for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say idols are made from trees; it highlights the shocking process of creation. It's not a sacred statue carved from rare materials, but a mundane tree, felled by an axe, shaped by a craftsman's hands – the very same hands that could then bow down to what they made. This reveals the utter absurdity: humans creating something from raw nature and then worshipping it as divine.
for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting the people of Israel about their dangerous slide into adopting the religious practices of surrounding pagan nations. He declares that these foreign customs are worthless and then immediately illustrates the absurdity of idolatry by describing how idols are made from ordinary trees, carved by human hands, and then inexplicably worshipped. This sets up a stark contrast with the true God, who is the Creator of all things, not the created product of human labor.
Have you ever followed a tradition just because 'that's how it's always been done'? Jeremiah calls out the 'customs' of his day, revealing they were empty and hollow.
Jeremiah uses the word 'customs' (which scholars note could also mean 'statutes' or 'ordinances') to describe the religious practices of the surrounding nations. These weren't just casual habits; they were established religious rituals and beliefs centered around idol worship. The prophet declares these practices are 'vanity' – meaning they are baseless, empty, and ultimately worthless. This wasn't just a gentle suggestion; it was a strong condemnation of traditions that led people away from the true God. He’s saying that when our ways, even our religious ways, don’t lead us to the living God, they are ultimately futile.
Imagine a craftsman taking a tree from the forest and turning it into something to be worshipped. Jeremiah uses this stark image to expose the absurdity of idolatry.
The second part of the verse vividly illustrates why these customs are vain. Jeremiah describes the creation of an idol: a tree is cut down from the forest, and a craftsman uses an axe to shape it. This process highlights the utter powerlessness and manufactured nature of these gods. The very thing people bow down to began as mere natural material, shaped by human hands. It's a powerful reminder that these idols have no inherent divine power; they are entirely the product of human effort. This contrasts sharply with the Creator God, who made the forests and everything in them.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
Religious rites, traditions, or habits that govern the life and worship of a people group.
hebel · Hebrew Noun
Emptiness, worthlessness, or something that is fleeting and lacks substantial reality; frequently used to describe idols.
Jeremiah's critique of idol-making, seen in this verse, directly parallels the warnings found in the book of Isaiah. This shared theme underscores a consistent prophetic message across generations: God alone is the Creator and sustainer, vastly different from the lifeless, man-made objects worshipped by surrounding nations.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the settlement of foreign peoples in their land. This event highlights the vulnerability of kingdoms that turn away from God.
c. 626-586 BC— this verse
Prophecies of Jeremiah
Jeremiah prophesies during a tumultuous period in Judah, warning of impending judgment due to the people's idolatry and unfaithfulness, urging them to return to God.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a group of Israelites, including noble youths like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This is the catastrophic fulfillment of much of Jeremiah's prophecy.
c. 540 BC
Prophecies of Second Isaiah
During the Babylonian exile, another prophet (traditionally known as Second Isaiah) speaks words of comfort and hope, emphasizing God's unique power and contrasting Him with lifeless idols.
This passage vividly describes the same process of crafting an idol from wood, directly paralleling Jeremiah's critique of the 'customs of the peoples.'
Isaiah 41:7This verse shows idol makers working with tools to fashion an idol, highlighting the human labor and effort involved, which Jeremiah uses to demonstrate the worthlessness of such creations.
Psalm 115:4This psalm contrasts the living God with idols, calling them 'silver and gold, the work of men's hands,' which echoes Jeremiah's point that idols are merely crafted objects, not divine beings.
Romans 1:23Paul discusses how people exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped created things rather than the Creator, reflecting the same underlying folly Jeremiah addresses in his condemnation of idol worship.
cambridgeJeremiah 10:3: "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."
3 . customs ] lit. as mg. statutes . The expression is strange in this connexion. Probably the word in MT. has suffered corruption, but no substitute commanding general acceptance has been found. It is clear, at any rate, that the reference is to idols. one cutteth a tree ] the mg. is to be preferred. workman ] better, craftsman , as Deuteronomy…
pulpitJeremiah 10:3: "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."
Verse 3. - The customs of the people. "People" should, as usual, be corrected into peoples - the heathen nations are referred to. The Hebrew has "the statutes;" but the Authorized Version is substantially right, customs having a force as of iron in Eastern countries. It seems to be implied that the "customs" are of religious origin (setup. 2 King…
The verse doesn't just say idols are made from trees; it highlights the shocking process of creation. It's not a sacred statue carved from rare materials, but a mundane tree, felled by an axe, shaped by a craftsman's hands – the very same hands that could then bow down to what they made. This reveals the utter absurdity: humans creating something from raw nature and then worshipping it as divine.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting the people of Israel about their dangerous slide into adopting the religious practices of surrounding pagan nations. He declares that these foreign customs are worthless and then immediately illustrates the absurdity of idolatry by describing how idols are made from ordinary trees, carved by human hands, and then inexplicably worshipped. This sets up a stark contrast with the true God, who is the Creator of all things, not the created product of human labor.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting the people of Israel about their dangerous slide into adopting the religious practices of surrounding pagan nations. He declares that these foreign customs are worthless and then immediately illustrates the absurdity of idolatry by describing how idols are made from ordinary trees, carved by human hands, and then inexplicably worshipped. This sets up a stark contrast with the true God, who is the Creator of all things, not the created product of human labor.
"for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman." — The verse doesn't just say idols are made from trees; it highlights the shocking process of creation. It's not a sacred statue carved from rare materials, but a mundane tree, felled by an axe, shap…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026