Jeremiah 16:20
New International Version
Do people make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!”

New Living Translation
Can people make their own gods? These are not real gods at all!”

English Standard Version
Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!”

Berean Standard Bible
Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!”

King James Bible
Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?

New King James Version
Will a man make gods for himself, Which are not gods?

New American Standard Bible
Can a person make gods for himself? But they are not gods!

NASB 1995
Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!

NASB 1977
Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!

Legacy Standard Bible
Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!

Amplified Bible
“Can a man make gods for himself? Such [things] are not gods!

Christian Standard Bible
Can one make gods for himself? But they are not gods.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Can one make gods for himself? But they are not gods.

American Standard Version
Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?

Contemporary English Version
worthless idols made by human hands."

English Revised Version
Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"People can't make gods for themselves. They aren't really gods.

Good News Translation
Can people make their own gods? No, if they did, those would not really be gods."

International Standard Version
Can a person make a god for himself? They are not gods!

Majority Standard Bible
Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!?

NET Bible
Can people make their own gods? No, what they make are not gods at all."

New Heart English Bible
Shall a man make to himself gods, which yet are no gods?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall a man make gods to himself, and they are no gods?

World English Bible
Should a man make to himself gods which yet are no gods?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Does man make gods for himself, "" And they—no gods?

Young's Literal Translation
Doth man make for himself gods, And they -- no gods?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall man make to himself gods, and they not gods?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall a man make gods unto himself, and there are no gods?

Catholic Public Domain Version
How can man make gods for himself, though these are not gods?”

New American Bible
Can human beings make for themselves gods? But these are not gods at all!

New Revised Standard Version
Can mortals make for themselves gods? Such are no gods!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, men make gods to themselves, and they are no gods.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, the children of men made gods for themselves, and those are not gods
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Shall a man make unto himself gods, And they are no gods?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Will a man make gods for himself, whereas these are no gods?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God will Restore Israel
19O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. 20Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” 21“Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.…

Cross References
Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

Isaiah 2:8
Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

Isaiah 40:18-20
To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? / To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? / One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.

Isaiah 41:6-7
Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” / The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, saying of the welding, “It is good.” He nails it down so it will not be toppled.

Isaiah 46:5-7
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? / They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

Habakkuk 2:18-19
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”

Deuteronomy 4:28
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

1 Kings 18:26-29
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...

2 Kings 19:18
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Romans 1:22-23
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall a man make gods to himself, and they are no gods?

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands…

Psalm 135:14-18
For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants…

Isaiah 36:19
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

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Gods No-Gods
Jeremiah 16
1. The prophet, under the types of abstaining from marriage,
8. from houses of mourning and feasting, foreshows the utter ruin of the Jews;
10. because they were worse than their fathers.
14. Their return from captivity shall be stranger than their deliverance out of Egypt.
16. God will doubly recompense their idolatry.














Can man make gods for himself?
This rhetorical question challenges the folly of idolatry. In the ancient Near Eastern context, people often crafted idols from wood, stone, or metal, believing these objects could embody divine power. The question underscores the absurdity of humans creating their own deities, as true divinity cannot be manufactured. This echoes Isaiah 44:9-20, where the prophet mocks the idea of worshipping something made by human hands. The question also highlights the distinction between the Creator and the created, emphasizing that only the one true God is worthy of worship.

Such are not gods!”
This statement affirms the impotence and falseness of idols. Despite being revered by many cultures, these man-made objects lack the power, presence, and attributes of the living God. The declaration aligns with Psalm 115:4-8, which describes idols as having mouths but not speaking, eyes but not seeing. It also points to the first commandment in Exodus 20:3, which prohibits the worship of other gods. Theologically, this phrase reinforces the monotheistic belief central to the faith, asserting that only Yahweh is the true God. This also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, who embodies the fullness of deity (Colossians 2:9), contrasting with the lifelessness of idols.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Jeremiah was called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned over 40 years, during which he witnessed the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was often led astray by idolatry and disobedience to God. Jeremiah's prophecies were primarily directed towards the people of Judah.

3. Idolatry
The practice of worshiping idols or false gods, which was a significant issue in Judah. Jeremiah frequently condemned this practice, as it led the people away from the one true God.

4. Babylonian Exile
A pivotal event in Jewish history where the people of Judah were taken captive by Babylon. This was a consequence of their persistent idolatry and disobedience.

5. False Gods
The idols and deities created by human hands, which were worshiped by the people of Judah despite being powerless and lifeless.
Teaching Points
The Futility of Idolatry
Idolatry is not just a historical issue but a present-day challenge. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives can become an idol, whether it be material possessions, relationships, or personal ambitions.

The Unchanging Nature of God
Unlike man-made idols, God is eternal, unchanging, and sovereign. Our worship should be directed towards Him alone, as He is the source of all life and truth.

The Call to Repentance
Jeremiah's message is a call to turn away from false gods and return to the Lord. Repentance involves recognizing our misplaced priorities and realigning our lives with God's will.

The Consequences of Disobedience
The history of Judah serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God. Disobedience leads to spiritual and sometimes physical exile, but God always offers a path to restoration.

The Importance of True Worship
True worship is not about rituals or external practices but about a heart fully devoted to God. It involves acknowledging His lordship and living in obedience to His commands.Verse 20. - But the Jews of this generation, in spite of the manifold proofs of the true religion which have been vouchsafed to them, are deserting the real divinity for the unreal. In a tone of surprise the prophet exclaims, Shall a man make gods unto himself, etc.?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Can man
אָדָ֖ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

make
הֲיַעֲשֶׂה־ (hă·ya·‘ă·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

gods for himself?
אֱלֹהִ֑ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Such
וְהֵ֖מָּה (wə·hêm·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

gods!
אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 16:20 Shall a man make to himself gods (Jer.)
Jeremiah 16:19
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