Jeremiah 44 24

Jeremiah 44:24 kjv

Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:

Jeremiah 44:24 nkjv

Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt!

Jeremiah 44:24 niv

Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah in Egypt.

Jeremiah 44:24 esv

Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt.

Jeremiah 44:24 nlt

Then Jeremiah said to them all, including the women, "Listen to this message from the LORD, all you citizens of Judah who live in Egypt.

Jeremiah 44 verses

Jeremiah 44 24 meaning

Jeremiah 44:24 serves as a crucial declaration by the prophet Jeremiah, acting as God's spokesperson, to the entire remnant of Judahites who had defiantly settled in Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem. The verse signals an urgent and authoritative divine address, commanding this rebellious community, including its women who were actively involved in idolatry, to heed the pronouncements of Yahweh, their covenant God, concerning their chosen, yet forbidden, place of refuge. It emphasizes that this is not a human opinion but the very word of the Lord, directed at those who had abandoned trust in Him for security in a pagan land.

Jeremiah 44 24 Context

Jeremiah 44 occurs shortly after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BCE. A small Jewish remnant, having assassinated Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, subsequently feared Babylonian retribution. Despite God's explicit warning through Jeremiah not to go to Egypt and a promise of protection if they remained in Judah (Jer 42-43), they deliberately disobeyed. They compelled Jeremiah and Baruch to accompany them, fleeing to various cities in Egypt. This chapter represents Jeremiah's final major prophetic message, delivered in Egypt to these exiles. It condemns their persistent and open idolatry, especially their defiant worship of the "Queen of Heaven," which they believed brought them prosperity. Jeremiah declares God's imminent judgment on them in Egypt, including destruction by war and famine, reiterating that seeking refuge in Egypt was an act of profound rebellion and would not spare them from the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Verse 24 marks the opening of Jeremiah's direct confrontation, re-emphasizing that his subsequent words carry the supreme authority of Yahweh Himself.

Jeremiah 44 24 Word analysis

• Then: Connective adverb, signifying a sequential action or immediate response to the preceding declaration in the chapter regarding their sin (Jer 44:23). It frames Jeremiah's speech as a direct answer to their defiance.
• Jeremiah: The prophet, whose name (יִרְמְיָהוּ, Yirmĕyāhû) means "Yahweh will uplift" or "Yahweh establishes." Ironically, he delivers a message of impending destruction, yet his faithfulness ensures God's word is spoken, upholding divine truth. He acts as God's persistent mouthpiece even when rejected.
• said: (אָמַר, ’āmar) A simple verb indicating direct speech, but in this prophetic context, it carries the weight of authoritative declaration from a divine messenger. It conveys a solemn pronouncement, not a suggestion.
• to all the people: (אֶל-כָּל-הָעָם, ’el kol-hā‘ām) An inclusive phrase, emphasizing that God's message applied to the entire community of Judahite exiles in Egypt, without exception. No one could claim ignorance or exemption from the impending judgment.
• including the women: (גַּם אֶל-הַנָּשִׁים, gam ’el han-nāshîm) The explicit mention of women is significant. In this context (cf. Jer 44:15, 19, 25), women were particularly active and vocal in the idolatrous worship of the "Queen of Heaven." Their specific inclusion underscores their deep entanglement in the rebellion and the universality of God's indictment. It also highlights a breakdown of traditional Yahwistic norms where such prominent, defiant female involvement in public pagan worship was indicative of societal apostasy.
• Hear: (שְׁמָעוּ, Shim'u) An imperative verb, commanding attentive listening. In Hebrew thought, shema (שְׁמַע) means more than just passive hearing; it implies understanding, considering, and, critically, obeying. It’s a call to active engagement with the divine message, fundamental to covenantal faithfulness.
• the word: (דְּבַר, dĕvar) Signifies a specific message, utterance, or command from God. It conveys authority and power; God's "word" is not merely informative but creative, active, and performative. Here, it contrasts sharply with human promises and idol worship.
• of the LORD: (יְהוָה, Yahweh) The sacred, personal, covenantal name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, sovereign Creator and Redeemer. By explicitly using Yahweh, Jeremiah emphasizes that this message originates from the one true God of Israel, not a human opinion, nor a competing deity like the "Queen of Heaven." It asserts His singular authority over the people He chose.
• all you of Judah: Identifies the specific addressees—the descendants of Jacob (Israel), specifically the southern kingdom, who were historically in covenant relationship with Yahweh. This reinforces their unique, though presently compromised, standing as God's chosen people, to whom His promises and judgments are specifically directed.
• who are in the land of Egypt!: Specifies their exact location. Egypt was both the place of their original bondage and a repeated source of temptation and forbidden alliance (Deut 17:16). Their presence there, having explicitly disobeyed God's command through Jeremiah (Jer 42-43), underscores their defiant rebellion and lack of trust in God's protection in Judah. This physical location becomes a symbol of their spiritual straying.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women": This phrase highlights Jeremiah's steadfast role as God's unflinching messenger. Despite consistent rejection and personal suffering, he faithfully delivers Yahweh’s unadulterated message to everyone, specifically mentioning women because their active involvement in the worship of the Queen of Heaven (detailed in the following verses) made them a critical part of the idolatrous problem and thus equally subject to the divine decree. This shows the pervasive nature of their apostasy across all segments of society.
• "Hear the word of the LORD": This imperative statement constitutes a direct divine summons. It is a powerful, authoritative command rooted in Israel’s covenant theology (e.g., the Shema). It demands not merely physical hearing but profound, intentional listening with an obedient heart, setting a foundational requirement for all who claim to follow Yahweh. By emphasizing Yahweh's word, it directly challenges the legitimacy and efficacy of the pagan gods they now worshipped.
• "all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt!": This final clause defines the specific and disobedient audience. It precisely identifies God's covenant people by their chosen, yet forbidden, geographic location. Their presence in Egypt—a land often symbolizing slavery and spiritual compromise for Israel—serves as a constant reminder of their willful rebellion against God’s clear command, and therefore, their spiritual predicament is linked to their physical location, which they chose over divine guidance.

