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Commentary on Jeremiah 44 verses 1–14
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?
Then, since they kept on in a state of incurable madness and were not to be sobered even by the rest being carried away, he first exhorts them to remain there. But when they kept not up to this but deserted to Egypt, this indeed God allowed them but requires of them not to desert to pagan religion as well as to Egypt. But when they did not comply in this either, he sends the prophet along with them, so that they might not after all suffer total disaster. For since they did not follow him when he called, he next follows them to discipline them and prevent their being hurried further into vice, as a father full of affection does to a child who takes all treatment in the same peevish way, conducting him about everywhere with himself and following him about. This was the reason why God sent not Jeremiah only into Egypt but also Ezekiel into Babylon, and they did not refuse to go.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 44:9 delivers a searing divine indictment against the Jewish remnant who had defiantly fled to Egypt, highlighting their profound spiritual amnesia and persistent rebellion. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God confronts them with an astonishing and tragic pattern of wickedness—spanning from their ancestors and former kings to their own generation—demonstrating a willful disregard for the devastating consequences of idolatry and disobedience that had already befallen Judah and Jerusalem. This verse underscores the tragic cycle of sin, the failure to learn from history, and God's unwavering memory of their transgressions, serving as a stark warning against spiritual forgetfulness.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 44:9 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with striking force and clarity. The most prominent is the Rhetorical Question, "Have ye forgotten...?", which is not seeking information but rather delivering a strong, indignant rebuke. It implies that the answer should be an emphatic "no," thereby highlighting the people's astonishing and inexcusable spiritual amnesia and their willful ignorance of God's past judgments. The forceful Repetition of the word "wickedness" (Hebrew: raʻ) five times within a single verse powerfully emphasizes the pervasive nature and cumulative guilt of their sin, tracing it through generations. This creates a sense of overwhelming spiritual depravity and underscores the deeply ingrained nature of their rebellion. Furthermore, the verse uses Enumeration to list the various groups responsible for this wickedness—fathers, kings, their wives, the current generation, and their wives. This detailed listing underscores the broad scope of the sin and its deep roots within the societal fabric, demonstrating that no segment of the population was exempt from this persistent pattern of rebellion.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 44:9 profoundly illustrates the principle of divine justice and the cumulative nature of unrepented sin. It reveals God's meticulous memory of human actions, contrasting sharply with humanity's pervasive tendency toward spiritual forgetfulness. The verse underscores that God holds individuals and generations accountable for their choices, especially when they perpetuate cycles of disobedience despite clear historical warnings and divine judgment. It highlights the pervasive nature of human depravity and the seductive power of idolatry, which can blind people to the truth even in the face of catastrophic consequences. The repeated "wickedness" points to a deep-seated rebellion against God's covenant, demonstrating that external circumstances (like exile) do not automatically lead to internal repentance, but rather reveal the hardened state of the human heart.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 44:9 serves as a timeless and convicting warning, challenging us to confront our own spiritual amnesia and the insidious nature of sin. It calls us to a rigorous self-examination, prompting us to ask whether we, like the exiles in Egypt, are prone to forgetting God's past mercies and judgments, thereby repeating the mistakes of our own past or those of previous generations. This verse compels us to recognize that "wickedness" is not merely a historical relic but a present danger, manifesting in any allegiance that displaces God from His rightful place in our lives, whether it be the pursuit of comfort, wealth, power, self-gratification, or even the subtle idolization of our own opinions. We are reminded that true repentance involves not just acknowledging sin but actively breaking cycles of disobedience, both personally and communally, by turning wholeheartedly back to God's commands and promises. The call is to heed divine warnings, learn diligently from history—both biblical and personal—and actively cultivate a spiritual memory that fosters humility, obedience, and a deep reverence for God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the specific "wickedness" being referred to in Jeremiah 44:9?
Answer: While "wickedness" (Hebrew: raʻ) is a broad term for moral evil, in the immediate context of Jeremiah 44, it primarily refers to the pervasive idolatry practiced by the people of Judah. This included the worship of foreign gods and goddesses, most notably the "Queen of Heaven," to whom they burned incense and poured out drink offerings (as detailed in Jeremiah 44:17-19). This was a direct and egregious violation of the first commandment and the covenant God made with Israel, and it was the primary reason for God's severe judgment and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
Why does Jeremiah emphasize "fathers," "kings," and "wives" in this verse?
Answer: Jeremiah's emphasis on these distinct groups highlights the widespread and deeply entrenched nature of the sin, demonstrating its pervasive reach across society and generations. "Fathers" refers to the long history of national apostasy, showing that disobedience was a recurring pattern across many generations of Israel's past. "Kings of Judah" points to the leadership's profound responsibility in promoting or allowing idolatry, often actively leading the nation astray (e.g., King Manasseh's reign in 2 Kings 21). The repeated mention of "wives" (both of the kings and the current generation) is particularly significant because women often played a prominent and active role in fertility cults and the worship of goddesses like the "Queen of Heaven," as is explicitly stated later in the chapter (Jeremiah 44:15). This detailed enumeration underscores that sin had permeated all levels of society—ancestral, royal, and domestic—making their current rebellion even more inexcusable and demonstrating a deep-seated spiritual corruption.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 44:9, with its stark portrayal of generational sin, spiritual amnesia, and the pervasive nature of human "wickedness," points profoundly to the absolute necessity of Christ. The repeated "wickedness" of fathers, kings, and the people themselves underscores humanity's utter inability to break free from the cycle of sin through self-effort or historical lessons alone. This persistent rebellion, rooted in a heart that "forgets" God and His commands, highlights the deep-seated problem of sin that only a radical divine intervention could address. The failure of the Old Covenant to truly transform hearts, despite its clear warnings and judgments, foreshadows the desperate need for a new covenant, one where God's law is written not on tablets of stone but on human hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of this profound need. He is the Lamb of God who truly "takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), breaking the power of inherited and personal wickedness through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice on the cross. Where the people of Judah forgot God and committed wickedness, Christ perfectly remembered and obeyed God's will, even to death (Philippians 2:8). Through His resurrection, He offers new life, empowering believers to remember God's truth, walk in righteousness, and thereby break the very cycles of sin and forgetfulness that plagued ancient Israel (Romans 6:4). In Christ, the devastating consequences of sin are borne, and the path to true spiritual remembrance, repentance, and obedience is opened.