Jeremiah 44:15

¶ 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,

Then all the men {H582} which knew {H3045} that their wives {H802} had burned incense {H6999} unto other {H312} gods {H430}, and all the women {H802} that stood by {H5975}, a great {H1419} multitude {H6951}, even all the people {H5971} that dwelt {H3427} in the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, in Pathros {H6624}, answered {H6030} Jeremiah {H3414}, saying {H559},

Then all the men who knew that their wives were offering incense to other gods, along with all the women standing by, a huge crowd, all the people living in Patros in the land of Egypt, answered Yirmeyahu:

Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by—a great assembly—along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros, said to Jeremiah,

Then all the men who knew that their wives burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great assembly, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

Jeremiah 44:15 captures a pivotal and tragic moment in the prophetic book of Jeremiah. It describes the defiant response of a large group of Jewish exiles who had fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. Despite Jeremiah's clear warnings from God, they openly rejected his message, confirming their commitment to idolatry.

Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian conquest (around 586 BC), many Jews, against God's direct command delivered through the prophet Jeremiah, fled to Egypt seeking refuge. This verse specifically places them in Pathros, a region in Upper Egypt. Jeremiah had been sent by God to deliver a stern warning: their flight to Egypt and continued idolatry would lead to their demise there, just as it had in Judah. This verse sets the stage for the people's collective, stubborn refusal to heed God's word, even after witnessing the devastating consequences of their previous disobedience.

Key Themes

  • Open Defiance: The verse highlights the outright rebellion of the Jewish remnant against God's explicit commands given through Jeremiah. They knew their wives had burned incense to other gods, and they stood by, unrepentant, ready to justify their actions.
  • Persistent Idolatry: Despite experiencing God's judgment in Judah due to their worship of false deities, these exiles clung to their idolatrous practices. The mention of "burned incense unto other gods" signifies a deep-seated spiritual apostasy, often involving the worship of the Queen of Heaven, a pagan goddess.
  • Collective Guilt: "All the men which knew that their wives had burned incense... and all the women that stood by, a great multitude" emphasizes the widespread nature of this sin. It wasn't just a few individuals but a communal embrace of evil, with the men being complicit in their wives' idolatry.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "burned incense unto other gods" is significant. In ancient Near Eastern worship, burning incense was a common act of devotion, signifying prayer, reverence, and sacrifice. Here, it is directed not to the Lord God of Israel but to "other gods," highlighting their profound spiritual unfaithfulness. The KJV's "a great multitude" underscores the sheer number of people involved in this collective act of rebellion, making their defiance even more impactful.

Related Scriptures

This verse directly precedes the people's shocking declaration of their intent to continue their idolatry (Jeremiah 44:16-19). Jeremiah's final, dire prophecy concerning their fate in Egypt is found later in the chapter, reinforcing the consequences of their actions (Jeremiah 44:27-28).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 44:15 serves as a powerful cautionary tale about spiritual stubbornness and the dangers of rejecting divine warning. It teaches us that:

  • Ignoring God's Word has Consequences: Even when faced with clear evidence of judgment, the human tendency can be to double down on sin rather than repent.
  • Accountability for Idolatry: Idolatry, in its ancient and modern forms (placing anything above God), always leads to spiritual decay and ultimately, judgment.
  • The Importance of Heeding Warnings: We are called to listen to God's truth, whether through Scripture, faithful preaching, or the Holy Spirit's conviction, and to respond with humility and obedience rather than defiance.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 11:21

    ¶ [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

  • Jeremiah 5:1

    ¶ Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be [any] that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

  • Jeremiah 5:5

    I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds.

  • 2 Peter 2:1

    ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

  • 2 Peter 2:2

    And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

  • Nehemiah 13:26

    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

  • Genesis 19:4

    ¶ But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

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