Read & explore together
Praise to the God of Jacob
Jeremiah 51:15–19 praises the Lord by contrasting him with idols. The passage points to God’s power in creation and weather, then shows the emptiness of images people make.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, the speaker describes what God has done in making the earth, the heavens, rain, lightning and wind. The passage then turns to human-made images, calling them false and empty, before naming the God connected with Jacob as the one who formed all things.
Jeremiah 51:15–19Main takeaway
This passage presents the Lord as the one who formed all things, in contrast to idols that are false, empty and perishing.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01God made the worldThe passage begins with God’s power, wisdom and understanding. He made the earth, established the world and stretched out the heavens.
Explanation
The passage begins with God’s power, wisdom and understanding. He made the earth, established the world and stretched out the heavens. These words present creation as God’s work. The focus is on who God is and what he has done in relation to the earth and the heavens.
02God rules the skiesVerse 16 describes God’s voice and his control over waters, vapours, lightning, rain and wind.
Explanation
Verse 16 describes God’s voice and his control over waters, vapours, lightning, rain and wind. The language shows that the natural world answers to him. “Treasuries” pictures resources under his command. The point is to show God’s authority over these powerful parts of creation.
03Images cannot liveThe passage then contrasts God with idols. People who make images are called without knowledge.
Explanation
The passage then contrasts God with idols. People who make images are called without knowledge. A goldsmith may shape a molten image, but it is falsehood, and “there is no breath in them”. These objects may be crafted by human hands, yet they do not possess life.
04The God of Jacob is differentIdols are called vanity and delusion, and they will perish in the time of their visitation.
Explanation
Idols are called vanity and delusion, and they will perish in the time of their visitation. But “the portion of Jacob” is not like them. He formed all things, including the tribe of his inheritance. The closing name, “Yahweh of Armies”, highlights his identity and greatness.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What three qualities are linked with God’s work in creation?
Look closely at the words paired with making the earth, establishing the world and stretching out the heavens.
02How does verse 16 show that God is active in the world right now, not only at creation?
List the actions in the verse about waters, vapours, lightning, rain and wind.
03What is the biggest difference between idols and the portion of Jacob in this passage?
Compare the phrases about idols having no breath and perishing with the statement that God formed all things.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 51:15–19
15“He has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom. By his understanding he has stretched out the heavens.
16When he utters his voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries.
17“Every man has become stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image, for his molten images are falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
19The portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things, including the tribe of his inheritance. Yahweh of Armies is his name.