Jeremiah Chapter 44

Updated: September 14, 2025

Judgment on the Jews in Egypt

1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein, 3Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. 4Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. 5But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. 6Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. 7Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; 8In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.

11Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah. 12And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach. 13For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: 14So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.

The Stubbornness of the People

15Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. 17But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. 18But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

The Final Judgment

20Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, 21The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? 22So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

24Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: 25Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. 26Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth. 27Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. 28Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs. 29And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: 30Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Judgment on the Jews in Egypt

1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt, who lived at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: You have seen all the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwells therein, 3 because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, to serve other gods, that they didn’t know, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4 However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I hate. 5 But they didn’t listen, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. 6 Therefore my wrath and my anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day. 7 Therefore now thus says Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel: Why do you commit great evil against your own souls, to cut off from yourselves man and woman, infant and nursing child out of the midst of Judah, to leave yourselves none remaining; 8 in that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to live; that you may be cut off, and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives which they committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They are not humbled even to this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.

11 Therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah. 12 I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to live there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an object of horror, an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach. 13 For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, shall escape or be left, to return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return save such as shall escape.

The Stubbornness of the People

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives burned incense to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, even all the people who lived in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16 As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of Yahweh, we will not listen to you. 17 But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of the sky, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of food, and were well, and saw no evil. 18 But since we left off burning incense to the queen of the sky, and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19 When we burned incense to the queen of the sky, and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her, without our husbands?

Calamity for the Jews

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men, and to the women, even to all the people who had given him an answer, saying, 21 The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, didn’t Yahweh remember them, and didn’t it come into his mind? 22 so that Yahweh could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore your land has become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is this day.

24 Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt: 25 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, saying, You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of the sky, and to pour out drink offerings to her: establish then your vows, and perform your vows. 26 Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says Yahweh, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, As the Lord Yahweh lives. 27 Behold, I watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until they are all gone. 28 Those who escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, shall know whose word shall stand, mine, or theirs. 29 This shall be the sign to you, says Yahweh, that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: 30 Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those who seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy, and sought his life.

Judgment on the Jews in Egypt

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt a—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis b—and in the land of Pathros: c 2 “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You have seen all the disaster that I brought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, they lie today in ruins and desolation 3 because of the evil they have done.

They provoked Me to anger by continuing to burn incense and to serve other gods that neither they nor you nor your fathers ever knew. 4 Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets again and again, d saying: ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate.’

5 But they did not listen or incline their ears; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. 6 Therefore My wrath and anger poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so that they have become the desolate ruin they are today.

7 So now, this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves by cutting off from Judah man and woman, child and infant, leaving yourselves without a remnant? 8 Why are you provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to reside?

As a result, you will be cut off and will become an object of cursing and reproach among all the nations of the earth. 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers and of the kings of Judah and their wives, as well as the wickedness that you and your wives committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed My instruction or the statutes that I set before you and your fathers.

11 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah. 12 And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have resolved to go to the land of Egypt to reside there; they will meet their end. They will all fall by the sword or be consumed by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine; and they will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and reproach.

13 I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I punished Jerusalem, by sword and famine and plague, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone to reside in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, where they long to return and live; for none will return except a few fugitives.”

The Stubbornness of the People

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by—a great assembly—along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros, e said to Jeremiah, 16 “As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! 17 Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.

At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster. 18 But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

19 “Moreover,” said the women, “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

Calamity for the Jews

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, 21 “As for the incense you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—you, your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land—did the LORD not remember and bring this to mind? 22 So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD, all those of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows!

26 Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’

27 I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and every man of Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine, until they are finished off.

28 Those who escape the sword will return from Egypt to Judah, few in number, and the whole remnant of Judah who went to dwell in the land of Egypt will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs!

29 This will be a sign to you that I will punish you in this place, declares the LORD, so that you may know that My threats of harm against you will surely stand. 30 This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Lower Egypt  or northern Egypt ; also in verse 15
1 b LXX; Hebrew Noph
1 c Or Upper Egypt  or southern Egypt ; also in verse 15
4 d Literally the prophets, rising up early and sending (them),
15 e That is, in Lower and Upper Egypt; possibly in the land of Egypt at Pathros

Judgment on the Jews in Egypt

1The word that hath been unto Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who are dwelling in the land of Egypt -- who are dwelling in Migdol, and in Tahpanhes, and in Noph, and in the land of Pathros -- saying, 2Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Ye -- ye have seen all the evil that I have brought in on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah, and lo, they are a waste this day, and there is none dwelling in them, 3because of their wickedness that they have done, by provoking Me to anger, by going to make perfume, by serving other gods, that they knew not, they, ye, and your fathers. 4'And I send unto you all my servants, the prophets, rising early and sending, saying: I pray you, do not this abomination that I have hated -- 5and they have not hearkened nor inclined their ear, to turn back from their wickedness, not to make perfume to other gods, 6and poured out is My fury, and Mine anger, and it burneth in cities of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, and they are for a waste, for a desolation, as at this day. 7'And, now, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Why are ye doing great evil unto your own souls, to cut off to you man and woman, infant and suckling, from the midst of Judah, so as not to leave to you a remnant: 8by provoking Me to anger by the works of your hands, by making perfume to other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are going in to sojourn, so as to cut yourselves off, and so as to your being for a reviling and for a reproach among all nations of the earth? 9'Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, that they have done in the land of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem? 10They have not been humbled unto this day, nor have they been afraid, nor have they walked in My law, and in My statutes, that I have set before you and before your fathers.

