Jeremiah 10:23
in Jeremiah 10I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
KJV
O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
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This verse in Jeremiah 10
Commentary
3 notes on this verse(Verse 23) I know, Lord, that it is not in man to direct his own steps: nor is it in man, to walk and guide his own footsteps. Let the new preachers be ashamed, who say that each one is ruled by his own will, when even the Prophet says: It is not in man to direct his own steps (Psalm 36:23). And let David sing in his lyric song: The steps of man are directed by the Lord, and his way he greatly desires.
This site's exposition
the way of man is not in himself
on Jeremiah 10:23-25
The chapter closes with Jeremiah's own prayer, the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps, an admission that reframes the whole chapter's argument about idols and the nations, the man praying it claims no more self-direction than the wood he mocked, only a different God to answer to. Correct me, but with judgment, not in thine anger asks for discipline without destruction, and the closing plea, pour out thy fury upon the heathen, for they have eaten up Jacob, turns the prayer outward, an appeal the bench reads as intercession for the covenant people rather than personal revenge.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I know, O Jehovah, that the march of the Babylonian conqueror against me (Jeremiah identifying himself with his people) is not at his own discretion, but is overruled by Thee (Isa 10:5-7; compare Jer 10:19). that walketh--when he walketh, that is, sets out in any undertaking. direct . . . steps--to give a prosperous issue to (Ps 73:23).
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יָדַ֣עְתִּי | yada'ti | I know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| כִּ֛י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| לָאָדָ֖ם | laadam | [belongs] to <the> person | H120 → | 551 times |
| דַּרְכּ֑וֹ | darko | way his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| לְאִ֣ישׁ | leish | [belongs] to a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| הֹלֵ֔ךְ | holekh | [who] walks | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| וְהָכִ֖ין | vehakhin | <and> to direct | H3559 → | 217 times |
| אֶֽת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| צַעֲדֽוֹ׃ | tzaado | step[s] his | H6806 → |
יָדַ֣עְתִּיI know
yada'tiH3045 →945 times
יְהוָ֔הO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
כִּ֛יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
לָאָדָ֖ם[belongs] to <the> person
laadamH120 →551 times
דַּרְכּ֑וֹway his
darkoH1870 →707 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
לְאִ֣ישׁ[belongs] to a person
leishH376 →1663 times
הֹלֵ֔ךְ[who] walks
holekhH1980 →1546 times
וְהָכִ֖ין<and> to direct
vehakhinH3559 →217 times
אֶֽת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
צַעֲדֽוֹ׃step[s] his
tzaadoH6806 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 37:23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 119:133
Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 4:26
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
- Psalms 40:2
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
- Proverbs 16:9
Through
Proverbs 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Luke 21:14–15
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- Proverbs 19:21
Through
Proverbs 20:24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
it leads to
- Psalms 25:12
Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.
- Psalms 25:12
Where this verse is studied
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Also on Jeremiah 10: 1 study that walk through this chapter ▾
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.