Jeremiah 16:20 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?

Shall a man make gods unto himself - indignant protest of Jeremiah against idols.

And they are no gods - (Jeremiah 2:11; Isaiah 37:19; Galatians 4:8). "They" refers to the idols. A man (a creature himself) making God is a contradiction in terms. The Vulgate takes "they" thus: 'Shall man make gods, Though men themselves are not gods?'

Jeremiah 16:20

20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?