Jeremiah 44:23 kjv
Because 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.
Jeremiah 44:23 nkjv
Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day."
Jeremiah 44:23 niv
Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see."
Jeremiah 44:23 esv
It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day."
Jeremiah 44:23 nlt
All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the LORD. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws."
Jeremiah 44 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 7:18 | "The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger." | Direct accusation of idolatry |
| Jeremiah 44:17 | "But we will certainly do every word that has gone from our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, have done in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem." | The people's stubborn defiance |
| Isaiah 65:11 | "But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for that troop and fill a cup for that mixture," | Similar theme of forsaking God |
| 1 Kings 11:33 | "because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in my ways by doing what is right in my eyes, and my statutes and my rules, as did David their father." | Historical precedent of idolatry |
| Jeremiah 17:1 | "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the table of their hearts, and on the horns of their altars," | Engraved sinfulness |
| Deuteronomy 28:15-68 | Curses for disobedience (including destruction and exile) | Consequences of breaking covenant |
| Leviticus 26:14-16 | Further description of divine punishment for disobedience | Divine discipline |
| Jeremiah 2:13 | "for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters, and hewed up for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." | Forsaking God's provision |
| Hosea 9:1 | "Rejoice not, O Israel! like the peoples, for you have played the whore, forsaking your God." | Playing the harlot/idolatry |
| 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 | God sending prophets but the people mocking them | Persistent rejection of God's message |
| Isaiah 1:2-4 | Accusation of Judah's rebellion and unfaithfulness | Similar indictment |
| Jeremiah 25:8-9 | God's judgment upon Judah and surrounding nations | Divine judgment on disobedience |
| Ezekiel 6:3-7 | Prophecy of judgment against the mountains of Israel | Destruction following idolatry |
| Revelation 18:5 | Judgment on Babylon for her sins | Echoes of divine retribution |
| Acts 7:42-43 | Stephen's sermon recounting Israel's history of idolatry | New Testament confirmation of Old Testament idolatry |
| John 4:24 | "God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." | True worship contrasts with idolatry |
| Romans 1:25 | "because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." | Worshiping created things |
| 2 Timothy 3:1-5 | Warnings about difficult times and lovers of self | General apostasy |
| 1 Corinthians 10:20 | "No, I will not, but I say that what they sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons." | Association with pagan worship |
| Jude 1:6 | "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;" | Fallen angels, relevant to demonic influence in idolatry |
| Psalm 79:1-4 | Lament over Jerusalem's desolation | Consequence of God's wrath |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 | The coming of the lawless one with all power and signs and false wonders | Deceptive spiritual forces |
Jeremiah 44 verses
Jeremiah 44 23 Meaning
This verse describes a prophecy given to the Israelites by God through Jeremiah. It highlights their past disobedience in worshiping the Queen of Heaven and states that as a consequence, they would be cut off. God's anger would be poured out on the land, leading to destruction and a perpetual warning to future generations.
Jeremiah 44 23 Context
Jeremiah chapter 44 records a powerful confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and the remnant of Judean survivors in Egypt. These people had fled to Egypt after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, disobeying God’s command given through Jeremiah to stay in the land. In Egypt, they resumed their idolatrous practices, particularly the worship of the "Queen of Heaven" (likely a syncretic blend of the goddess Asherah/Ishtar and perhaps a local Egyptian deity). Jeremiah confronts them, reminding them of God's wrath against Judah for this very sin. This verse specifically states that God's judgment is a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry, and that this judgment will serve as a perpetual warning.
Jeremiah 44 23 Word Analysis
- yeceph (וְיָסַפְתֶּ֖)
- "added," "again," "did more." In this context, it emphasizes the repetition and continuation of their sinful actions, showing their hardened hearts and deliberate choice to go further in their disobedience.
- hamah (חֲמָתִ֑י)
- "wrath," "anger," "heat." This is God’s righteous indignation against sin, particularly against the profound betrayal of covenant through idolatry.
- be'eretz (בָּ֣אֲרֶ֖ץ)
- "in the land." Refers to the land of Egypt where the survivors had taken refuge, and where God's judgment would fall upon them.
- mishphat (מִשְׁפָּטִ֔)
- "judgment," "justice," "decree." God's action against them is described as a judicial consequence for their sins.
- lezo'ah (לְזַעֲוָ֖ה)
- "for a desolation," "for a horror." The outcome of God's anger will be utter destruction and a spectacle of ruin.
- l’are’emah (לְאָרְרָ֣ה)
- "for a curse," "for a reviling." The land itself will become cursed, and the people will be an object of scorn and malediction.
- l’galal (לְגַלּ֖וֹת)
- "for ruin," "for devastation." Reinforces the severity of the destruction.
- u’qallol (וּקְלָלָ֖ה)
- "and a curse." Adds further emphasis on the cursed state resulting from God's judgment.
- ha’aretz (הָאָרֶץ֙)
- "the land." This land (Egypt) will be permanently affected and serve as a perpetual warning.
- tishma (תִּשְׁמַ֖ע)
- "shall hear," "shall listen." This indicates that the land, and by extension its inhabitants and observers, will witness and acknowledge the judgment.
- vəlo (וְלֹ֖א)
- "and not." Denotes a cessation or negation.
- tiphleh (תִּפָּלֵ֑א)
- "shall wonder," "shall be astonished." The complete devastation will be so extreme that it will no longer cause astonishment, implying a finality to the judgment.
Words-group analysis:The phrase "a desolation, and for a horror, for a reviling, and for a curse" (לְזַעֲוָ֖ה לְאָרְרָ֣ה וּקְלָלָ֖ה) uses a progression of intense terms to describe the totality of the ruin. Each word amplifies the destructive nature of God's wrath. The collective meaning emphasizes the complete annihilation and perpetual shame brought by their actions. The phrase "the land shall hear and not wonder" suggests a normalized state of judgment, where the inhabitants have become desensitized to or complicit in the widespread desolation.
Jeremiah 44 23 Bonus Section
The "Queen of Heaven" worship mentioned here is a recurring theme in Jeremiah (cf. Jer 7:18). This idolatry often involved illicit sexual practices and the use of astronomical bodies in worship, which stood in direct opposition to the covenant at Sinai, emphasizing God's singular sovereignty and purity. The choice to worship other gods, particularly in the diaspora and in a foreign land, represented a complete spiritual shipwreck, a refusal to learn from past chastisements. This verse highlights the theological concept of God’s persistent anger when His people choose to turn away from Him repeatedly, even after severe discipline. It paints a picture of judgment so absolute that the land itself becomes a monument to sin and its final outcome.
Jeremiah 44 23 Commentary
Jeremiah 44:23 underscores the severe consequences of idolatry and persistent disobedience. God's covenant involved blessings for faithfulness and curses for unfaithfulness. The Israelites' renewed devotion to the Queen of Heaven in Egypt, after having already experienced God's judgment in Judah, demonstrated a deep-seated corruption and utter rejection of God’s commands. God’s wrath, depicted here as being poured out, leads not just to their individual demise but to a state of permanent ruin for the land and for them. This destruction serves as a visible testament, a warning sign for all who witness it. The inability of the land "to wonder" speaks to the finality of the judgment and the complete eradication of any remaining divine favor in that place. It serves as a solemn reminder that forsaking the true God for false deities results in devastating, lasting consequences.