Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
Therefore hear {H8085} ye the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, all Judah {H3063} that dwell {H3427} in the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}; Behold, I have sworn {H7650} by my great {H1419} name {H8034}, saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, that my name {H8034} shall no more be named {H7121} in the mouth {H6310} of any man {H376} of Judah {H3063} in all the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, saying {H559}, The Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} liveth {H2416}.
Therefore hear the word of ADONAI, all Y'hudah living in the land of Egypt: 'I swear by my own great name,' says ADONAI, 'that no man of Y'hudah will speak my name again in the land of Egypt, swearing, "As ADONAI, God, lives."
Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’
Therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith Jehovah, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, As the Lord Jehovah liveth.
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Ezekiel 20:39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. -
Hebrews 6:13
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, -
Genesis 22:16
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]: -
Psalms 50:16
¶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? -
Amos 6:8
¶ The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. -
Isaiah 48:1
¶ Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, [but] not in truth, nor in righteousness. -
Isaiah 48:2
For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts [is] his name.
Jeremiah 44:26 delivers a stark and solemn declaration from the LORD concerning the remnant of Judah who had fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem, defying divine counsel. This verse underscores God's unwavering judgment against their persistent disobedience and idolatry.
Context
Following the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BC, a Jewish remnant, against the explicit warnings of the prophet Jeremiah, chose to seek refuge in Egypt rather than remain in the land of Judah (Jeremiah 42:19, Jeremiah 43:7). Jeremiah was compelled by God to accompany them, continuing to deliver God's word even in Egypt. Chapter 44 records God's final, severe rebuke to these exiles, particularly for their widespread idolatry, including their devotion to the "queen of heaven" (Jeremiah 44:17). Verse 26 is a direct consequence of their refusal to repent and turn from their wicked ways.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The expression "sworn by my great name" (Hebrew: נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בִּשְׁמִי הַגָּדֹול, nishba'ti bishmi hagadol) is a powerful declaration. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, swearing by one's own name or a greater entity was the strongest possible oath, binding the swearer to their word. For God to swear by His "great name" underscores His supreme authority and the absolute certainty of His pronouncement.
The phrase "The Lord GOD liveth" was a common Israelite declaration of faith or an oath, affirming the reality and power of the one true God in contrast to lifeless idols. Their inability to utter this phrase without incurring judgment signifies a complete spiritual alienation and the ultimate consequence of their idolatry.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 44:26 serves as a timeless warning:
- The Danger of Disobedience: It highlights the serious consequences of choosing our own path over God's revealed will, even when we believe our way offers security or comfort.
- The Seriousness of Idolatry: While modern idolatry may not always involve physical idols, anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives—money, power, relationships, comfort—can become an idol. This verse reminds us that God does not share His glory (Isaiah 42:8) and that persistent idolatry leads to spiritual barrenness.
- Reverence for God's Name: The inability to invoke God's name reflects a loss of relationship. It calls us to consider how we honor God's name in our lives, ensuring our actions align with our confession of faith.
This passage reinforces that God's warnings are not empty threats but are rooted in His justice and His desire for His people to live in true relationship with Him.