Jeremiah 44 24 Bonus section

• Finality of the Message: Many scholars consider Jeremiah 44, specifically this portion addressing the exiles in Egypt, to be Jeremiah's final major prophetic utterance or his last recorded direct address to the people of Judah. This gives the words an ultimate, grave significance, representing God's conclusive judgment on this deeply rebellious segment of His people.
• Symbolism of Egypt: Throughout Israel's history, Egypt held complex symbolism. It was a place of slavery, but also a temporary refuge for Jacob's family during famine and for the infant Jesus (Matt 2:13-15). Yet, it was consistently forbidden as a permanent refuge or military alliance for covenant Israel, a place that promised human security but ultimately drew them into idolatry and away from trusting Yahweh. Their flight to Egypt despite divine warning closes a tragic loop in Israel's history of faithlessness.
• Corporate Sin and Accountability: The specific mention of "women" underscores that sin, especially idolatry, pervaded all strata of society, from household leadership to public practice. It was a corporate sin, leading to corporate accountability and judgment. This specific detail provides insight into ancient Judean society, revealing that women were not passive participants but active agents in religious practices, both righteous and idolatrous.

Jeremiah 44 24 Commentary

Jeremiah 44:24 serves as a pivot point in the prophet's final and most condemnatory message to the Jewish remnant in Egypt. Despite a catastrophic national judgment—the fall of Jerusalem—this group of survivors obstinately pursued open idolatry, believing it brought prosperity (vv. 17-19). Jeremiah's solemn pronouncement emphasizes the source of his message: not human wisdom or a mere warning, but the very word of Yahweh. This directly challenges their trust in false deities and human political maneuvering (fleeing to Egypt). The specific inclusion of "women" is poignant, highlighting their leading role in the "Queen of Heaven" cult, underscoring the deep spiritual decay. The call to "hear" is an ancient covenantal summons to active, obedient listening, a demand these people repeatedly and tragically ignored. Their presence in Egypt, the very place of Israel's original bondage, symbolizes their ultimate rebellion against the God who delivered them from there, cementing their culpability before divine judgment.