Jeremiah 10:16


16 The Lord, who is the inheritance
tn The words “The Lord who is” are not in the text. They are supplied in the translation for clarity. For the significance of the words after them see the study note that follows.
sn In the phrase the inheritance of Jacob’s descendants, “inheritance” could be translated “portion.” Applied to God here, the phrase has its background in Joshua’s division of the land of Canaan (Palestine), where each tribe received a land portion except the tribe of Levi, whose “portion” was the Lord. As the other tribes lived off what their portion of the land provided, the tribe of Levi lived off what the Lord provided, i.e., the tithes and offerings dedicated to him. Hence to have the Lord as one’s portion, one’s inheritance, is to have him provide for all one’s needs (see Ps 16:5 in the context of vv. 2, 6, and Lam 3:24 in the context of vv. 22-23).
of Jacob’s descendants,
tn Heb “The Portion of Jacob.” “Descendants” is implied, and is supplied in the translation for clarity.
is not like them.
He is the one who created everything.
And the people of Israel are those he claims as his own.
tn Heb “And Israel is the tribe of his possession.”

His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
tn Heb “Yahweh of Armies.”
sn For this rendering of the name for God and its significance see 2:19 and the study note there.
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