TRV
Translation
King James Version
Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
KJV (with Strong's)
Therefore now thus saith H559 the LORD H3068, the God H430 of hosts H6635, the God H430 of Israel H3478; Wherefore commit H6213 ye this great H1419 evil H7451 against your souls H5315, to cut off H3772 from you man H376 and woman H802, child H5768 and suckling H3243, out H8432 of Judah H3063, to leave H3498 you none to remain H7611;
Complete Jewish Bible
"Therefore now, ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says this: 'Why are you committing this great sin against yourselves? The result can only be to cut you off from Y'hudah - men, women, children and babies - so that none of you remain.
Berean Standard Bible
So now, this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves by cutting off from Judah man and woman, child and infant, leaving yourselves without a remnant?
American Standard Version
Therefore now thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your own souls, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and suckling, out of the midst of Judah, to leave you none remaining;
World English Bible Messianic
Therefore now thus says the LORD, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you commit great evil against your own souls, to cut off from yourselves man and woman, infant and nursing child out of the midst of Judah, to leave yourselves no one remaining;
Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore now thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Wherfore commit ye this great euill against your soules, to cut off from you man and woman, childe and suckling out of Iudah, and leaue you none to remaine?
Young's Literal Translation
`And, now, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Why are ye doing great evil unto your own souls, to cut off to you man and woman, infant and suckling, from the midst of Judah, so as not to leave to you a remnant:
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Commentary on Jeremiah 44 verses 1–14
1 ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,
3 Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.
4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
5 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.
6 Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
7 Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
8 In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
9 Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10 They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.
12 And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
13 For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:
14 So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.
The Jews in Egypt were now dispersed into various parts of the country, into Migdol, and Noph, and other places, and Jeremiah was sent on an errand from God to them, which he delivered either when he had the most of them together in Pathros (Jer 44:15) or going about from place to place preaching to this purport. He delivered this message in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, and in it,
I. God puts them in mind of the desolations of Judah and Jerusalem, which, though the captives by the rivers of Babylon were daily mindful of (Psa 137:1), the fugitives in the cities of Egypt seem to have forgotten and needed to be put in mind of, though, one would have thought, they had not been so long out of sight as to become out of mind (Jer 44:2): You have seen what a deplorable condition Judah and Jerusalem are brought into; now will you consider whence those desolations came? From the wrath of God; it was his fury and his anger that kindled the fire which made Jerusalem and the cities of Judah waste and desolate (Jer 44:6); whoever were the instruments of the destruction, they were but instruments: it was a destruction from the Almighty.
II. He puts them in mind of the sins that brought those desolations upon Judah and Jerusalem. It was for their wickedness. It was this that provoked God to anger, and especially their idolatry, their serving other gods (Jer 44:3) and giving that honour to counterfeit deities, the creatures of their own fancy and the work of their own hands, which should have been given to the true God only. They forsook the God who was known among them, and whose name was great, for gods that they knew not, upstart deities, whose original was obscure and not worth taking notice of: "Neither they nor you, nor your fathers, could give any rational account why the God of Israel was exchanged for such impostors." They knew not that they were gods; nay, they could not but know that they were no gods.
III. He puts them in mind of the frequent and fair warnings he had given them by his word not to serve other gods, the contempt of which warnings was a great aggravation of their idolatry, Jer 44:4. The prophets were sent with a great deal of care to call to them, saying, Oh! do not this abominable thing that I hate. It becomes us to speak of sin with the utmost dread and detestation as an abominable thing; it is certainly so, for it is that which God hates, and we are sure that hid judgment is according to truth. Call it grievous, call it odious, that we may by all means possible put ourselves and others out of love with it. It becomes us to give warning of the danger of sin, and the fatal consequences of it, with all seriousness and earnestness: "Oh! do not do it. If you love God, do not, for it is provoking to him; if you love your own souls do not, for it is destructive to them." Let conscience do this for us in an hour of temptation, when we are ready to yield. O take heed! do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates; for, if God hates it, though shouldst hate it. But did they regard what God said to them? No: "They hearkened not, nor inclined their ear (Jer 44:5); they still persisted in their idolatries; and you see what came of it, therefore God's anger was poured out upon them, as at this day. Now this was intended for warning to you, who have not only heard the judgments of God's mouth, as they did, but have likewise seen the judgments of his hand, by which you should be startled and awakened, for they were inflicted in terrorem, that others might hear and fear and do no more as they did, lest they should fare as they fared."
IV. He reproves them for, and upbraids them with, their continued idolatries, now that they had come into Egypt (Jer 44:8): You burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt. Therefore God forbade them to go into Egypt, because he knew it would be a snare to them. Those whom God sent into the land of the Chaldeans, though that was an idolatrous country, were there, by the power of God's grace, weaned from idolatry; but those who went against God's mind into the land of the Egyptians were there, by the power of their own corruptions, more wedded than ever to their idolatries; for, when we thrust ourselves without cause or call into places of temptation, it is just with God to leave us to ourselves. In doing this, 1. They did a great deal of injury to themselves and their families: "You commit this great evil against your souls (Jer 44:7), you wrong them, you deceive them with that which is false, you destroy them, for it will be fatal to them." Note, In sinning against God we sin against our own souls. "It is the ready way to cut yourselves off from all comfort and hope (Jer 44:8), to cut off your name and honour; so that you will, both by your sin and by your misery, become a curse and a reproach among all nations. It will become a proverb, As wretched as a Jew. It is the ready way to cut off from you all your relations, all that you shave have joy of and have your families built up in, man and woman, child and suckling, so that Judah shall be a land lost for want of heirs." 2. They filled up the measure of the iniquity of their fathers, and, as if that had been too little for them, added to it (Jer 44:9): "Have you forgotten the wickedness of those who are gone before you, that you are not humbled for it as you ought to be, and afraid of the consequences of it?" Have you forgotten the punishments of your fathers? so some read it. "Do you not know how dear their idolatry cost them? And yet dare you continue in that vain conversation received by tradition from you fathers, though you received the curse with it?" He reminds them of the sins and punishments of the kings of Judah, who, great as they were, escaped not the judgments of God for their idolatry; yea, and they should have taken warning by the wickedness of their wives, who had seduced them to idolatry. In the original it is, And of his wives, which, Dr. Lightfoot thinks, tacitly reflects upon Solomon's wives, particularly his Egyptian wives, to whom the idolatry of the kings of Judah owed its original. "Have you forgotten this, and what came of it, that you dare venture upon the same wicked courses?" See Neh 13:18, Neh 13:26. "Nay, to come to your own times, Have you forgotten your own wickedness and the wickedness of your wives, when you lived in prosperity in Jerusalem, and what ruin it brought upon you? But, alas! to what purpose do I speak to them?" (says God to the prophet, Jer 44:10) "they are not humbled unto this day, by all the humbling providences that they have been under. They have not feared, nor walked in my law." Note, Those that walk not in the law of God do thereby show that they are destitute of the fear of God.
V. He threatens their utter ruin for their persisting in their idolatry now that they were in Egypt. Judgment is given against them, as before (Jer 42:22), that they shall perish in Egypt; the decree has gone forth, and shall not be called back. They set their faces to go into the land of Egypt (Jer 44:12), were resolute in their purpose against God, and now God is resolute in his purpose against them: I will set my face to cut off all Judah, Jer 44:11. Those that think not only to affront, but to confront, God Almighty, will find themselves outfaced; for the face of the Lord is against those that do evil, Psa 34:16. It is here threatened concerning these idolatrous Jews in Egypt, 1. That they shall all be consumed, without exception; no degree nor order among them shall escape: They shall fall, from the least to the greatest (Jer 44:12), high and low, rich and poor. 2. That they shall be consumed by the very same judgments which God made use of for the punishment of Jerusalem, the sword, famine, and pestilence, Jer 44:12, Jer 44:13. They shall not be wasted by natural deaths, as Israel in the wilderness, but by these sore judgments, which, by flying into Egypt, they thought to get out of the reach of. 3. That none (except a very few that will narrowly escape) shall ever return to the land of Judah again, Jer 44:14. They thought, being nearer, that they stood fairer for a return to their own land than those that were carried to Babylon; yet those shall return, and these shall not; for the way in which God has promised us any comfort is much surer than that in which we have projected it for ourselves. Observe, Those that are fretful and discontented will be uneasy and fond of change wherever they are. The Israelites, when they were in the land of Judah, desired to go into Egypt (Jer 42:22), but when they were in Egypt they desired to return to the land of Judah again; they lifted up their soul to it (so it is in the margin), which denotes an earnest desire. But, because they would not dwell there when God commanded it, they shall not dwell they were they desire it. If we walk contrary to God, he will walk contrary to us. How can those expect to be well off who would not know when they were so, though God himself told them?
