And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Don't follow other gods to serve and worship them. Don't make me angry with the things you create with your hands, and I won't harm you.
God is telling His people that if they stay faithful to Him alone and don't worship idols, He will protect them from harm.
📚 Historical Context
In the 7th century BC, the prophet Jeremiah was delivering God's warnings to the people of Judah during a time of widespread idolatry and moral decline, as they were heavily influenced by the pagan practices of neighboring nations like Babylon and Assyria. This verse specifically addresses their tendency to worship false gods made by human hands, which directly provoked God's anger and risked severe consequences such as exile. Jeremiah's overall message in this chapter was a urgent call for national repentance to avoid the impending judgment that eventually came through the Babylonian invasion.
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