Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that every dazzling aspect of these idols—the imported silver, the fine gold, the vibrant purple dyes—is entirely the product of human hands and skill. Jeremiah is pointing out that the very magnificence that captivates people is just evidence of human craftsmanship, not divine power, ironically making them "trumperies" and "puppets" as Calvin notes.
Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is describing the elaborate and expensive materials used to create idols, emphasizing that they are crafted by human hands from precious metals and dyed fabrics sourced from distant lands. This meticulous creation process, meant to impress and deceive the people, directly follows God's command to "beware, and be well afraid of this nation" and the stark contrast between the living God and these lifeless, man-made objects. The passage highlights the folly of worshipping things that are so clearly the product of human skill rather than divine power.
Idols are often presented as awe-inspiring, but Jeremiah reminds us where their 'glory' truly comes from. It's not divine power, but earthly resources and skill.
Jeremiah vividly describes the creation of idols, highlighting the expensive materials and the skilled labor involved.
Imported Riches
'Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz...' These locations, likely far-off lands known for their precious metals, emphasize the cost and effort invested. Tarshish is often identified with ancient Spain, a source of silver, while Uphaz's exact location is debated but points to a distant, wealthy region.
Crafted by Craftsmen
'...the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.' The idols weren't spontaneously magnificent; they were meticulously shaped, fashioned, and adorned by human hands. The finest dyes, like violet and purple (obtained from rare shellfish), were used for their clothing, adding to their impressive appearance. This detailed description underscores that the idols' beauty and perceived value were entirely man-made.
The beauty and craftsmanship of idols were designed to deceive. What appears grand and powerful can hide a profound emptiness and inability to help.
Jeremiah isn't just describing artwork; he's exposing a spiritual deception. The stunning appearance of these idols was their primary tool for capturing human attention and devotion.
Ask a follow-up
The Illusion of Power
By using the most precious metals and the most vibrant, costly dyes, idol makers created objects that looked divine. This outward splendor was meant to inspire awe and confidence, leading people to believe these statues possessed real power. The 'violet and purple' clothing weren't just for decoration; they were meant to signify royalty and divinity.
The Reality of Helplessness
However, Jeremiah cuts through this illusion. He repeatedly emphasizes that these objects are merely the 'work of the hands of the goldsmith' and 'skilled men.' They are inert, lifeless, and ultimately incapable of performing any true divine function. Their beauty is a facade, a 'trumpery' as Calvin put it, designed to distract from their utter lack of genuine power or ability to act.
Jeremiah's vivid description of idols made from expensive materials like silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, adorned with costly purple and blue fabrics, highlights the hollow splendor of pagan worship. He contrasts this human craftsmanship with God's creative power, especially in the context of Jerusalem's destruction, when these idols offered no real help.
c. 900 BC - 600 BC
Phoenician Trade Networks Flourish
Phoenician traders, based in cities like Tyre and Sidon, established extensive maritime trade routes across the Mediterranean. They imported valuable metals like silver from places like Tartessus (in modern Spain) and gold from distant lands, including possibly regions referred to as Uphaz or Ophir.
c. 700 BC - 600 BC
Idolatry Widely Practiced
During this period, the worship of foreign gods and the creation of elaborate idols were common throughout the ancient Near East, including in Judah. These idols were often made from precious materials and adorned with expensive textiles.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon exiled a significant portion of Jerusalem's population, including Jehoiachin the king and many skilled artisans. This event marked the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Babylon, a period of immense political and spiritual crisis.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, an event that devastated the Jewish people and intensified their spiritual questioning. Jeremiah's prophecy in this chapter speaks to the futility of the idols that failed to protect them during this crisis.
c. 550 BC
Persian Empire Rises
The rise of the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great began to shift the geopolitical landscape. While not directly impacting Jeremiah's immediate context of Babylonian exile, this later development would eventually lead to the return of the exiles.
This passage also critiques idol worship by describing the elaborate, human-made process of crafting an idol, mirroring Jeremiah's point that idols are merely the product of skilled hands.
Psalm 115:4-7This psalm directly contrasts the lifelessness of idols, made of silver and gold by human hands, with the living God who is in the heavens, reinforcing Jeremiah's message about the futility of trusting in crafted objects.
Exodus 25:10-22This passage describes the precious materials and skilled craftsmanship used for the Tabernacle's furnishings, highlighting that even sacred items, when made by human hands with divine instruction, do not possess inherent divinity like idols falsely claim.
Daniel 10:5-6The description of a divine being in Daniel uses similar imagery of gold, silver, and colorful garments, but it contrasts with Jeremiah's description by attributing these magnificent qualities to God's glory, not to crafted idols.
barnesJeremiah 10:9: "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."
Or, "It is a piece of wood ( Jeremiah 10:8 note); yea, beaten silver it is, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz: it is the work etc." Tarshish ... Uphaz - See the marginal reference and Genesis 10:4. Possibly Uphaz was a place in the neighborhood of the River Hy…
clarkeJeremiah 10:9: "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."
Brought from Tarshish - Some suppose this to be Tartessus in Spain, from which the Phoenicians brought much silver. Uphaz, Calmet thinks to be the river Pison; some think Ophir is intended. Blue and purple is their clothing - These were the most precious dyes; very rare, and of…
The verse highlights that every dazzling aspect of these idols—the imported silver, the fine gold, the vibrant purple dyes—is entirely the product of human hands and skill. Jeremiah is pointing out that the very magnificence that captivates people is just evidence of human craftsmanship, not divine power, ironically making them "trumperies" and "puppets" as Calvin notes.
Jeremiah is describing the elaborate and expensive materials used to create idols, emphasizing that they are crafted by human hands from precious metals and dyed fabrics sourced from distant lands. This meticulous creation process, meant to impress and deceive the people, directly follows God's command to "beware, and be well afraid of this nation" and the stark contrast between the living God and these lifeless, man-made objects. The passage highlights the folly of worshipping things that are so clearly the product of human skill rather than divine power.
Jeremiah is describing the elaborate and expensive materials used to create idols, emphasizing that they are crafted by human hands from precious metals and dyed fabrics sourced from distant lands. This meticulous creation process, meant to impress and deceive the people, directly follows God's command to "beware, and be well afraid of this nation" and the stark contrast between the living God and these lifeless, man-made objects. The passage highlights the folly of worshipping things that are so clearly the product of human skill rather than divine power.
"Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men." — The verse highlights that every dazzling aspect of these idols—the imported silver, the fine gold, the vibrant purple dyes—is entirely the product of human hands and skill. Jeremiah is pointing out t…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026