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Jeremiah 16:20

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 16:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?
Jeremiah 16:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17For mine eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity concealed from mine eyes.
18And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable things, and have filled mine inheritance with their abominations.
19O Jehovah, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, unto thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, [even] vanity and things wherein there is no profit.
20Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?
21Therefore, behold, I will cause them to know, this once will I cause them to know my hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is Jehovah.
← Jeremiah 16:19Jeremiah 16:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Shall a man make gods unto himself, etc.] Can a man make his own gods? a poor, weak, mortal man? can he make gods of gold, silver, brass, wood, or stone? can he put deity into them? and when he has made images of these, can he be so stupid as to account them gods, and worship them? can he be so sottish, and void of understanding, as to imagine that anything that is made by himself or any other, can be God? and they are no gods; that are made by men; he only is the true God, that is the Maker and Creator of all things; or they are no gods themselves that pretend to make them, and therefore how should they make gods? can they give that which they have not? or impart deity to others which they…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“indignant protest of Jeremiah against idols. and they (are) no gods-- (Jer 2:11; Isa 37:19; Gal 4:8). "They" refers to the idols. A man (a creature himself) making God is a contradiction in terms. Vulgate takes "they" thus: "Shall man make gods, though men themselves are not gods?"”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Psa 115:4-8, Psa 135:14-18; Isa 36:19, Isa 37:19; Hos 8:4-6; Act 19:26; Gal 1:8; Gal 4:8 Jeremiah 16:21”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification