Read & explore together
Immobile idols depend on others and their offerings are misused
This passage argues that idols may look valuable, but they are helpless objects. It points to simple, visible facts: they need cleaning, carrying, lifting, and human management, so they should not be feared as gods.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses from Baruch 6, the writer continues a warning about idols by listing what can be seen about them. The passage stays in the form of prophecy and teaching, using observations about images, offerings, priests, and ordinary bodily realities to show that these figures are not divine.
Baruch 6:24–29Main takeaway
This passage teaches that idols are powerless objects, so people should not fear them as gods.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Covered beauty that still depends on peopleThe idols are covered with gold to appear beautiful, yet their shine depends on someone wiping away tarnish.
Explanation
The idols are covered with gold to appear beautiful, yet their shine depends on someone wiping away tarnish. The passage adds that they did not even feel what happened when they were molten. Their appearance may impress people, but the text says their condition is managed entirely by others.
02Expensive, but lifeless and carriedPeople may pay a high price for these objects, but the writer says there is no breath in them.
Explanation
People may pay a high price for these objects, but the writer says there is no breath in them. They have no feet and must be carried on shoulders. Instead of proving greatness, this shows their weakness. The passage treats their helplessness as evidence that they are worth nothing as gods.
03Unable to stand or receive honourThose who serve the idols are ashamed because the idols cannot help themselves. If one falls, it cannot rise.
Explanation
Those who serve the idols are ashamed because the idols cannot help themselves. If one falls, it cannot rise. If bent over, it cannot straighten itself. Offerings are placed before them like offerings set before dead men. The comparison presses the main point that these figures have no living power.
04Offerings handled by people, not by godsThe sacrifices do not reveal divine power. Instead, priests sell and spend them, and their wives store some away in salt.
Explanation
The sacrifices do not reveal divine power. Instead, priests sell and spend them, and their wives store some away in salt. The poor and the impotent receive none. The passage also notes that women in menstruation and childbirth touch the sacrifices. From these facts, it concludes plainly: these are not gods, so do not fear them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details in this passage show that idols cannot act for themselves?
Look for actions the idols cannot do, such as shining without help, walking, standing up, or straightening themselves.
02How does the passage describe the way people treat sacrifices made to idols?
Notice who sells, spends, stores, or withholds what is sacrificed.
03Why does the passage end by saying, ‘Don’t fear them’?
Base your answer on the repeated signs that these images have no breath and no power.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Baruch 6:24–29
24Notwithstanding the gold with which they are covered to make them beautiful, unless someone wipes off the tarnish, they won’t shine; for they didn’t even feel it when they were molten.
25Things in which there is no breath are bought at any cost.
26Having no feet, they are carried upon shoulders. By this, they declare to men that they are worth nothing.
27Those who serve them are also ashamed, for if they fall to the ground at any time, they can’t rise up again by themselves. If they are bowed down, they can’t make themselves straight; but the offerings are set before them, as if they were dead men.
28And the things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and spend. In like manner, their wives also lay up part of it in salt; but to the poor and to the impotent they give none of it.
29The menstruous woman and the woman in childbed touch their sacrifices, knowing therefore by these things that they are no gods. Don’t fear them.