Jeremiah 44:26

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
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.
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Complete Jewish Bible
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."
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Berean Standard Bible
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.’
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American Standard Version
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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World English Bible Messianic
Therefore hear the LORD’s word, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says 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, As the Lord GOD lives.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore heare the word of the Lord, all Iudah that dwel in the land of Egypt. Beholde, I haue sworne by my great Name, sayeth the Lord, that my Name shall no more be called vpon by the mouth of any man of Iudah, in all the lande of Egypt, saying, The Lord God liueth.
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Young's Literal Translation
`Therefore, hear ye a word of Jehovah, all Judah who are dwelling in the land of Egypt: Lo, I--I have sworn by My great name, said Jehovah, My name is no more proclaimed by the mouth of any man of Judah, saying, Live doth the Lord Jehovah--in all the land of Egypt.
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See also
Ezekiel 20:39Hebrews 6:13Genesis 22:16Psalms 50:16Amos 6:8Isaiah 48:1Isaiah 48:2
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In the KJVVerse 20,037 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 44:26 delivers a profound and irreversible divine judgment against the remnant of Judah residing in Egypt. Despite repeated prophetic warnings, they stubbornly persisted in idolatry, particularly the worship of the "queen of heaven." In response to their defiant disobedience, the Lord declares an unbreakable oath by His own great name: His name will no longer be invoked or honored by any Jew in Egypt, signifying a complete spiritual separation and the withdrawal of covenantal relationship and protection for those who have so thoroughly profaned His identity and rejected His exclusive claim to their worship.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is situated within Jeremiah's final prophecies delivered to the Jewish remnant who, against God's explicit command, fled to Egypt after the devastating fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Chapters 42-44 meticulously detail this tragic episode of profound disobedience. Jeremiah 42 records God's clear instruction through the prophet for the people to remain in Judah, promising divine protection if they obeyed and certain destruction if they went to Egypt. However, in Jeremiah 43, the people, led by Johanan, defiantly reject God's word and force Jeremiah to accompany them to Egypt. Jeremiah 44 then presents God's severe indictment of their widespread idolatry in Egypt, particularly their devotion to the "queen of heaven" (Jeremiah 44:17). Verse 26 serves as a climactic declaration of divine judgment, sealing the irreversible consequences of their persistent rebellion, spiritual apostasy, and the profanation of God's holy name.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Following the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, a significant portion of the remaining Judean population was exiled to Babylon. However, a remnant, fearing the Chaldeans and seeking security, contemplated fleeing to Egypt, a traditional refuge and a powerful ancient civilization. This move was a direct violation of God's covenantal instructions, which often warned against relying on Egypt for security, as seen in passages like Isaiah 30:1-7. Culturally, ancient Near Eastern oaths were extremely serious, often invoked by the name of a deity or a powerful entity to guarantee the truth or certainty of a statement. For God to swear "by my great name" was the most solemn and unbreakable form of oath, emphasizing the absolute certainty and irreversibility of His decree. The phrase "The Lord GOD liveth" was a common Israelite oath or affirmation of faith, contrasting the living God with lifeless pagan idols, and its cessation highlights the depth of their spiritual alienation.
  • Key Themes: Jeremiah 44:26 powerfully reinforces several core themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic tradition. Foremost is the theme of Divine Judgment for Disobedience and Idolatry. The people's flight to Egypt and their subsequent embrace of pagan worship represent a profound breach of their covenant with Yahweh, leading to inevitable and severe divine retribution. Another key theme is the Sovereignty and Immutability of God's Word. Despite the people's defiance, God's prophetic word, delivered through Jeremiah, proves unequivocally true, demonstrating His unwavering control over history and His commitment to His declared purposes, as highlighted in Jeremiah 1:12. The verse also highlights the Sanctity and Profanation of God's Name, as the people's actions render their invocation of His name meaningless and even blasphemous in the context of their apostasy. This speaks to the sacredness of God's identity and the severe consequences of treating it lightly or hypocritically, a theme echoed in the third commandment of Exodus 20:7.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • sworn (Hebrew, shâbaʻ', H7650): Meaning "to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)." This signifies the act of taking an oath, making a solemn, binding declaration. When God swears, it underscores the absolute certainty and immutability of His word, often indicating an irreversible decree that cannot be rescinded.
  • great (Hebrew, gâdôwl', H1419): Meaning "great (in any sense)." Here, applied to God's name, it emphasizes His immense power, supreme authority, majestic character, and unchallengeable sovereignty. It is not merely a descriptor of physical size but of supreme significance, renown, and unparalleled majesty.
  • name (Hebrew, shêm', H8034): Meaning "an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character." In biblical thought, God's "name" represents His entire revealed character, His active presence, His inherent power, and His very being. To "name" or "call upon" His name is to acknowledge His identity, authority, and covenantal relationship. The judgment here is a cessation of the legitimate and effective invocation of His character and power.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt;": This serves as a solemn and urgent summons, demanding immediate and serious attention from the specific audience – the Jewish remnant who deliberately chose to reside in Egypt, defying God's earlier commands. It emphasizes that this is not a human pronouncement or mere prophetic opinion, but a direct, authoritative message from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, underscoring its divine origin and absolute truth.
  • "Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD,": This clause introduces the divine oath, highlighting its absolute certainty and unbreakable nature. God's swearing "by my great name" signifies that His own character, honor, supreme authority, and very being are irrevocably staked on the fulfillment of this declaration. It is the strongest possible affirmation of an irreversible decree, underscoring the immense gravity and finality of the impending judgment.
  • "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.": This is the core of the judgment and its devastating consequence. It means that the Jews in Egypt will no longer be able to legitimately, effectively, or acceptably invoke God's name, especially in an oath or affirmation of faith like "The Lord GOD liveth." Their persistent idolatry, rebellion, and spiritual harlotry have rendered their use of His holy name an abomination, stripping them of the privilege and power associated with acknowledging and relating to the true, living God. It signifies a profound spiritual alienation, a severing of the covenantal bond, and the withdrawal of God's active presence and protection from them in that context.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 44:26 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with maximum impact. The most prominent is the Divine Oath, explicitly stated with "I have sworn by my great name." This device elevates the pronouncement from a mere warning to an irreversible decree, emphasizing God's absolute commitment and the unalterable certainty of the judgment. The phrase "my name shall no more be named" functions as Hyperbole, conveying the absolute and comprehensive nature of the spiritual severing, rather than a literal inability to physically utter the words. It signifies the complete loss of covenantal privilege, the meaninglessness of their religious expressions, and the withdrawal of God's recognition of their claims. There is also a strong element of Irony in the judgment: the people fled to Egypt, seeking life and security, but in doing so, they forfeited the right to legitimately invoke the name of the "living" God, thereby choosing a path that leads to spiritual death and ultimate destruction. The entire verse functions as a Prophetic Oracle, a direct divine utterance delivered through the prophet, marked by the authoritative "saith the LORD," which underscores its divine origin and unchallengeable authority.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

