Jeremiah 7:18

KJV

The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead [their] dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} gather {H3950} wood {H6086}, and the fathers {H1} kindle {H1197} the fire {H784}, and the women {H802} knead {H3888} their dough {H1217}, to make {H6213} cakes {H3561} to the queen {H4446} of heaven {H8064}, and to pour out {H5258} drink offerings {H5262} unto other {H312} gods {H430}, that they may provoke me to anger {H3707}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The children gather the wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and, just to provoke me, they pour out drink offerings to other gods!

Berean Standard Bible

The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.

American Standard Version

The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 7:18 presents a stark and distressing tableau of pervasive idolatry within Judah, depicting an entire family unit—children, fathers, and women—collaborating in the preparation and offering of pagan sacrifices. This verse, embedded within Jeremiah's powerful Temple Sermon, exposes the depth of Judah's spiritual rebellion, revealing that their false sense of security in religious rituals was utterly undermined by their active and collective devotion to false deities, particularly the "queen of heaven" and other gods, thereby directly provoking the Lord's righteous anger.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a poignant detail within Jeremiah's renowned "Temple Sermon" (Jeremiah 7:1-15), delivered at the very gate of the Lord's house. Jeremiah's primary message here is a scathing indictment of Judah's hypocritical worship: they trusted in the physical presence of the temple, repeating the empty mantra, "[The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these!](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - False Security in the Temple")" while their lives were filled with injustice, oppression, and rampant idolatry. Verse 18 serves as a concrete, horrifying illustration of the very sins Jeremiah condemns, demonstrating that their apostasy was not merely an external ritual but deeply embedded in the fabric of their daily family life, making their claim of covenant faithfulness utterly hollow. The sermon culminates in God's declaration that He will destroy this temple just as He did the sanctuary at Shiloh (cf. [Jeremiah 7:12-14](/jeremiah/7-12-14 "Jeremiah 7:12-14 - Warning from Shiloh")), and cast Judah out of His sight, a direct consequence of their actions described in verses like this one.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The worship of the "queen of heaven" was a prominent and insidious form of idolatry in the ancient Near East, particularly among the Canaanites and Mesopotamians. This deity is widely identified with Ishtar (Babylonian) or Astarte (Canaanite), goddesses associated with fertility, war, and celestial bodies. Her cult often involved ritualistic prostitution, child sacrifice (though not explicitly mentioned here), and the baking of special cakes as offerings. This practice was a direct and flagrant violation of the Mosaic Law, which strictly forbade the worship of any god other than Yahweh, as clearly articulated in the first two commandments found in [Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3-5 "Exodus 20:3-5 - No Other Gods Before Me"). The verse highlights the alarming degree of syncretism in Judah, where pagan practices had infiltrated even the most intimate domestic spheres, demonstrating a complete abandonment of their covenant obligations to the Lord.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 7:18 vividly underscores several key themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah. Foremost is the theme of **Pervasive Idolatry**, illustrating how deeply pagan worship had permeated Judean society, from the youngest members to the oldest, making it a collective, familial enterprise. This widespread apostasy stands in stark contrast to the singular devotion demanded by the covenant with Yahweh, emphasizing the theme of **Covenant Unfaithfulness**. The specific mention of "cakes to the queen of heaven" and "drink offerings unto other gods" highlights the **Syncretism** that blurred the lines between Yahweh worship and pagan practices, a spiritual adultery that God abhorred. Finally, the concluding phrase, "that they may provoke me to anger," powerfully conveys the theme of **Divine Indignation and Judgment**, revealing God's righteous and personal response to His people's deliberate and defiant rebellion against His holiness and covenant love, a theme echoed throughout Jeremiah's prophecies of impending doom for Judah, as seen in [Jeremiah 7:19-20](/jeremiah/7-19-20 "Jeremiah 7:19-20 - God's Anger and Judgment").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **children (Hebrew, _bên'_):** From H1121, meaning "a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)." In this context, "children" signifies the youngest members of the household, indicating that the idolatrous practices were not confined to adults but were learned and participated in from an early age, deeply embedding the sin within the generational fabric of society and demonstrating a profound failure of parental spiritual leadership.
* **fathers (Hebrew, _ʼâb'_):** From H1, meaning "a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal." The "fathers" represent the patriarchal heads of the households, who, instead of leading their families in the exclusive worship of Yahweh, actively participated in and even initiated the pagan rituals. This action constituted a grave dereliction of their primary covenantal responsibility to teach and model faithfulness to the Lord, thereby perpetuating apostasy across generations.