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–14. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
DISCOURSES AGAINST JUDAIZING CHRISTIANS 5:4.4
What was the reason for this? It was because the Jews were so arrogant and obstinate. They immediately forgot what God had done for them; they ascribed his kindness to demons and reckoned that his blessings had come from them. Even when the sea was divided for them, as they went forth from Egypt, and while other wonderful things were happening to them, they forgot the God who was performing these miracles and attributed them to others who were not gods. For they said to Aaron, “Make for us gods who will be our leaders.” And they said to Jeremiah, “We will not listen to what you say in the name of the Lord. Rather, we will continue doing what we had proposed: we will burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out libations to her, as we and our ancestors, our kings and princes have done. Then we had enough food to eat and we were well off; we suffered no misfortune. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out libations to her, we are in need of everything and are being destroyed by the sword and by hunger.” The inspired prophets, then, foretold what would happen to the Jews so that they would ascribe none of the events to idols but would believe that both punishments and blessings always come from God: the punishment came for their sins and the blessings because of God’s love and kindness.
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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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 44:7 presents a solemn divine indictment against the Jewish remnant who, in defiance of God's explicit command, had sought refuge in Egypt. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the LORD, identified by His supreme covenantal and sovereign titles, confronts their persistent idolatry, declaring their actions to be a "great evil" profoundly detrimental to their very existence. This continued rebellion, mirroring the sins that led to Judah's prior desolation, is depicted as utterly self-destructive, inevitably leading to their complete annihilation—man, woman, child, and infant—leaving no survivor from Judah among them in Egypt.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 44:7 employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and severe message with maximum impact. The most prominent is the Rhetorical Question, "Wherefore commit ye [this] great evil against your souls?" This question is not posed to elicit information but functions as a powerful rebuke, expressing God's astonishment, indignation, and condemnation of their irrational and self-destructive behavior. It compels the audience to confront the utter senselessness of their actions. Repetition of divine titles—"the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel"—serves to underscore God's unwavering authority, omnipotence, and covenant faithfulness, lending immense weight, solemnity, and irrefutable truth to His pronouncement. Furthermore, the verse utilizes striking Hyperbole or Exaggeration in describing the extent of the judgment: "to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain." While a literal, absolute extinction might seem extreme, this vivid imagery powerfully conveys the totality and severity of the impending divine wrath, emphasizing that the consequences will be comprehensive and leave no viable future for them as a community in Egypt. Finally, the phrase "great evil against your souls" functions as a form of Metonymy, where "souls" (referring to the whole person, life, or inner being) stands for their very existence, well-being, and future, highlighting the direct, self-inflicted harm of their persistent sin.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 44:7 profoundly articulates the unchanging biblical truth that sin, particularly idolatry and rebellion against God's explicit commands, is inherently self-destructive. It is not merely an external offense against divine majesty but an internal corruption that leads inevitably to personal, communal, and even existential ruin. The divine declaration that their actions constitute "great evil against your souls" underscores that God's laws and warnings are not arbitrary restrictions but are given for humanity's flourishing, preservation, and ultimate well-being. When humanity deviates from the divine order and pursues its own path, it inevitably invites consequences that undermine its very existence and purpose. This verse serves as a stark reminder of God's unwavering justice, His holiness, and His commitment to upholding His covenant, even when it means executing severe judgment upon His own people who persistently reject His ways. The comprehensive nature of the threatened judgment—encompassing all ages and genders—highlights the gravity of their unrepentant sin and the totality of divine wrath against apostasy.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 44:7 stands as a timeless and sobering warning for all generations, compelling us to recognize that sin, especially the idolatry of placing anything or anyone above the one true God, is not a harmless indulgence but a profoundly self-destructive act. In our contemporary world, "idols" may not be physical statues, but they manifest subtly and powerfully as obsessive pursuits of wealth, power, comfort, self-image, technological gratification, or even human relationships. These false gods promise fulfillment but ultimately lead to spiritual emptiness, relational brokenness, and existential despair. This verse challenges us to critically examine our deepest allegiances and motivations, asking what truly holds the ultimate, supreme place in our hearts and lives. It reminds us that God's commands are not burdensome restrictions but loving guidelines designed for our holistic well-being and flourishing. To ignore divine warnings, whether clearly articulated in Scripture or gently impressed upon our conscience by the Spirit-led community, is to invite inevitable and often devastating consequences. Our vital task is to heed God's voice, to turn away from anything that competes for His rightful place, and to trust implicitly in His wisdom, knowing that true life, lasting peace, and genuine flourishing are found only in Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is God so angry and seemingly harsh in this verse?
