Jeremiah 16:19-20 assures believers in every generation that our strength and redemption rest in God alone.
Jeremiah, who served as a prophet from around 627 BC to 582 BC during the turbulent years leading up to Judah’s exile, proclaims his reliance on God by declaring, "O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, And my refuge in the day of distress" (v. 19). The phrase highlights God’s unchanging nature, emphasizing that He is the one source of reliable help when human plans fail. Jeremiah ministered primarily in the southern kingdom of Judah, where political instability and idolatry had drifted the nation further away from God’s commands.
Continuing in Jeremiah 16:19, Jeremiah foresees that, "To You the nations will come From the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, Futility and things of no profit’" (v. 19). Here, he anticipates a future time when foreigners recognize the difference between following false gods and trusting in the true God. The phrase “ends of the earth” underscores the universal scope of the LORD’s dominion, extending well beyond the boundaries of Israel and Judah, and foreshadows the day when the entire world will acknowledge the sovereignty of the one true God.
This recognition of inheritedfalsehood also resonates with the New Testament’s invitation for all nations to come to the Savior (Matthew 28:19). Just as people in Jeremiah’s time were deceived by worthless idols, so also in every era people need this awakening—an encouragement that those who seek the LORD will find in Him their ultimate refuge and truth. The picture is powerful: God is not merely a tribal deity of a single people, but instead He provides spiritual shelter for anyone who would come to Him.
Jeremiah continues by asking, "Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!" (v. 20). This question contrasts the living God with idols formed by human hands. Jeremiah is not only condemning the worship of man—made images, but also pointing to the foolishness of trusting anything crafted by limited human power. Historically, Judah was surrounded by nations like Babylon and Egypt, which worshiped deities represented by statues and symbols—practices that inevitably led them into spiritual confusion.
The rhetorical question underscores that any object of worship invented by human effort is necessarily powerless. In pointing out that idols “are not gods,” Jeremiah confronts the delusion of such worship. This message is echoed in the New Testament when the Apostle Paul also addresses the futility of idol worship, urging believers to turn away from lifeless images to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Idols promise security, comfort, or prosperity, but ultimately cannot provide true salvation or hope.
Moreover, this verse ties squarely into God’s desire for sincerity in worship. By calling out the vanity of fashioning deities, Jeremiah compels his audience to focus exclusively on the LORD. All who pursue man—made idols will eventually discover their emptiness, whereas wholeheartedly turning to God produces life, even in the midst of dire circumstances.
Jeremiah 16:19-20
19 O LORD, my strength and my stronghold,
And my refuge in the day of distress,
To You the nations will come
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood,
Set to dark mode
Jeremiah 16:19-20 meaning
Jeremiah, who served as a prophet from around 627 BC to 582 BC during the turbulent years leading up to Judah’s exile, proclaims his reliance on God by declaring, "O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, And my refuge in the day of distress" (v. 19). The phrase highlights God’s unchanging nature, emphasizing that He is the one source of reliable help when human plans fail. Jeremiah ministered primarily in the southern kingdom of Judah, where political instability and idolatry had drifted the nation further away from God’s commands.
Continuing in Jeremiah 16:19, Jeremiah foresees that, "To You the nations will come From the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, Futility and things of no profit’" (v. 19). Here, he anticipates a future time when foreigners recognize the difference between following false gods and trusting in the true God. The phrase “ends of the earth” underscores the universal scope of the LORD’s dominion, extending well beyond the boundaries of Israel and Judah, and foreshadows the day when the entire world will acknowledge the sovereignty of the one true God.
This recognition of inherited falsehood also resonates with the New Testament’s invitation for all nations to come to the Savior (Matthew 28:19). Just as people in Jeremiah’s time were deceived by worthless idols, so also in every era people need this awakening—an encouragement that those who seek the LORD will find in Him their ultimate refuge and truth. The picture is powerful: God is not merely a tribal deity of a single people, but instead He provides spiritual shelter for anyone who would come to Him.
Jeremiah continues by asking, "Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!" (v. 20). This question contrasts the living God with idols formed by human hands. Jeremiah is not only condemning the worship of man—made images, but also pointing to the foolishness of trusting anything crafted by limited human power. Historically, Judah was surrounded by nations like Babylon and Egypt, which worshiped deities represented by statues and symbols—practices that inevitably led them into spiritual confusion.
The rhetorical question underscores that any object of worship invented by human effort is necessarily powerless. In pointing out that idols “are not gods,” Jeremiah confronts the delusion of such worship. This message is echoed in the New Testament when the Apostle Paul also addresses the futility of idol worship, urging believers to turn away from lifeless images to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Idols promise security, comfort, or prosperity, but ultimately cannot provide true salvation or hope.
Moreover, this verse ties squarely into God’s desire for sincerity in worship. By calling out the vanity of fashioning deities, Jeremiah compels his audience to focus exclusively on the LORD. All who pursue man—made idols will eventually discover their emptiness, whereas wholeheartedly turning to God produces life, even in the midst of dire circumstances.