist expresses a similar dependence on God, acknowledging that even though he is often with God, it is God's hand that guides and holds him, reinforcing the idea that man cannot direct his own steps successfully apart from divine help.
barnesJeremiah 10:23: "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
At the rumour of the enemy's approach Jeremiah utters in the name of the nation a supplication appropriate to men overtaken by the divine justice.
pulpitJeremiah 10:23: "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
Verses 23-25. - These verses confirm the view taken above, of the speaker of this whole section. Jeremiah and the people, each is, in a sense, the speaker; but here the prophetic faith seems to run rather in advance of that of his fellow-countrymen. They form, however, a fitting sequel to the charges brought against the people in Jeremiah 9. The speaker admits that he (eith…
What’s really striking here is that Jeremiah isn't just saying humans are weak; he's acknowledging the absolute sovereignty of God over every single decision and action, even those of the enemies coming against them. He knows that even the "way of man," the path taken by conquerors or by his own people, isn't truly their own but is ultimately directed by the Lord's providential hand.
Facing imminent destruction from enemy invasion, Jeremiah shifts from addressing the people to crying out to God. He acknowledges that Judah's current plight and their very path forward are not under their own control, admitting that it's not up to them to determine their steps or success. This realization comes after God's charges against their misguided ways, leading to a plea for God's just correction rather than His furious wrath.
Facing imminent destruction from enemy invasion, Jeremiah shifts from addressing the people to crying out to God. He acknowledges that Judah's current plight and their very path forward are not under their own control, admitting that it's not up to them to determine their steps or success. This realization comes after God's charges against their misguided ways, leading to a plea for God's just correction rather than His furious wrath.
"I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing." — What’s really striking here is that Jeremiah isn't just saying humans are weak; he's acknowledging the absolute sovereignty of God over every single decision and action, even those of the enemies c…
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Last reviewed October 2026