* **provoke me to anger (Hebrew, _kaʻaç'_):** From H3707, meaning "a primitive root; to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant; be angry, be grieved, take indignation, provoke (to anger, unto wrath), have sorrow, vex, be wroth." This phrase emphasizes God's deeply personal and righteous indignation. Their actions were not merely misguided or ignorant; they were a deliberate, defiant affront to His holy character and His covenant, eliciting a strong, justified emotional response from the Lord. It signifies a profound grief and wrath at the betrayal of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children gather wood":** This clause highlights the active participation of the youngest generation in the idolatrous ritual. It suggests that pagan worship was not a hidden or adult-only activity but was openly practiced and even involved children in its preparatory stages, indicating its deep societal penetration and normalization. This paints a picture of intergenerational apostasy.
* **"and the fathers kindle the fire":** This signifies the leadership and initiation of the idolatrous act by the heads of the households. Instead of leading their families in devotion to Yahweh and upholding the covenant, the fathers were instrumental in setting the stage for pagan worship, thereby modeling unfaithfulness and abrogating their spiritual responsibilities. Their actions demonstrate a profound spiritual failure at the core of the family unit.
* **"and the women knead [their] dough":** This points to the domestic and culinary aspects of the ritual, with the women preparing the specific offerings. The act of kneading dough for cakes to a pagan deity underscores how deeply idolatry had infiltrated the everyday life and traditional roles within the home, turning mundane domestic tasks into acts of rebellion against God and integrating pagan worship into the very fabric of daily existence.
* **"to make cakes to the queen of heaven":** This identifies the primary object of their idolatry and the specific nature of the offering. The "queen of heaven" (likely Ishtar/Astarte) was a prominent fertility goddess, and these cakes were a common offering in her cult, symbolizing their devotion and appeal for her blessings, directly contravening the exclusive worship of Yahweh. This specific cult was a persistent problem in Israel's history.
* **"and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods":** This broadens the scope of their idolatry beyond a single deity. The "drink offerings" (libations) were another common form of ancient worship, and their dedication to "other gods" indicates a pervasive polytheism and syncretism, where Judah indiscriminately worshipped various pagan deities alongside (or instead of) the Lord. This reveals a complete spiritual promiscuity.
* **"that they may provoke me to anger":** This concluding phrase reveals the divine perspective and consequence of their actions. Their idolatry was not merely a deviation but a direct, intentional affront to God's holiness and covenant. It underscores God's righteous indignation and the inevitable judgment that would follow such blatant and widespread rebellion, highlighting the personal nature of God's relationship with His people and His response to their betrayal.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 7:18 is rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid and disturbing picture of an entire family unit—children, fathers, and women—collaborating in acts of pagan worship. This detailed scene makes the abstract concept of idolatry concrete and immediate, emphasizing its pervasive nature and the full societal involvement in this sin. The verse also employs a striking form of **Parallelism**, specifically **Synthetic Parallelism**, where each clause ("The children gather wood," "and the fathers kindle the fire," "and the women knead their dough") builds upon the previous one to create a cumulative effect, demonstrating the comprehensive involvement of the household. This structure underscores the collective and coordinated nature of their sin, highlighting that apostasy was a family affair. Furthermore, the final phrase, "that they may provoke me to anger," utilizes **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human emotion (anger) to God. This device emphasizes the Lord's personal and deeply felt response to Judah's betrayal, highlighting that their actions were not merely a breach of law but a direct offense against His character and His covenant relationship with them, revealing His righteous jealousy for His own glory and His people's devotion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the nature of idolatry as spiritual adultery, a repeated theme throughout the prophetic books. Just as a faithful spouse demands exclusive devotion, God, as the covenant Lord of Israel, required their singular worship. Their turning to the "queen of heaven" and "other gods" was a blatant violation of the first commandment, a betrayal of the covenant relationship established at Sinai. This act of disloyalty was not a passive omission but an active provocation, stirring God's righteous jealousy and anger. It underscores that God is not indifferent to the worship of false gods; His holiness demands exclusive devotion, and His justice responds to such flagrant rebellion. The familial involvement also highlights the intergenerational transmission of sin and the collective responsibility of the community for its spiritual state, demonstrating how deeply sin can permeate and corrupt a society from its foundational units.