Answer: God's anger here is not a capricious outburst but a righteous and holy response to profound and persistent rebellion, specifically the sin of idolatry. The Jewish remnant in Egypt had repeatedly defied His explicit commands, even after witnessing the devastating judgment that befell Jerusalem precisely because of similar sins (Jeremiah 44:2-6). God's character encompasses both perfect love and unwavering justice. His warnings, though severe, are an expression of His holiness and His covenant faithfulness. He cannot tolerate sin, especially the worship of other gods, because it fundamentally undermines His unique relationship with His people and leads directly to their destruction. The "harshness" reflects the immense gravity of their sin and the inevitable, self-inflicted consequences of rejecting the only true source of life and truth.
What does "the God of hosts" mean, and why is it used here?
Answer: "The God of hosts" translates the Hebrew title Yahweh Sabaoth (יהוה צבאות), which is a powerful and significant divine name. "Hosts" (sabaoth) refers to armies, whether human or heavenly (such as angels or celestial bodies). Thus, "the God of hosts" signifies God's sovereign power and absolute authority over all creation, including all spiritual and earthly forces. Its emphatic use in Jeremiah 44:7 emphasizes God's omnipotence and His undeniable ability to execute the judgment He declares. It serves as a potent reminder to the rebellious remnant that they are not defying a weak or limited deity, but the supreme Commander of all cosmic and earthly armies, who possesses the ultimate power to bring about the complete annihilation He threatens.
What does it mean to commit "great evil against your souls"?
Answer: The phrase "great evil against your souls" is a profoundly powerful expression indicating that the people's actions—their idolatry and deliberate disobedience—were profoundly self-destructive. The Hebrew word for "souls" (nephesh) refers to the entire living being, encompassing one's life, person, and vitality. Therefore, committing "evil against your souls" means they were engaging in behavior that would ultimately lead to their own ruin, death, and existential annihilation, rather than merely offending God externally. It highlights the inherent, destructive nature of sin, which, by its very essence, works against the well-being, flourishing, and very life of the sinner. Their choices were literally cutting off their own future and existence as a people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 44:7, with its stark warning of self-inflicted destruction due to idolatry and rebellion, finds its ultimate resolution and redemptive fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "great evil" committed by humanity against its own "souls"—the pervasive sin that inevitably leads to spiritual and physical death (Romans 6:23)—is precisely what Christ came to address and overcome. While the Old Covenant powerfully revealed God's justice and the severe consequences of disobedience, it also foreshadowed a coming deliverer who would provide a definitive solution. Jesus, as the perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29), bore the full weight of the "great evil" of human sin on the cross, becoming the ultimate sacrifice to "cut off" the power of sin and death over all who believe in Him (Colossians 2:13-14). He offers a new covenant, not merely written on stone tablets but inscribed upon the hearts of believers, enabling true worship "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24), thereby eradicating the very root of idolatry and rebellion. Through His glorious resurrection, Christ conquered death itself, ensuring that those who are united with Him will not be "cut off" or left with "none to remain," but will receive eternal life and an imperishable inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4). Thus, the judgment threatened in Jeremiah 44:7, while a real consequence for the unrepentant, is ultimately overcome by the boundless grace and redemptive power of Christ for all who turn to Him in faith.