Read & explore together
Ornamented idols cannot speak or defend themselves
This passage exposes the weakness of crafted idols. People decorate them with precious metals, crowns, clothes, and royal symbols, yet the passage says they are false and unable to speak, act, or protect themselves.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Baruch 6:8–16 is prophetic teaching about idols. These verses focus on what people do for the images, such as polishing, crowning, clothing, and cleaning them, and on what the images cannot do, such as speak, judge, defend, or save themselves.
Baruch 6:8–16Main takeaway
Baruch 6:8–16 teaches that idols should not be feared, because they are human-managed objects that cannot act as true gods.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Polished and plated, yet still falseThe passage begins with careful craftsmanship. An idol’s tongue is polished by a workman, and the image is overlaid with gold and silver.
Explanation
The passage begins with careful craftsmanship. An idol’s tongue is polished by a workman, and the image is overlaid with gold and silver. Even with this expensive finish, the verdict is clear: these idols are fake and cannot speak. Decoration does not make them living or true.
02People crown, use, and clothe themGold is used to make crowns for the heads of these gods. The passage then says priests take gold and silver from them and spend it on themselves, even giving some to common prostitutes.
Explanation
Gold is used to make crowns for the heads of these gods. The passage then says priests take gold and silver from them and spend it on themselves, even giving some to common prostitutes. It also says people dress these gods with garments, naming gods of silver, gold, and wood.
03They cannot stop decay or dustAlthough they are covered with purple garments, these gods cannot save themselves from rust and moths.
Explanation
Although they are covered with purple garments, these gods cannot save themselves from rust and moths. Dust becomes thick on their faces in the temple, and people have to wipe them clean. The passage shows that these supposed gods need ordinary care because they cannot preserve themselves.
04Their weapons and symbols do not helpAn idol may hold a sceptre like a judge, and it may have a dagger and an axe in its hand. Yet it cannot punish an offender or deliver itself from war and robbers.
Explanation
An idol may hold a sceptre like a judge, and it may have a dagger and an axe in its hand. Yet it cannot punish an offender or deliver itself from war and robbers. The conclusion follows from these examples: they are not gods, so people should not fear them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What contrast does Baruch 6:8 make between the idol’s appearance and its reality?
Notice the polished tongue and precious overlay, then compare that with the statement that it is fake and cannot speak.
02How do Baruch 6:9–11 show that people must manage these idols?
Look for the crowns, the gold and silver taken by priests, and the garments put on gods of silver, gold, and wood.
03Why does Baruch 6:16 say, ‘Therefore don’t fear them’?
Use the earlier examples that they cannot save themselves from rust, moths, war, or robbers, and cannot punish an offender.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Baruch 6:8–16
8For their tongue is polished by the workman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver; yet they are only fake, and can’t speak.
9And taking gold, as if it were for a virgin who loves to be happy, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.
10Sometimes also the priests take gold and silver from their gods, and spend it on themselves.
11They will even give some of it to the common prostitutes. They dress them like men with garments, even the gods of silver, gods of gold, and gods of wood.
12Yet these gods can’t save themselves from rust and moths, even though they are covered with purple garments.
13They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick upon them.
14And he who can’t put to death one who offends against him holds a sceptre, as though he were judge of a country.
15He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an axe, but can’t deliver himself from war and robbers.
16By this they are known not to be gods. Therefore don’t fear them.