This verse powerfully underscores the sanctity of God's name and the severe consequences of profaning it through persistent disobedience and idolatry. For the covenant people, the ability to call upon the name of the Lord was a profound privilege, signifying their unique relationship and access to His power and presence. When God declares His name will "no more be named," it signifies a spiritual divorce, a withdrawal of His active presence, and a severing of the covenantal bond for those in Egypt. This judgment highlights that God's identity is not to be trifled with, and true worship demands exclusive allegiance. Their attempt to blend the worship of Yahweh with pagan deities rendered their invocation of His name an empty, even blasphemous, act. This serves as a timeless warning against syncretism and spiritual hypocrisy, emphasizing that God demands wholehearted devotion and that true life is found only in genuine relationship with the living God, not in a superficial or compromised faith.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 44:26 serves as a stark reminder that God's warnings are not empty threats, and His holy character demands our utmost reverence and obedience. The people of Judah in Egypt chose to pursue perceived safety and comfort in a foreign land over divine instruction, leading them further into idolatry and ultimately to a profound spiritual barrenness where they could no longer genuinely call upon the name of the Lord. For us today, this challenges us to examine where our ultimate trust lies. Do we seek security and comfort in worldly pursuits, human wisdom, or fleeting pleasures, rather than in faithful obedience to God's word? Modern idolatry may not involve physical statues, but anything that takes the place of God in our affections, loyalties, or pursuit of satisfaction can become an idol. This verse calls us to a radical self-examination, ensuring that our profession of faith in the "living God" is not merely lip service but is reflected in a life of genuine devotion, wholehearted obedience, and profound reverence for His holy name. Our actions must align with our confession, lest our invocation of His name become meaningless and our relationship with Him superficial.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of my life might I be seeking security or comfort outside of God's revealed will, similar to Judah fleeing to Egypt?
  • What "idols" (whether tangible possessions, career aspirations, relationships, or even self-reliance) might be competing for God's rightful place as supreme in my heart and affections today?
  • How does my daily life demonstrate a genuine reverence for God's name, ensuring that my words and actions align with my confession of faith in Him?
  • What does it mean to truly "call upon the name of the Lord" in a way that honors Him, reflects a living relationship, and demonstrates exclusive allegiance?

