Jeremiah 44 17

Jeremiah 44:17 kjv

But 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.

Jeremiah 44:17 nkjv

But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and 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 we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble.

Jeremiah 44:17 niv

We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm.

Jeremiah 44:17 esv

But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster.

Jeremiah 44:17 nlt

We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like ? just as we, and our ancestors, and our kings and officials have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles!

Jeremiah 44 verses

Jeremiah 44 17 meaning

Jeremiah 44:17 records the unyielding and rebellious declaration of the Jewish refugees in Egypt. In direct response to Jeremiah's warnings from the Lord, they defiantly vowed to continue their idolatrous worship of the "Queen of Heaven" through acts like burning incense and pouring out drink offerings. Their reasoning stemmed from a profound misinterpretation of divine providence: they believed their past prosperity, marked by abundance and security, was directly attributed to this idolatrous practice, and conversely, their recent suffering was a consequence of having ceased it. This verse illustrates a complete rejection of God's explicit commands and the substitution of covenant loyalty with a pragmatic, experiential, yet false theology rooted in human desire for perceived material gain.

Jeremiah 44 17 Context

Jeremiah chapter 44 is situated at a critical juncture following the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (586 BCE). A remnant of Jews, despite explicit divine warnings delivered through Jeremiah, chose to flee to Egypt (chapters 41-43), believing they would find safety there. In Egypt, Jeremiah once again delivers God's word to them, reminding them of the calamities that befell Judah precisely because of their idolatry and unfaithfulness. Verse 17 represents the people's audacious and unrepentant reply to this divine indictment. Rather than turning back to God after witnessing the full extent of His judgment, they hardened their hearts, defiantly claiming that their previous worship of the "Queen of Heaven" had brought them prosperity, and discontinuing it led to their recent woes. This context reveals a deep-seated spiritual blindness and an absolute rejection of God's authority even after enduring devastating consequences.

Jeremiah 44 17 Word analysis

• But (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - va-yo'mru): More accurately rendered "And they said." This connective immediately introduces their defiant verbal response, highlighting the direct challenge to Jeremiah's prophetic message.
• we will certainly do (עָשׂ֣וֹ נַעֲשֶׂ֔ה - ʿaso naʿaseh): This is an emphatic construction using an infinitive absolute, expressing absolute resolve and certainty. It signifies an unwavering determination to carry out their decision, irrespective of any command from God.
• whatsoever thing goes forth out of our own mouth (כָּל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֣א מִפִּ֔ינוּ - kol-ha-davar asher-yatsa mipinu): Emphasizes their self-determined autonomy and the supreme authority they ascribe to their own spoken words or vows over divine decrees. Mipinu ("out of our mouth") literally refers to their deliberate declaration.
• to burn incense (לְקַטֵּר - l’qatter): The act of offering aromatic smoke, a sacred ritual explicitly commanded for Yahweh's worship but forbidden for other deities. It denotes devoted and conscious worship.
• unto the queen of heaven (לִמְלֶכֶת֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם - limleḵet ha-ššāmayim): Meleket haShamayim, an ancient Near Eastern fertility goddess, widely worshipped, often identified with Ishtar (Babylonian) or Astarte (Canaanite). Her cult was strongly associated with agricultural fertility, well-being, and protection, making her attractive to a people seeking security.
• and to pour out drink offerings unto her (וְהַסֵּ֥יךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִ֑ים - ve-hasēḵ lah nəsāḵîm): Nesak, a "libation" or "drink offering," another common form of worship where liquids (wine, oil, water) were poured as an act of homage, symbolizing appeasement or communion.
• as we have done (כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשִׂ֜ינוּ - kaʾăšer ʿaśinu): A justification based on tradition and established custom, legitimizing their current choice by referencing past actions.
• we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes: Illustrates the widespread and deeply entrenched nature of this idolatry across all societal levels and generations, highlighting its cultural pervasiveness.
• in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: Further emphasizes the public, open, and comprehensive embrace of this pagan worship, even in the capital and religious heartland, showing a national rather than localized defection.
• for then had we plenty of victuals (כִּ֣י אָ֣ז שָׂבַֽעְנוּ־לֶ֔חֶם - kî az savaʿnu-leḥem): The primary rationalization for their decision. They connect their past material abundance ("we had our fill of bread/food") directly to their idolatrous worship, revealing a transactional and misguided theology.
• and were well (וַנִּהְיֶ֥ה טוֹבִ֛ים - vanihyeh tovîm): Implies a general state of well-being, prosperity, and peace.
• and saw no evil (וְרָעָ֖ה לֹ֣א רָאִֽינוּ - ve-raʿah lo raʾînu): "We did not experience misfortune or disaster." They believe that discontinuing the worship led to their present calamities, a complete reversal of God's covenant principles.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goes forth out of our own mouth": This phrase functions as a declaration of absolute human autonomy, placing the will and decree of the people above any divine injunction. It showcases extreme stubbornness and rejection of divine authority, signaling a hardened heart that prioritizes self-will over submission to God's word. This is not merely disobedience but a philosophical inversion, asserting human prerogative as ultimate.
• "to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her": These specific cultic acts confirm their active participation in polytheism. It's a direct breach of the First Commandment, highlighting a deliberate shift in allegiance from Yahweh to a pagan deity. The details underscore the profound depth of their spiritual apostasy.
• "as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem": This segment outlines the extensive historical and societal scope of their idolatry. It signifies that this was not a localized or recent deviation, but a deeply embedded national sin practiced openly by all segments of society for generations, a fact they ironically use to justify their continued rebellion.
• "for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil": This final clause articulates the warped reasoning and false attribution of causality. The people believed their material prosperity (food, welfare, absence of disaster) was a direct result of their idolatrous worship. This demonstrates a tragic failure to understand God's covenant of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, mistakenly crediting a false god for Yahweh's enduring provision, and completely misinterpreting the very reason for their recent devastation.

Jeremiah 44 17 Bonus section

• The collective, communal aspect of this declaration ("we will certainly do," "out of our own mouth") indicates a solidified rejection of individual responsibility towards God, instead fostering a shared solidarity in defiance.
• This specific instance underscores the human tendency to embrace a "folk religion" where ritualistic practices are maintained based on perceived immediate, tangible benefits rather than on spiritual truth, moral obedience, or the nature of God Himself.
• The persistence of "Queen of Heaven" worship, despite decades of prophetic warnings and the ensuing national catastrophe, highlights the powerful grip of ancient pagan cults, particularly their promises of fertility and prosperity, which would have resonated deeply in an agricultural society grappling with existential threats.
• Their reasoning—connecting their prosperity to idolatry—is a classic example of "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" (after this, therefore because of this) fallacy. They ignored the many other factors and, most importantly, Yahweh's long-suffering and grace, which had allowed them a season of peace despite their backsliding.

Jeremiah 44 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 44:17 records an unparalleled moment of national defiance. Faced with the consequences of their long-standing idolatry—the destruction of Jerusalem and exile—the Jewish remnant in Egypt doubled down on their rebellion. They not only refused to repent but vehemently reaffirmed their commitment to worshipping the "Queen of Heaven," openly contradicting God's command delivered by Jeremiah. Their core argument, that prosperity followed their idolatry and disaster came with its cessation, reveals a profound spiritual blindness. This wasn't merely practical polytheism, but a deeply inverted theological belief where they misattributed God's blessings to an idol and misinterpreted His righteous judgment as the failure of their God or the absence of idolatry. This passage serves as a powerful testament to the dangers of a hardened heart and the human propensity to forge a convenient, outcome-based religion that justifies self-will, even in the face of undeniable evidence of God's faithfulness and justice.