Jer 10:2 | NETfull | STEP | The Lord says, “Do not start following pagan religious practices. Do not be in awe of signs that occur in the sky even though the nations hold them in awe.

Jeremiah 10:2

2 The Lord says,

“Do not start following pagan religious practices. ^{▼▼ Heb “Do not learn the way of the nations.” For this use of the word “ways” (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh) compare for example Jer 12:16 and Isa 2:6.}
Do not be in awe of signs that occur ^{▼▼ Heb “signs.” The words “that occur” are supplied in the translation for clarity.} ^{▼▼ The Hebrew word translated here “things that go on in the sky” (אֹתוֹת, ’otot) refers both to unusual disturbances such as eclipses, comets, meteors, etc., but also to such things as the changes in the position of the sun, moon, and stars in conjunction with the changes in seasons (cf. Gen 1:14). The people of Assyria and Babylonia worshiped the sun, moon, and stars, thinking that these heavenly bodies had some hold over them.} in the sky
even though the nations hold them in awe.