FAQ

What does it mean that God's "name shall no more be named" by the people in Egypt?

Answer: This phrase signifies a profound spiritual judgment and a severing of the covenantal relationship for the defiant Jewish remnant in Egypt. It does not mean they would literally be physically unable to utter the words "The Lord GOD liveth." Rather, it means that any invocation of God's name by them would be meaningless, ineffective, and even blasphemous in His sight due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience. They would no longer have the privilege of legitimately calling upon Him, claiming His protection, or having their prayers heard, as their actions had rendered their relationship with the living God null and void in that context. It's a declaration of divine abandonment concerning their spiritual claims while in rebellion, a withdrawal of His recognition of their religious acts.

Why was swearing by God's "great name" so significant?

Answer: In ancient cultures, an oath was a solemn declaration, and swearing by a deity's name was the strongest possible guarantee of truth and commitment. When God swears "by my great name," it means He is staking His entire character, His supreme authority, His majesty, and His very being on the absolute certainty and irreversibility of His pronouncement. It highlights that His word is unchangeable and His judgment will be executed without fail, providing an unshakeable anchor for hope for those who trust Him, as seen in Hebrews 6:13-18. This divine oath underscores the immense gravity of the situation and the finality of the judgment declared.

How does this passage relate to modern-day idolatry?

Answer: While modern idolatry rarely involves bowing to physical statues, the principle remains the same: anything that takes the place of God as the supreme object of our worship, trust, or affection becomes an idol. This could be money, power, career, relationships, comfort, self-image, or even religious rituals devoid of true devotion. Jeremiah 44:26 warns that persistent devotion to anything other than the one true God leads to spiritual barrenness and a breakdown in genuine relationship with Him. It reminds us that God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) who demands exclusive allegiance, and failure to give it results in a loss of His active presence and blessing in our lives. Our hearts, not just our hands, must be devoted to Him alone.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 44:26, with its declaration of God's name no longer being named among the disobedient remnant in Egypt, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Covenant. While the Old Covenant people in Egypt forfeited the right to legitimately invoke God's name through their idolatry and rebellion, the New Testament reveals that God's name is now supremely exalted and perfectly revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. The very name of God, Yahweh, which the Jews in Egypt could no longer call upon, is perfectly embodied in Jesus, who is "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). Through His perfect obedience, atoning sacrifice on the cross, and glorious resurrection, Jesus has opened the way for all people, Jew and Gentile, to genuinely and effectively call upon the name of the Lord. Indeed, Philippians 2:9-11 declares that God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him "the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." No longer is the privilege of invoking God's name restricted or removed due to human failure; rather, salvation itself is found in "no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The judgment in Jeremiah foreshadows the ultimate spiritual death that comes from rejecting the true God, while Christ offers eternal life and a restored relationship to all who call upon His name in faith, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). In Christ, God's name is not withdrawn but is made accessible, glorious, and salvific for all who believe.

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Commentary on Jeremiah 44 verses 20–30

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

Daring sinners may speak many a bold word and many a big word, but, after all, God will have the last word; for he will be justified when he speaks, and all flesh, even the proudest, shall be silent before him. Prophets may be run down, but God cannot; nay, here the prophet would not.

I. Jeremiah has something to say to them from himself, which he could say without a spirit of prophecy, and that was to rectify their mistake (a wilful mistake it was) concerning the calamities they had been under and the true intent and meaning of them. They said that these miseries came upon them because they had now left off burning incense to the queen of heaven. "No," says he, "it was because you had formerly done it, not because you had now left it off." When they gave him that answer, he immediately replied (Jer 44:20) that the incense which they and their fathers had burnt to other gods did indeed go unpunished a great while, for God was long-suffering towards them, and during the day of his patience it was perhaps, as they said, well with them, and they saw no evil; but at length they grew so provoking that the Lord could no longer bear (Jer 44:22), but began a controversy with them, whereupon some of them did a little reform; their sins left them, for so it might be said, rather than that they left their sins. But their old guilt being still upon the score, and their corrupt inclinations still the same, God remembered against them the idolatries of their fathers, their kings, and their princes, in the streets of Jerusalem, which they, instead of being ashamed of, gloried in as a justification of them in their idolatries; they all came into his mind (Jer 44:21), all the abominations which they had committed (Jer 44:22) and all their disobedience to the voice of the Lord (Jer 44:23), all were brought to account; and therefore, to punish them for these, is their land a desolation and a curse, as at this day (Jer 44:22); therefore, not for their late reformation, but for their old transgressions, has all this evil happened to them, as at this day, Jer 44:23. Note, The right understanding of the cause of our troubles, one would think, should go far towards the cure of our sins. Whatever evil comes upon us, it is because we have sinned against the Lord, and should therefore stand in awe and sin not.

