Jeremiah 51:17-18
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It's easy to read this verse as simply saying idols are fake. But what's striking is the phrase "brutish by his knowledge." It suggests that the very act of creating and worshipping these idols, far from demonstrating skill or wisdom, actually makes a person foolish. The true marvel isn't the idol, but the ironic emptiness at the heart of all such human effort when it denies the living God.
Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon is reaching its climax, and the prophet is now directly addressing the utter foolishness of worshipping idols. This verse, which echoes an earlier passage about idols, serves as a powerful indictment of the Babylonians' reliance on lifeless statues, contrasting them with the living God. It highlights the stark reality that their entire system of worship is built on deception and ultimately meaningless.
The verse opens with a stark declaration: 'Every man is stupid and without knowledge.' This isn't just about lacking facts; it points to a deeper, willful ignorance.
Jeremiah calls out a fundamental flaw in humanity: a disconnect between what we know and how we live.
The "Knowledge" That Fails
The text suggests that people possess a kind of knowledge, yet it leads them astray, making them 'brutish' – dull, unfeeling, or foolish. This isn't ignorance of facts, but ignorance of God and reality.
The Idol Maker's Shame
Craftsmen who pour their skill into creating idols are ultimately 'put to shame.' Their elaborate creations, meant to represent gods, are exposed as powerless and lifeless. This highlights the futility of trusting in anything man-made over the living God.
Why are these idols so worthless? The reason is simple yet profound: 'there is no breath in them.' What does this missing 'breath' signify?
The verse delivers a powerful critique of idolatry by focusing on what it lacks: life itself.
The Divine Spark
In the Bible, 'breath' (or spirit) is often associated with life, animation, and the divine. God breathes life into creation (Genesis 2:7) and sustains it by His Spirit. Idols, by contrast, are inert matter.
Lifeless Imitations
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These sculpted or molten images are mere human constructs. They cannot think, act, feel, or save. They are a stark contrast to the omnipresent, all-powerful Creator. Their falsehood lies not just in their appearance, but in their absolute lack of divine power or presence.
Understand the original words
ba'ar · Hebrew Adjective
Biblically denotes a moral or spiritual deficiency rather than just intellectual lack; it describes one who is dull to divine truth and foolish regarding the knowledge of God.
atsab · Hebrew Noun
An object of worship that is not God; something crafted by human hands that replaces the Creator in the heart, always condemned in Scripture as an object of shame and emptiness.
ruach · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the life-giving principle or spirit (ruach); in the context of idols, it highlights their utter lifelessness and inability to act or respond.
hebel · Hebrew Noun
Describes something or someone that is vanity, chaotic, or empty; biblically, it emphasizes the ultimate futility and non-existence of anything set up against the living God.
This passage, originally found in Jeremiah 10, is repeated here in chapter 51 in the context of Babylon's impending doom. It highlights the utter foolishness of trusting in idols when facing the terrifying reality of the Babylonian conquest and exile, a conquest that shattered the lives and national identity of Judah.
c. 700 BC
Assyrian Empire Dominates
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, a powerful and often brutal force, controlled much of the ancient Near East, including Judah. This period was marked by constant military campaigns and demands for tribute, creating a climate of fear and instability.
626-605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar Rises to Power
Nebuchadnezzar II becomes crown prince and then king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He begins his reign by consolidating power and expanding Babylonian influence, setting the stage for future conflicts with Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and deports a number of its elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and a period of subjugation for the people of Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation and Jerusalem's Fall
After a rebellion, Jerusalem is besieged again, and more prominent citizens, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon. King Jehoiachin is deposed and replaced by Zedekiah.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Judah's final revolt ends with the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the Solomonic Temple by Nebuchadnezzar's forces. This catastrophic event leads to a mass deportation of the remaining population and profound national trauma.
c. 580 BC
Jeremiah's Ministry Concludes
Jeremiah continues to prophesy during and after the destruction of Jerusalem, offering words of judgment and future hope to the exiles. His prophecies against Babylon are delivered during this turbulent period.
This passage is nearly identical, showing that Jeremiah repeats the same strong condemnation of idols and those who worship them, emphasizing their lifelessness and the foolishness of their makers.
Isaiah 44:17This verse describes how people use part of a tree to make an idol, which then becomes a source of worship for them, highlighting the same theme of foolish devotion to inanimate objects.
Psalm 115:4Here, the psalmist mocks the idols of the nations, stating they are made of silver and gold, the work of human hands, directly paralleling the 'images' and 'molten images' that lack life in Jeremiah.
1 Corinthians 12:2Paul reminds believers that they were once led astray to mute idols, showing how people can be deeply influenced by things that cannot speak or give life, echoing Jeremiah's point about idols being devoid of breath.
clarkeJeremiah 51:17: "Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them."
Every man is brutish by his knowledge - He is brutish for want of real knowledge; and he is brutish when he acknowledges that an idol is any thing in the world. These verses, from fifteen to nineteen, are transcribed from Jeremiah 10:12-16 .
pooleJeremiah 51:17: "Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them."
No text from Poole on this verse.
It's easy to read this verse as simply saying idols are fake. But what's striking is the phrase "brutish by his knowledge." It suggests that the very act of creating and worshipping these idols, far from demonstrating skill or wisdom, actually makes a person foolish. The true marvel isn't the idol, but the ironic emptiness at the heart of all such human effort when it denies the living God.
Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon is reaching its climax, and the prophet is now directly addressing the utter foolishness of worshipping idols. This verse, which echoes an earlier passage about idols, serves as a powerful indictment of the Babylonians' reliance on lifeless statues, contrasting them with the living God. It highlights the stark reality that their entire system of worship is built on deception and ultimately meaningless.
Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon is reaching its climax, and the prophet is now directly addressing the utter foolishness of worshipping idols. This verse, which echoes an earlier passage about idols, serves as a powerful indictment of the Babylonians' reliance on lifeless statues, contrasting them with the living God. It highlights the stark reality that their entire system of worship is built on deception and ultimately meaningless.
"Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their pun…" — It's easy to read this verse as simply saying idols are fake. But what's striking is the phrase "brutish by his knowledge." It suggests that the very act of creating and worshipping these idols,…
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Last reviewed October 2026
