Yeremia 10:1-2

The Lord, not Idols, is the Only Worthy Object of Worship

10:1 You people of Israel, ¹  listen to what the Lord has to say to you.

10:2 The Lord says,

“Do not start following pagan religious practices. ² 

Do not be in awe of signs that occur ³  in the sky

even though the nations hold them in awe.

[10:1]  ¹ tn Heb “house of Israel.”

[10:2]  ² tn Heb “Do not learn the way of the nations.” For this use of the word “ways” (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh) compare for example Jer 12:16 and Isa 2:6.

[10:2]  ³ tn Heb “signs.” The words “that occur” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[10:2]  sn The Hebrew word translated here “things that go on in the sky” (אֹתוֹת, ’otot) refers both to unusual disturbances such as eclipses, comets, meteors, etc., but also to such things as the changes in the position of the sun, moon, and stars in conjunction with the changes in seasons (cf. Gen 1:14). The people of Assyria and Babylonia worshiped the sun, moon, and stars, thinking that these heavenly bodies had some hold over them.