The knowledge
spoken of here probably refers to the deep, wholehearted commitment to the Lord that is described in the covenant. To not know the Lord in this way makes people stupid. As in Jeremiah 10:8 the word stupid
is not referring to intellectual ability, but rather to a total lack of insight into the moral and spiritual realities of the world that the Lord made. It could also be compared to foolishness, a lack of insight into how to live life well in the Lord’s world. The foolishness that comes from not knowing the Lord leads people to create gods that will ultimately put them to shame. Their gods will be shown to be false and powerless, totally unable to do anything for those who created them. There is a deliberate play on words. It is the Lord who sends forth his wind
(Jeremiah 10:13), ruah in Hebrew, but the idols have no breath
(ruah in them (Jeremiah 10:14)).1 In comparison, these idols are worthless, a work of delusion.
They are simply the product of the delusion that comes from people who believe that they can replace the Lord with gods made by their own hands. But when they, both the gods and their makers, are finally exposed to the Lord in judgment they will all perish.
14 Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.