Jeremiah 44 15

Jeremiah 44:15 kjv

Then 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,

Jeremiah 44:15 nkjv

Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying:

Jeremiah 44:15 niv

Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present?a large assembly?and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 44:15 esv

Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 44:15 nlt

Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols ? a great crowd of all the Judeans living in northern Egypt and southern Egypt ? answered Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 44 verses

Jeremiah 44 15 meaning

Jeremiah 44:15 describes a pivotal moment of outright and unanimous defiance by the Judean remnant living in Pathros, Egypt. Having fled to Egypt despite God's explicit command against it, they were now confronted by the prophet Jeremiah concerning their continued idolatry, specifically the worship of "other gods" (implied to be the "Queen of Heaven" from the surrounding context). This verse records their immediate, collective, and emphatic rejection of God's word spoken through Jeremiah. Both the men, aware of their wives' idolatry, and the women actively involved, declared their resolute refusal to obey the Lord's instruction, solidifying their unrepentant posture.

Jeremiah 44 15 Context

Jeremiah 44 occurs during the tumultuous period following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. A Jewish remnant, including Jeremiah himself (likely by force, Jer 43:6), had fled to Egypt against the explicit word of the Lord, seeking safety and sustenance (Jer 42-43). They settled in various parts of Egypt, including Pathros in Upper Egypt, which this verse specifies. Jeremiah's divine message to them was a warning: remaining in Egypt would lead to their destruction, and continuing their idolatrous practices (particularly the worship of the "Queen of Heaven," mentioned explicitly in subsequent verses) would only seal their fate. Jeremiah 44:15 marks the pinnacle of the remnant's obstinacy; rather than heeding the prophet's warnings, they collectively and openly defy God's message, choosing to persist in their pagan practices and trusting in their own plans and perceived success rather than God's covenantal care. Their actions reflect a deep-seated spiritual blindness and an arrogant rebellion against divine authority, mirroring the very reasons for Judah's prior destruction.

Jeremiah 44 15 Word analysis

• Then all the men who knew (Vayyaʿanû ʾotô kol-hāʾănāšîm ʾăšer yāḏəʿû):
  • all the men: (kol-hāʾănāšîm) Emphasizes collective responsibility and unanimity in defiance. It signifies that this was not a fringe group, but a dominant voice.
  • knew: (yāḏəʿû) From yādaʿ (to know). This is critical. Their sin was not out of ignorance but a deliberate choice. They were fully aware of their wives' actions. This makes their subsequent defiance a conscious, willful rejection of God's law.
• that their wives had burned incense to other gods: (kî-maqṭîrôt nēšêhem lēʾlōhîm ʾaḥērîm)
  • wives: (nēšêhem) Indicates the direct involvement of women in idolatry, an issue specifically addressed in the broader chapter (cf. vv. 17-19, 25).
  • burned incense: (maqṭîrôt) Participle from qāṭar. Signifies an ongoing and customary practice of offering sacrifices. It's not a past isolated act, but a persistent habit. Incense was central to cultic worship.
  • other gods: (lēʾlōhîm ʾaḥērîm) A clear Hebrew phrase denoting pagan deities, explicitly forbidden by the First Commandment (Ex 20:3). In this context, it strongly refers to the "Queen of Heaven" (Jer 44:17). This term is a direct polemic against foreign deities.
• along with all the women who were standing by—a great assembly: (wəḵol-hannāšîm hannīṣṣāvôt qāhāl gāḏôl)
  • all the women: (kol-hannāšîm) Reinforces the corporate nature of their response.
  • standing by: (hannīṣṣāvôt) Participle from nāṣav. Implies not merely passive presence but an active stance, perhaps even affirming or participating in the collective decision. They are witnesses and supporters of the defiance.
  • a great assembly: (qāhāl gāḏôl) The word qāhāl refers to an assembled community or congregation. Gāḏôl means great or large. This indicates the significant number of people involved and the communal nature of their rebellion, making their defiance powerful and unanimous.
• all the people living in Pathros in Egypt: (kol-hāʿām hayyōšəvîm bəʾereṣ-miṣrayim bəphaṯrôs)
  • all the people: (kol-hāʿām) Further emphasizes the collective, unanimous decision, covering all segments of the Jewish population present.
  • Pathros in Egypt: (bəphaṯrôs bəʾereṣ-miṣrayim) Pathros is a region in Upper Egypt. This specific geographic location highlights where the remnant chose to settle, ignoring God's word against seeking refuge there. It underscores their direct defiance of divine command even before this declaration.
• said to Jeremiah, saying, 'We will not listen to the word which you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!': (lēʾmōr haddāvār ʾăšer-dibbartā ʾêlênû bəšēm YHWH ʾênenû šōməʿîm ʾêleḵā)
  • said: (lēʾmōr) Introduces the direct, unvarnished statement of rejection.
  • word which you have spoken: (haddāvār ʾăšer-dibbartā) Acknowledges that they recognized Jeremiah's message as a divine utterance. They understood the nature of his pronouncement.
  • in the name of the Lord: (bəšēm YHWH) Crucially, they explicitly understood that Jeremiah was speaking with the authority of YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. Their rejection was not just of Jeremiah but of the living God he represented.
  • We will not listen to you: (ʾênenû šōməʿîm ʾêleḵā) The negative participle ʾênenû with the participle šōməʿîm ("listening" or "obeying") forms a strong, categorical negation. It conveys a resolute and unchangeable decision: "we are not listening and will not listen." This is an open act of defiance, not simply indifference or temporary lapse. It encapsulates active, conscious rebellion against divine authority and the covenant.

Jeremiah 44 15 Bonus section

The active involvement and collective voice of "all the women" is particularly significant in Jeremiah 44, setting the stage for their defense of the "Queen of Heaven" worship in subsequent verses (Jer 44:17-19). This highlights that religious practices and their defiance against God's word were not exclusive to men in ancient Israel but were deeply embedded within family and community structures. The passage reveals how spiritual rebellion can take deep root within a community, often fueled by collective identity, perceived benefits from pagan practices (such as prosperity or protection, as argued by the women in v. 17-19), and a deliberate preference for personal desires over divine revelation. The group's flight to Egypt, a place known for its potent pantheon and idolatrous culture, reveals a longing for tangible security and material blessings from other sources, forsaking their unique identity as the people of YHWH and the divine protection that came with it. This outright defiance mirrors Israel's history of preferring human counsel and foreign alliances over the Lord's guidance, consistently leading to their downfall.

Jeremiah 44 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 44:15 encapsulates the ultimate spiritual tragedy of persistent rebellion. It's a defiant "No" to God Himself, delivered through His prophet. The people's declaration is not merely passive disobedience, but an active, corporate rejection of divine authority, knowingly declared after understanding that Jeremiah spoke "in the name of the Lord." Their knowledge of their wives' idolatry, coupled with the women's collective presence and likely participation, underscores the pervasive and ingrained nature of their apostasy. Settling in Egypt against God's direct command (Jer 42-43) was their initial act of defiance, and their declaration here confirms their hardened hearts, fully committed to a syncretistic faith or outright paganism for perceived earthly gain. This verse serves as a powerful testament to humanity's capacity for stubborn unbelief, even when faced with clear prophetic warnings from a God who consistently sought their repentance and salvation. It reveals that the ultimate rejection is not just of God's messenger, but of His very Word and His covenantal authority over their lives.