Jeremiah 51:18
New International Version
They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish.

New Living Translation
Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.

English Standard Version
They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

Berean Standard Bible
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

King James Bible
They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

New King James Version
They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish.

New American Standard Bible
They are worthless, a work of mockery; At the time of their punishment they will perish.

NASB 1995
They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.

NASB 1977
They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.

Legacy Standard Bible
They are vanity, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.

Amplified Bible
They are worthless (empty, false, futile), a work of delusion and worthy of derision; In the time of their inspection and punishment they will perish.

Christian Standard Bible
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. At the time of their punishment they will be destroyed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. At the time of their punishment they will be destroyed.

American Standard Version
They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Contemporary English Version
Idols are merely a joke, and when the time is right, they will be destroyed.

English Revised Version
They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They can't breathe. They are worthless jokes. When they are punished, they will disappear.

Good News Translation
They are worthless and should be despised; they will be destroyed when the LORD comes to deal with them.

International Standard Version
They're worthless, a work of mockery, and when the time of punishment comes, they'll perish.

Majority Standard Bible
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

NET Bible
They are worthless, objects to be ridiculed. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

New Heart English Bible
They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Webster's Bible Translation
They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

World English Bible
They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They [are] vanity—a work of errors, "" They perish in the time of their inspection.

Young's Literal Translation
Vanity are they -- work of errors, In the time of their inspection they perish.

Smith's Literal Translation
They are vanity, the work of delusions: in the time of reviewing they shall perish.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They are vain works, and worthy to be laughed at, in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They are empty works, deserving of ridicule. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.

New American Bible
They are nothing, a ridiculous work, that will perish at the time of punishment.

New Revised Standard Version
They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They are worthless, the works of fools; in the time of punishment they shall perish.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They are nothing and the works of fools. In the time that they are sentenced, they shall be destroyed
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They are vanity, a work of delusion; In the time of their visitation they shall perish,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They are vain works, objects of scorn; in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Song of Praise
17Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. 18They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish. 19The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and of the tribe of His inheritance—the LORD of Hosts is His name.…

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 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.

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 41:29
See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.

Isaiah 42:17
But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.

Isaiah 45:16
They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.

Isaiah 45:20
Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.

Isaiah 46:1-2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. / The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

Hosea 8:4-6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.


Treasury of Scripture

They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

vanity

Jeremiah 10:8,15
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities…

Jonah 2:8
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

Acts 14:15
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

in the

Jeremiah 43:12,13
And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace…

Jeremiah 46:25
The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:

Jeremiah 48:7
For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

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Delusion Destruction Error Errors Inspection Judgment Mockery Objects Overtake Perish Punishment Time Vanity Visitation Work Worthless
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Jeremiah 51
1. The severe judgment of God against Babylon, in revenge of Israel
59. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates,
64. in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon














They are worthless
This phrase refers to the idols and false gods worshiped by the Babylonians. In the context of Jeremiah 51, God is pronouncing judgment on Babylon, a nation known for its idolatry. The Hebrew word for "worthless" can also mean "vanity" or "emptiness," emphasizing the futility of worshiping anything other than the one true God. This echoes the theme found in Isaiah 44:9-20, where idols are described as nothing and those who worship them are deluded. The worthlessness of idols is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, highlighting the contrast between the living God and lifeless images.

a work to be mocked
Idols are described as the work of human hands, crafted by artisans but lacking any divine power or life. This phrase suggests that such creations are deserving of ridicule because they cannot save or help their worshipers. The mocking of idols is a common biblical motif, as seen in passages like 1 Kings 18:27, where Elijah mocks the prophets of Baal. The futility of idol worship is underscored by the fact that these objects are mere human creations, incapable of responding to prayer or providing guidance.

In the time of their punishment
This refers to the impending judgment that God will bring upon Babylon. The "time of their punishment" is a prophetic declaration of Babylon's downfall, which is a central theme in Jeremiah 50-51. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC. The phrase indicates that there is an appointed time for divine retribution, aligning with the biblical principle that God is just and will not allow wickedness to go unpunished indefinitely.

they will perish
The ultimate fate of the idols and those who trust in them is destruction. This phrase underscores the transient nature of both idols and the empires that rely on them. In a broader theological context, it serves as a warning that anything set against God will ultimately fail. This is consistent with the biblical narrative that emphasizes the sovereignty of God over all nations and the futility of opposing His will. The perishing of idols also points to the eschatological hope found in Revelation 18, where Babylon is symbolically destroyed, representing the final defeat of all that stands against God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Jeremiah is known for his prophecies concerning the judgment of God upon Judah and other nations, including Babylon.

2. Babylon
A powerful empire during Jeremiah's time, Babylon is often depicted as a symbol of human pride and idolatry. Jeremiah prophesied its eventual downfall.

3. Idols
The "they" in this verse refers to idols, which are man-made objects of worship that are powerless and futile.

4. Judgment
The context of this verse is God's impending judgment on Babylon and its idols, emphasizing the futility of trusting in anything other than the true God.

5. The Exile
The Babylonian Exile was a significant event where the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, which serves as a backdrop for Jeremiah's prophecies.
Teaching Points
The Futility of Idolatry
Idols, whether physical or metaphorical, are ultimately worthless and cannot provide salvation or true fulfillment. Believers are called to place their trust in God alone.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God's judgment is certain and just. The downfall of Babylon serves as a reminder that no power or idol can stand against God's will.

Mockery of False Beliefs
The verse highlights that false beliefs and practices are not only futile but also worthy of mockery. Christians are encouraged to discern truth from falsehood.

The Temporal Nature of Earthly Powers
Earthly powers and empires, like Babylon, are temporary. Believers should focus on the eternal kingdom of God.

Repentance and Turning to God
The impending punishment of idols serves as a call to repentance, urging individuals to turn away from false gods and towards the living God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They
הֵ֔מָּה (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are worthless,
הֶ֣בֶל (he·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

a work
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה (ma·‘ă·śêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

to be mocked.
תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים (ta‘·tu·‘îm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8595: A fraud

In the time
בְּעֵ֥ת (bə·‘êṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

of their punishment
פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם (pə·qud·dā·ṯām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6486: Oversight, mustering, visitation, store

they will perish.
יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ (yō·ḇê·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 51:18 They are vanity a work of delusion: (Jer.)
Jeremiah 51:17
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