Jeremiah 44 16

Jeremiah 44:16 kjv

As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

Jeremiah 44:16 nkjv

"As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you!

Jeremiah 44:16 niv

"We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD!

Jeremiah 44:16 esv

"As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.

Jeremiah 44:16 nlt

"We will not listen to your messages from the LORD!

Jeremiah 44 verses

Jeremiah 44 16 Meaning

The people in Jerusalem responded to Jeremiah's prophecy of God's wrath by defiantly asserting their intention to continue worshipping the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her. They declared that their prosperity ceased and their destitution began only after they stopped honoring the Queen of Heaven, attributing their misfortunes directly to this change.

Jeremiah 44 16 Context

This verse is found within Jeremiah chapter 44, which describes a critical moment in Judean history after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile of its people. The remnant that fled to Egypt, despite God's clear warnings and Jeremiah's prophecies, clung to their old ways, specifically their practice of worshipping the Queen of Heaven. This chapter records a confrontation between Jeremiah, acting as God's mouthpiece, and the people, who express a defiant rejection of his message and a doubling down on their idolatrous practices, blaming God for their troubles rather than their disobedience. This refusal to repent and turn from their sin positions them for further divine judgment.

Jeremiah 44 16 Word analysis

• We (Hebrew: אנחנו, anákhnu): First-person plural pronoun, referring to the collective group of Judeans who had fled to Egypt.

• will certainly perform (Hebrew: paqod neffeq): A strong affirmation of their resolve and intent. "Paqod" can mean to attend to, to muster, or to punish. "Neffeq" means to go out, to come forth. Together, it emphasizes their determined action and their intention to follow through on their commitments.

• every word (Hebrew: kol davar): Signifies the totality of their promises and vows.

• that has gone forth (Hebrew: tsatseh): Refers to something that has issued or proceeded, in this case, their spoken vows.

• from our mouth (Hebrew: mippī qänū): From their lips, highlighting the verbal commitment.

• to pour out (Hebrew: liskōq): To offer libations or drink offerings.

• a drink offering (Hebrew: massēḵāh): A liquid sacrifice, typically wine, poured out as an act of worship.

• to the Queen of Heaven (Hebrew: ləmiḇrēkheth hāššāmayim): A clear reference to a prominent astral deity, likely the moon goddess, widely worshipped in ancient Near Eastern and Canaanite cultures. This phrase is a specific accusation made by God in Jeremiah.

• and to make (Hebrew: ūlaʿaśōṯ): To fashion, create, or perform.

• her cakes (Hebrew: kökiḇ): Small cakes or sacrificial offerings, often crescent-shaped, associated with solar or lunar worship.

• as we (Hebrew: ’khen ’anokhi): In the manner of us, by our own practice.

• and our fathers (Hebrew: ū’abōṯīnū): Referring to the traditions and practices inherited from previous generations.

• and our kings (Hebrew: ūmeleḵīnū): The rulers and leadership who sanctioned and participated in these rituals.

• and our princes (Hebrew: ūśareū): The officials and nobles of Judah.

• in the cities of Judah (Hebrew: be’āreū Yehūḏāh): Indicating that this idolatrous practice was widespread throughout the kingdom, not just in Jerusalem.

• and in the streets of Jerusalem (Hebrew: ūḇokṯoḇyūṯ Yerūšālāyim): Further emphasizing the pervasive nature of the sin, even in the very heart of the nation.

• for then (Hebrew: kiy’āz): In that time, referring to the past.

• we had plenty (Hebrew: samāḥānū）：To have abundance, be abundant.

• of food (Hebrew: laḥom): Bread, foodstuff.

• and were well (Hebrew: waṯūḇūw）：And prospered, were well.

• and saw (Hebrew: rō’ōū）：And did not see.

• no disaster (Hebrew: ḵelo): Calamity, misfortune, ruin.

• Words Group Analysis:

  • "We will certainly perform every word that has gone forth from our mouth to pour out a drink offering to the Queen of Heaven and to make her cakes": This phrase underscores their unwavering commitment to their idolatrous practices, directly opposing God's commandments. They view their spoken vows to this goddess as binding and primary.
  • "as we and our fathers, and our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem": This chain of participation highlights a deeply ingrained, multi-generational, and socially sanctioned religious rebellion against God. It indicates a historical continuity of this apostasy across all levels of society and governance.
  • "for then we had plenty of food and were well, and saw no disaster": This statement presents their faulty theology and twisted logic. They directly link their past prosperity to their idolatry and their present suffering to the cessation of these pagan rites, ignoring their own disobedience as the cause.

Jeremiah 44 16 Bonus section

The "Queen of Heaven" was a pervasive deity in the ancient Near East, often identified with the moon goddess. Similar worship practices are seen in Babylonian, Assyrian, and Canaanite religions, demonstrating the broad cultural syncretism and the specific pagan influences that infiltrated Israelite worship. The association with "cakes" also links to astronomical observations and festivals tied to celestial bodies. This verse shows how deeply ingrained these pagan practices were, leading even the remnant in Egypt to believe their fate was tied to these idols rather than to their obedience to the Lord of Hosts. This persistent sin ultimately leads to the severe judgment pronounced upon them later in the chapter. The response of the people here is representative of the general unresponsiveness of Judah to God's persistent calls for repentance throughout Jeremiah's ministry.

Jeremiah 44 16 Commentary

The people's declaration is a bold act of rebellion, a confession of continued defiance rather than repentance. They have inverted the cause and effect, wrongly attributing their past abundance to the worship of the Queen of Heaven and their current hardship to the interruption of these forbidden practices. This highlights a deep-seated spiritual blindness and a wilful rejection of God's covenant and truth. Their reference to the practices of their fathers, kings, and princes shows a heritage of apostasy that they are determined to continue. Their prosperity under idolatry, they believe, validates their choices, even though Scripture teaches that such "prosperity" is ultimately fleeting and comes at the cost of God's favour. Their insistence that they "saw no disaster" while practicing idolatry conveniently ignores the many times God judged their sins throughout their history. Their declaration is a stark example of spiritual stubbornness that prioritizes human tradition and perceived blessings over divine authority.