11'Therefore, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am setting my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah, 12and I have taken the remnant of Judah, who have set their faces to enter the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they have all been consumed in the land of Egypt; they fall by sword, by famine they are consumed, from the least even unto the greatest, by sword and by famine they die, and they have been for an execration, for an astonishment, and for a reviling, and for a reproach. 13'And I have seen after those dwelling in the land of Egypt, as I saw after Jerusalem, with sword, with famine, and with pestilence, 14and there is not an escaped and remaining one of the remnant of Judah, who are entering into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, even to turn back to the land of Judah, whither they are lifting up their soul to return to dwell, for they do not turn back, except those escaping.'

The Stubbornness of the People

15And they answer Jeremiah -- all the men who are knowing that their wives are making perfume to other gods, and all the women who are remaining, a great assembly, even all the people who are dwelling in the land of Egypt, in Pathros -- saying: 16'The word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah -- we are not hearkening unto thee; 17for we certainly do everything that hath gone out of our mouth, to make perfume to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out to her libations, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our heads, in cities of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, and -- we are satisfied with bread, and we are well, and evil we have not seen. 18'And from the time we have ceased to make perfume to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out to her libations, we have lacked all, and by sword and by famine we have been consumed, 19and when we are making perfume to the queen of the heavens, and pouring out to her libations -- without our husbands have we made for her cakes to idolize her, and to pour out to her libations?'

The Final Judgment

20And Jeremiah saith unto all the people, concerning the men and concerning the women, and concerning all the people who are answering him, saying: 21'The perfume that ye made in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your heads, and the people of the land, hath not Jehovah remembered it? yea, it cometh up on His heart. 22And Jehovah is not able any more to accept you, because of the evil of your doings, because of the abominations that ye have done, and your land is for a waste, and for an astonishment, and for a reviling, without inhabitant, as at this day. 23Because that ye have made perfume, and because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and in His law, and in His statutes, and in His testimonies ye have not walked, therefore hath this evil met you as at this day.'

24And Jeremiah saith unto all the people, and unto all the women, 'Hear ye a word of Jehovah, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt, 25Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, saying: Ye and your wives both speak with your mouth, and with your hands have fulfilled, saying: We certainly execute our vows that we have vowed, to make perfume to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out to her libations, ye do certainly establish your vows, and certainly execute your vows. 26'Therefore, hear ye a word of Jehovah, all Judah who are dwelling in the land of Egypt: Lo, I -- I have sworn by My great name, said Jehovah, My name is no more proclaimed by the mouth of any man of Judah, saying, Live doth the Lord Jehovah -- in all the land of Egypt. 27Lo, I am watching over them for evil, and not for good, and consumed have been all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt, by sword and by famine, till their consumption. 28'And the escaped of the sword turn back out of the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number, and known have all the remnant of Judah who are coming into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, whose word is established, Mine or theirs. 29And this is to you the sign -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- that I am seeing after you in this place, so that ye know that My words are certainly established against you for evil; 30Thus said Jehovah, Lo, I am giving Pharaoh-Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those seeking his life, as I have given Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and who is seeking his life.'

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The F.O.G Commentary

When God’s People Won’t Listen: The Final Warning in Egypt

What’s Jeremiah 44 about?

This is Jeremiah’s final recorded prophecy – a devastating confrontation with Jewish refugees in Egypt who are openly defying God by worshipping pagan deities. It’s the heartbreaking climax of a prophet’s lifelong ministry, where God’s people essentially tell Him they’re done listening and prefer their idols to His protection.

The Full Context

Picture this: Jerusalem has fallen, the temple is ash, and the survivors Jeremiah warned for decades have fled to Egypt – the very place God delivered them from centuries earlier. It’s around 582 BC, and these Jewish refugees have settled in Egyptian cities like Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros. But instead of clinging to Yahweh in their darkest hour, they’ve embraced Egyptian gods, especially the “Queen of Heaven” (likely Ishtar or Asherah). When Jeremiah confronts them about this betrayal, their response is shocking: “We will not listen to you!”

This passage sits at the very end of Jeremiah’s recorded ministry, serving as both a climactic confrontation and a theological turning point. The book of Jeremiah has been building toward this moment – where God’s patience reaches its limit and His people make their final choice. What makes this chapter so devastating is that these aren’t pagans being judged; these are covenant people who have experienced God’s faithfulness firsthand, yet they’re now openly rejecting Him. The theological weight here is staggering: it’s a case study in what happens when hearts become so hardened that even disaster can’t soften them.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew in this chapter pulses with raw emotion and finality. When the people declare lo’ nishma (“we will not listen”) in Jeremiah 44:16, they’re using the same root word that appears throughout Deuteronomy as Israel’s central command: shema (“hear/listen/obey”). They’re essentially saying, “We reject the Shema itself.”

