Jeremiah 10:12
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Study Note
Study Note
The hymn to the Creator God (10:12-16) celebrates the Lord who made the earth by power, established the world by wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by understanding. This doxology stands in deliberate contrast to the surrounding polemic against idols (10:3-11), which are mute, fixed, and must be carried — the opposite of the God who speaks, moves history, and upholds creation. The three divine attributes (power, wisdom, discretion) echo the wisdom tradition of Proverbs 3:19-20 and Job 38-39. Paul's doxology in Romans 11:33-36 ('to him, through him, and unto him are all things') resonates deeply with this Jeremianic praise of the Creator's incomparable wisdom.
Other Translations
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens.
The maker of the earth by His power, The establisher of the world by His wisdom, Who, by His understanding, stretched forth the heavens,
He has made the earth by his power, he has made the world strong in its place by his wisdom, and by his wise design the heavens have been stretched out.
Cross References
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters …
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land …
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of …
And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.