False gods will inevitably perish because they cannot stand under the authority of the true Creator.
When the prophet Jeremiah (ca. 650-570 BC) addresses his audience in the midst of a culture surrounded by many idols, he declares, "Thus you shall say to them, 'The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens'" (v. 11). This verse interrupts the flow of Hebrew text and gives a statement concerning the so—called gods that the other nations revered. Jeremiah, who ministered before and after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, warns that these false gods are doomed to destruction because they are creations of human imagination.
The reference to the heavens and the earth (v. 11) reminds us of the true Creator’s work. By making it clear that anything less than the sovereign God is destined to fade away, Jeremiah honors the LORD’s unique role as the source of all existence. This contrasts with empty idols that people mistakenly give their allegiance to. In invoking this reality, the prophet continues a common biblical theme: faithful Israel should serve the living God, rather than idols that must eventually topple before the presence of the Almighty (Isaiah 44; Romans 1). Jeremiah’s words underscore that reliance on any lesser power inevitably ends in ruin.
In a broader biblical context, this pronouncement points forward to a universal acknowledgment of the one true God. Later New Testament passages affirm the same truth by telling how all earthly powers that defy the Creator will fail, whereas those who honor God’s sovereignty will endure (Philippians 2). Through bold language, Jeremiah sets the stage for the triumph of the LORD over all pretenders, offering a timeless reminder that only the Maker of heavens and earth is worthy of worship.
Jeremiah 10:11
11 Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”
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Jeremiah 10:11 meaning
When the prophet Jeremiah (ca. 650-570 BC) addresses his audience in the midst of a culture surrounded by many idols, he declares, "Thus you shall say to them, 'The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens'" (v. 11). This verse interrupts the flow of Hebrew text and gives a statement concerning the so—called gods that the other nations revered. Jeremiah, who ministered before and after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, warns that these false gods are doomed to destruction because they are creations of human imagination.
The reference to the heavens and the earth (v. 11) reminds us of the true Creator’s work. By making it clear that anything less than the sovereign God is destined to fade away, Jeremiah honors the LORD’s unique role as the source of all existence. This contrasts with empty idols that people mistakenly give their allegiance to. In invoking this reality, the prophet continues a common biblical theme: faithful Israel should serve the living God, rather than idols that must eventually topple before the presence of the Almighty (Isaiah 44; Romans 1). Jeremiah’s words underscore that reliance on any lesser power inevitably ends in ruin.
In a broader biblical context, this pronouncement points forward to a universal acknowledgment of the one true God. Later New Testament passages affirm the same truth by telling how all earthly powers that defy the Creator will fail, whereas those who honor God’s sovereignty will endure (Philippians 2). Through bold language, Jeremiah sets the stage for the triumph of the LORD over all pretenders, offering a timeless reminder that only the Maker of heavens and earth is worthy of worship.