But here’s what makes this even more chilling – when they defend their idol worship in verse 17, they use the phrase kol ha-davar (“every word”) to describe their commitment to the Queen of Heaven. The same intensity of language God desires for covenant faithfulness, they’re now pledging to a foreign goddess.

Grammar Geeks

The Hebrew phrase maleket ha-shamayim (Queen of Heaven) appears only in Jeremiah, and it’s grammatically structured to mirror divine titles. The people aren’t just adding another god to their pantheon – they’re replacing Yahweh entirely with a feminine deity who promises fertility and prosperity.

The most heartbreaking word choice comes in verse 22, where God says He “could no longer bear” (lo’-yakol nasa’) their evil deeds. The verb nasa’ means “to lift” or “carry” – the same word used for a priest carrying sin offerings. God is saying He can no longer bear the weight of their rebellion, like a father who finally can’t carry his child’s burdens anymore.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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To these Egyptian Jewish communities, Jeremiah’s words would have sounded like a death sentence – not just physically, but spiritually. They’d already survived the unthinkable: Jerusalem’s destruction, the temple’s burning, exile from the promised land. In their minds, Yahweh had failed them. The Queen of Heaven, on the other hand, offered tangible benefits: fertility, prosperity, the good life they remembered “when we had plenty of food and were well off” (Jeremiah 44:17).

But Jeremiah’s audience would also have recognized the devastating theological implications. By fleeing to Egypt, they’d reversed the Exodus – the foundational event of their faith. By worshipping Egyptian deities, they were choosing slavery over freedom, the very thing their ancestors died to escape. This wasn’t just religious syncretism; it was covenant suicide.

Did You Know?

Archaeological evidence from Elephantine, an Egyptian Jewish community from this period, reveals they built a temple to Yahweh alongside shrines to other gods, including a goddess called Anath-Yahu – possibly the same “Queen of Heaven” mentioned here. These weren’t theoretical theological debates but real religious practices happening in Jeremiah’s time.

The most shocking part for the original audience would have been the people’s bold confession in verses 17-18. They’re not making excuses or claiming ignorance – they’re arguing that idol worship actually worked better than following Yahweh! This would have sounded like the ultimate blasphemy to any faithful Jew, yet these refugees are saying it openly, defiantly.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s what keeps me up at night about this passage: these people have a point, at least from their perspective. They can look at their recent history and say, “When we worshipped the Queen of Heaven, life was good. When we tried to follow Yahweh exclusively, everything fell apart.” How do you argue with that?

Jeremiah’s response reveals something profound about how God views causation versus correlation. In verses 20-23, he argues that their disasters came because they worshipped other gods, not because they stopped. The good times they remember coincided with idol worship, but that doesn’t mean the idols caused the prosperity.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Notice how the women are specifically mentioned as leading this idol worship (verse 19). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, women often maintained household religious practices, including fertility cults. But why would Jeremiah emphasize their role here? It might be because the Queen of Heaven cult promised women agency and significance in ways that covenant faith, as they understood it, didn’t.

This raises uncomfortable questions about how we interpret suffering and blessing in our own lives. When bad things happen to faithful people and good things happen to the unfaithful, how do we maintain trust in God’s justice? Jeremiah 44 doesn’t give us easy answers – it shows us people choosing the evidence of their eyes over the promises of their covenant God.

How This Changes Everything

What makes Jeremiah 44 so devastating is that it represents the failure of everything the prophetic movement stood for. For centuries, prophets had warned that disobedience would lead to disaster, believing that catastrophe would drive people back to God. But here we see the opposite: disaster has driven people away from God entirely.

This changes how we read the entire book of Jeremiah. All those prophecies of restoration, all those promises about God’s faithfulness, all those calls to repentance – they culminate here with people who simply refuse to listen. It’s the theological equivalent of a dead end.

“Sometimes the greatest act of faith isn’t finding answers to suffering – it’s choosing to trust God even when the evidence seems to point the other way.”

Yet there’s something profound happening in God’s response. In verse 28, He promises that a small remnant “will escape the sword and return from Egypt to Judah.” Even in this moment of ultimate rejection, God preserves a faithful few. The covenant may be broken by human unfaithfulness, but it’s not abandoned by divine faithfulness.

This foreshadows the entire New Testament story – God’s people may reject Him, but He doesn’t reject His promises. What dies in Jeremiah 44 is not God’s faithfulness but human presumption that we can manipulate divine blessing through religious ritual, whether that’s Queen of Heaven worship or temple sacrifice.

Key Takeaway

When life falls apart, our natural tendency is to look for someone or something to blame – including God. But Jeremiah 44 shows us that the evidence of our circumstances isn’t always the evidence of God’s character. Sometimes faithfulness means trusting God’s heart even when His hand seems absent from our story.

Jeremiah Chapter 44

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God's Word is too vast for a single perspective. We all have a story, and as believers we all carry the Holy Spirit who is the Revealer. With this in mind - I would love to read your comments.