King James Version

Jeremiah 16:20

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

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Hebrew

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הֲיַעֲשֶׂהhayaasehdoעָשָׂהparticle, interrogative, verb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “do”, an unfinished actionH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…לּ֥וֹlvotoלּ֥וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toאָדָ֖םadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.אֱלֹהִ֑יםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.וְהֵ֖מָּהvehemahand theyהֵםconjunction, pronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and they”H1992they (only used when emphatic)it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.לֹ֥אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…אֱלֹהִֽיםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?

Young’s Literal Translation

Doth man make for himself gods, And they — no gods?

World English Bible

Should a man make to himself gods which yet are no gods?”

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

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

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Will a man make gods for himself, whereas these are no gods?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἰ ποιήσει ἑαυτῷ ἄνθρωπος θεοὺς, καὶ οὗτοι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί.