Jeremiah 44 12

Jeremiah 44:12 kjv

And 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.

Jeremiah 44:12 nkjv

And I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to dwell there, and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine. They shall die, from the least to the greatest, by the sword and by famine; and they shall be an oath, an astonishment, a curse and a reproach!

Jeremiah 44:12 niv

I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine. They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach.

Jeremiah 44:12 esv

I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed. In the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall be consumed. From the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine, and they shall become an oath, a horror, a curse, and a taunt.

Jeremiah 44:12 nlt

I will take this remnant of Judah ? those who were determined to come here and live in Egypt ? and I will consume them. They will fall here in Egypt, killed by war and famine. All will die, from the least to the greatest. They will be an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery.

Jeremiah 44 verses

Jeremiah 44 12 meaning

Jeremiah 44:12 unequivocally declares God's severe judgment upon the remnant of Judah who defied His explicit command by choosing to dwell in Egypt. This verse predicts their total destruction in Egypt through widespread war (sword) and devastating hunger (famine), sparing no one from the youngest to the oldest. Their fate will serve as a terrifying example and a lasting source of ignominy, utterly negating any hope of returning to their homeland, Judah. It signifies the absolute finality of God's wrath against their persistent idolatry and disobedience.

Jeremiah 44 12 Context

Jeremiah chapter 44 is set in Egypt, following the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of many Jews to Babylon. A remnant of the Jewish people, defying God's explicit instruction given through Jeremiah (Jer 42), migrated to Egypt seeking security from the Babylonians. Chapter 44 records Jeremiah's final major prophetic message, delivered in Egypt to this defiant remnant residing in various cities like Migdol, Tahpanhes, Noph, and Pathros. The core of their sin was not only disobeying God's command to remain in Judah but also intensifying their idolatry in Egypt, openly worshiping "the Queen of Heaven." Jeremiah recounts how Jerusalem was devastated precisely because of similar idolatry, warning them that their current actions will lead to the same outcome. Verse 12 is a direct pronouncement of God's inescapable judgment against their chosen path of disobedience and pagan worship, sealing their doom in the very land they sought refuge.

Jeremiah 44 12 Word analysis

• And I will take (וְלָקַחְתִּי֙ - v'laqachti): This signifies God's active, intentional intervention, taking ownership and directing the course of events for the fulfillment of His judgment. It's a declaration of divine control.
• the remnant of Judah (שְׁאֵרִ֨ית יְהוּדָ֜ה - sh'eyrit y'hudah): This is a significant phrase. While a "remnant" can often signify God's preserved, faithful few (Is 10:20), here it specifically refers to those who survived the destruction of Jerusalem but then defied God. This is not a "remnant" in the redemptive sense, but rather a group marked for further judgment due to their disobedience.
• that have set their faces (הֵסִ֧ימוּ פְנֵיהֶ֣ם - hesimu pneyhem): This idiom expresses a determined, firm resolve and stubborn will. It implies a conscious, deliberate choice made against explicit divine instruction. It highlights their defiance, not ignorance.
• to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there (לָב֣וֹא אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם לָג֤וּר שָׁם֙ - lavo eretz mitzrayim lagur sham): Going to Egypt was specifically forbidden by God through Jeremiah (Jer 42:19). "To sojourn there" (literally "to reside/live as aliens there") indicates their intention to settle permanently, trusting in Egypt for security rather than in God, echoing Israel's forbidden reliance on Egypt (Is 30:2-3; 31:1).
• and they shall all be consumed (וְתַּ֥מּוּ כֻלָּ֖ם - v'tamu khulam): "Consumed" (from tamam) means to come to an end, to be utterly finished or destroyed. "All" (kulam) emphasizes the complete, collective nature of this destruction, leaving no survivors from this disobedient group.
• and fall in the land of Egypt (וְנָפְל֛וּ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם - v'naflu b'eretz mitzrayim): "Fall" specifically denotes dying, often in battle or by divine judgment. Their demise will occur in the very land they chose as refuge, underscoring the irony and futility of their disobedience.
• they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine (בַּחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב - ba'cherev uva'ra'av): The sword (warfare) and famine (scarcity, pestilence often linked) are recurrent instruments of divine judgment in Jeremiah, consistently warned about (Jer 14:12, 21:7, 24:10, 27:8, etc.). These signify the harsh, natural consequences of political instability and lack of divine provision.
• they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest (מִקָּטֹ֥ן וְעַד־גָּד֖וֹל יָמֻֽתוּ - miqqaton v'ad-gadol yamutu): This phrase highlights the comprehensive scope of the judgment, including every member of the remnant, regardless of age, status, or influence. No one will be exempt.
• and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach (לְאָלָה֙ וּלְשַׁמָּ֣ה וְלִקְלָלָה֙ וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה - l'alah u-l'shammah v'liqlalah u-l'cherpah): These four powerful terms denote their ultimate degradation:
  • Execration (alah): An oath or curse that calls for judgment, serving as a solemn warning or imprecation.
  • Astonishment (shammah): A horror or desolation that causes stupefaction and dismay in observers.
  • Curse (qlalah): A state of malediction, where one is subject to evil.
  • Reproach (cherpah): A public disgrace, shame, or insult.
  Together, they emphasize their fate as a visible, enduring symbol of divine wrath and warning to other nations and future generations (Deut 28:37).
• and they shall see this place no more (לֹא־יִרְא֥וּ אֶת־הַמָּקֹֽום־הַזֶּ֖ה עֹֽוד - lo yir'u et ha'maqom ha'zeh od): "This place" refers to the land of Judah/Jerusalem, their homeland. This signifies a permanent separation from the land of God's covenant, symbolizing the ultimate rejection of the covenant relationship for this specific group. It underscores the finality of their judgment and the complete failure of their attempt to escape God's reach.

• "I will take... remnant of Judah, that have set their faces... to sojourn there": This word group illustrates divine sovereign action against human defiant will. God takes (claims judgment on) the very group that stubbornly decided to go against His clear instruction.
• "all be consumed... fall... die, from the least even unto the greatest... by the sword and by the famine": This section graphically details the absolute, total, and inclusive nature of their destruction, listing the agents of death. The repetition ("consumed... consumed by the sword and by the famine... die by the sword and by the famine") reinforces the certainty and inevitability of their fate.
• "an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach": These four terms are a classic prophetic descriptor for extreme judgment and disgrace. They create a strong rhetorical emphasis on the depth of their downfall and their future as a stark warning. Their punishment extends beyond mere death to an enduring legacy of shame.

Jeremiah 44 12 Bonus section

This verse stands in stark contrast to the initial deliverance of Israel out of Egypt. While God dramatically rescued His people from slavery in Egypt and forbade them from returning there (Deut 17:16), this remnant willfully chose to go back into Egypt. This reversal symbolizes a complete rejection of their identity as God's redeemed people and a forfeiture of their heritage. Their decision to "set their faces" towards Egypt directly mirrors Israel's earlier determination to face God and journey towards the promised land. However, this remnant's choice to return to a land of paganism for perceived safety indicates a profound spiritual blindness and a preference for human security over divine protection. The fulfillment of this prophecy later occurred when the Babylonian army, led by Nebuchadnezzar, conquered Egypt, bringing the very sword and famine they sought to avoid, thereby demonstrating God's sovereignty over all nations, even those outside the immediate land of Judah.

Jeremiah 44 12 Commentary

Jeremiah 44:12 serves as a stark testament to the unwavering consequence of defiant disobedience against God's direct command. This specific remnant, having narrowly escaped the judgment on Jerusalem, chose to flee to Egypt despite divine prohibition, illustrating a profound lack of trust and a hardening of hearts toward God's prophet. Their resolve to settle in Egypt (setting their faces) signifies not just a mistaken path, but a wilful rebellion. The prophecy is absolute: comprehensive destruction by war and famine, the very scourges they sought to escape, reaching every single individual. Their end will not be quiet or forgotten, but will stand as a potent, lasting symbol of disgrace and divine curse for others to witness. This severe judgment highlights God's unyielding commitment to holiness and the gravity of persistent apostasy, demonstrating that fleeing from divine command only leads one deeper into its grasp, ensuring no safe haven outside of God's will.