II. Jeremiah has something to say to them, to the women particularly, from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, They have given their answer; now let them hear God's reply, Jer 44:24. Judah, that dwells in the land of Egypt, has God speaking to them, even there; that is their privilege. Let them observe what he says; that is their duty, Jer 44:26. Now God, in his reply, tells them plainly,

1.That, since they were fully determined to persist in their idolatry, he was fully determined to proceed in his controversy with them; if they would go on to provoke him, he would go on to punish them, and see which would get the better at last. God repeats what they had said (Jer 44:25): "You and your wives are agreed in this obstinacy; you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands; you have said it, and you stand to it, have said it and go on to do accordingly, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven," as if, though it were a sin, yet their having vowed to do it were sufficient to justify them in the doing of it; whereas no man can by his vow make that lawful to himself, much less duty, which God has already made sin. "Well" (says God), "you will accomplish, you will perform, your wicked vows: now hear what is my vow, what I have sworn by my great name;" and, if the Lord hath sworn, he will not repent, since they have sworn and will not repent. With the froward he will show himself froward, Psa 18:26. (1.) He had sworn that what little remains of religion there were among them should be lost, Jer 44:26. Though they joined with the Egyptians in their idolatries, yet they continued upon many occasions to make mention of the name of Jehovah, particularly in their solemn oaths; they said, Jehovah liveth, he is the living God, so they owned him to be, though they worshipped dead idols; they swear, The Lord liveth (Jer 5:2), but I fear they retained this form of swearing more in honour of their nation than of their God. But God declares that his name shall no more be thus named by any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt; that is, there shall be no Jews remaining to use this dialect of their country, or, if there be, they shall have forgotten it and shall learn to swear, as the Egyptians do, by the life of Pharaoh, not of Jehovah. Note, Those are very miserable whom God has so far left to themselves that they have quite forgotten their religion and lost all the remains of their good education. Or this may intimate that God would take it as an affront to him and would resent it accordingly, if they did make mention of his name and profess any relation to him. (2.) He hath sworn that what little remnant of people there was there should all be consumed (Jer 44:27): I will watch over them for evil; no opportunity shall be let slip to bring some judgment upon them, until there be an end of them and they be rooted out. Note, To those whom God finds impenitent sinners he will be found an implacable Judge. And, when it comes to this, they shall know (Jer 44:28) whose word shall stand, mind or theirs. They said that they should recover themselves when they returned to worship the queen of heaven; God said they should ruin themselves; and now the event will show which was in the right. The contest between God and sinners is whose word shall stand, whose will shall be done, and who shall get the better. Sinners say that they shall have peace though they go on; God says they shall have no peace. But when God judges he will overcome; God's word shall stand, and not the sinner's.

2.He tells them that a very few of them should escape the sword, and in process of time return into the land of Judah, a small number (Jer 44:28), next to none, in comparison with the great numbers that should return out of the land of the Chaldeans. This seems designed to upbraid those who boasted of their numbers that concurred in sin; there were none to speak of that did not join in idolatry: "Well," says God, "and there shall be as few that shall escape the sword and famine."

3.He gives them a sign that all these threatenings shall be accomplished in their season, that they shall be consumed here in Egypt and shall quite perish: Pharaoh-hophra, the present king of Egypt, shall be delivered into the hand of his enemies that seek his life - of his own rebellious subjects (so some) under Amasis, who usurped his throne - of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (so others), who invaded his kingdom; the former is related by Herodotus, the latter by Josephus. It is likely that this Pharaoh had tempted the Jews to idolatry by promises of his favour; however, they depended upon him for his protection, and it would be more than a presage of their ruin, it would be a step towards it, if he were gone. They expected more from him than from Zedekiah king of Judah; he was a more potent and politic prince. "But," says God, "I will give him into the hand of his enemies, as I gave Zedekiah." Note, Those creature-comforts and confidences that we promise ourselves most from may fail us as soon as those that we promise ourselves least from, for they are all what God makes them, not what we fancy them.

The sacred history records not the accomplishment of this prophecy, but its silence is sufficient; we hear no more of these Jews in Egypt, and therefore conclude them, according to this prediction, lost there; for no word of God shall fall to the ground.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 20–30. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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