Jeremiah 16:20 Meaning: Can a Creature Create Its Creator?
Should a man make to himself gods which yet are no gods?”
Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?
Doth man make for himself gods, And they--no gods?
Shall a man makegods unto himself, and they are no-gods?
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jeremiah ask if a man can make gods? This verse exposes the absurdity of idolatry and points to the living God who alone is worthy of our trust.
Context
Jeremiah speaks at a dark moment in Judah’s history. The people have turned to idols made of wood and stone, worshipping things that cannot see or hear. God has already declared judgment: exile is coming. But in the middle of this hard word, the prophet looks ahead. He sees a day when the nations themselves will confess that their ancestors held onto nothing but lies (verse 19). Then comes this sharp question, almost a cry: Should a man make gods for himself, which are no gods? The answer is painfully obvious, and it cuts straight to what idolatry really is: a creature trying to become the Creator. The verse sets up God’s promise to make Himself known in a way that cannot be missed (verse 21).
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight here. ‘Adam (man) is the same word used for the first human, formed from dust. It reminds us that every person is frail, finite, dependent. That’s who does the making. ‘Asah (to make) is a common verb for human craft. You can make a table, a tool, an image. But the object here is ‘Elohim, the plural form that usually refers to the true God. The same word is used for idols in this verse, and for Yahweh in verse 21. The collision is deliberate: dust trying to produce deity. You cannot give what you do not have. The point is not just that statues are worthless; it’s that a limited human being cannot create the limitless God. Any god we build will always be smaller than us.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a core critique of idolatry. John Calvin argued the absurdity runs deeper than the material: a creature cannot be the source of divine power. Matthew Henry, echoing the same thought, calls it an indignant protest. The Geneva Bible simply marks the rhetorical force: the question expects a clear “No.” Most traditions agree that the verse reaches beyond carved images to any trust in something made by human hands or minds. Yet the hope in context is that even when we get this wrong, God does not leave us. He makes Himself known in ways that undo our foolishness.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as only mocking primitive carved idols. In fact, the argument is deeper: it is about the inherent impossibility of a creature creating the Creator. The same absurdity applies when we make ultimate realities out of money, reputation, or our own opinions. Those are also “no gods”, they cannot save, heal, or hold us. Jeremiah’s question confronts every heart, not just ancient hands.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to what you reach for when you feel afraid or anxious. Maybe it is a plan you have made, a person you rely on, a reputation you protect. Ask yourself: am I trying to make this into a god? Then bring that thing to the Lord. Lay it down. The real God does not need you to build Him; He is already here. You only need to turn and trust Him with what you cannot control.
Main takeaway: Only the living God, who created all things, deserves our trust; anything we make ourselves will never be God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
You can’t make a real God. Only God is God. We don’t need to make pretend gods; we can talk to the real one who made us.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes we act like we can make God into what we want. But this verse reminds us that God is not something we create. He is the Creator. He wants us to know Him as He is, not as we imagine Him. When you pray, remember you are talking to the real God who made everything.
Questions People Ask
What does Jeremiah 16:20 mean?
It is a rhetorical question that exposes the absurdity of idolatry. A human being, who is frail and created, cannot produce a god. Any god a person makes is not really God. The verse calls us to recognise that only the living Yahweh is worthy of worship.
Is this verse only about physical idols?
No. While the immediate context is carved images, the logic applies to anything we treat as ultimate: money, success, relationships. The question challenges us to examine what we are really trusting to save us or give us meaning.
How does Jeremiah 16:20 apply to Christians today?
It invites us to examine our hearts for modern idols. Anything we rely on more than God becomes a false god. The verse also reminds us that God is not something we can shape to our liking. He is the Creator, not the created.
Why does God call idols 'no gods'?
Because they have no power, no life, no ability to help or harm. They are called “gods” only by human pretence. In reality, they are nothing. The phrase underscores that only Yahweh is truly God.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study