* [Exodus 20:5](/exodus/20-5 "God's Jealousy and Punishment of Idolatry")
* [Deuteronomy 32:16](/deuteronomy/32-16 "Provoking God to Jealousy with Strange Gods")
* [Judges 2:13](/judges/2-13 "Judges 2:13 - Abandoning the Lord for Baalim and Ashtaroth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific act of making cakes to the "queen of heaven" may seem distant to contemporary life, the underlying principle of idolatry remains profoundly relevant. Idolatry, at its core, is anything that usurps God's rightful place of ultimate devotion, trust, and worship in our lives. This can manifest in subtle forms: an obsessive pursuit of wealth, career success, personal comfort, social media validation, or even the elevation of relationships or self-image above God. Jeremiah 7:18 reminds us that idolatry is often a collective and normalized sin, woven into the fabric of daily life and even passed down through generations. It challenges us to critically examine our own hearts and households: What do we truly serve? What consumes our time, energy, and deepest affections? Are we, perhaps unknowingly, making "cakes" to modern "queens of heaven" by prioritizing anything over our singular devotion to the Lord? This verse serves as a powerful call to spiritual discernment, repentance, and a return to exclusive worship of the one true God, ensuring that our faith is not merely an outward ritual but an inward reality that transforms every aspect of our lives and families, fostering environments where God alone is glorified.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "gods" or priorities might I unknowingly be serving in my own life, taking the place that rightfully belongs to God?**
* **How might the patterns of my family life or community inadvertently normalize practices that subtly diminish God's centrality?**
* **In what ways does God's "anger" at idolatry reveal His profound love and jealousy for His people, rather than mere wrath?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my devotion to God is exclusive and permeates every aspect of my daily life and family interactions?**

### FAQ
**Who was the "Queen of Heaven" mentioned in Jeremiah 7:18?**

Answer: The "Queen of Heaven" refers to a prominent pagan goddess worshipped in the ancient Near East, most commonly identified with Ishtar in Mesopotamia (Babylonian) or Astarte in Canaanite religion. She was associated with fertility, love, war, and celestial bodies. Her worship was widespread and deeply entrenched in the region, and tragically, it had infiltrated the religious practices of Judah, despite God's explicit commands against idolatry found throughout the Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 6:14](/deuteronomy/6-14 "Deuteronomy 6:14 - Do Not Go After Other Gods")). This cult was particularly appealing to women, promising fertility and protection, which led to its deep entrenchment in domestic life.

**Why did the people of Judah engage in such widespread idolatry?**

Answer: The people of Judah engaged in widespread idolatry for several reasons. Primarily, it was a result of spiritual syncretism, where they attempted to blend the worship of Yahweh with the practices of surrounding pagan cultures, believing it might bring them greater prosperity or security. They were influenced by the prevalent polytheistic beliefs of their neighbors and often sought the blessings of fertility gods like the "Queen of Heaven" for agricultural success or offspring, or gods of war for protection. Furthermore, there was a deep-seated rebellion against God's covenant and His commands, a desire to live according to their own ways rather than God's. Jeremiah's ministry consistently highlights their stubborn hearts and their refusal to heed the Lord's warnings (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:23-26](/jeremiah/7-23-26 "Jeremiah 7:23-26 - Disobedience and Stubborn Hearts")). They preferred the tangible rituals and perceived benefits of pagan worship over the unseen, demanding holiness of Yahweh.

**What is the significance of the entire family participating in these idolatrous acts?**

Answer: The involvement of children, fathers, and women in Jeremiah 7:18 is highly significant because it demonstrates the pervasive and normalized nature of idolatry within Judah. It wasn't a fringe activity but deeply embedded in the domestic and social fabric. This collective participation showed that the spiritual corruption had reached every level of society, from the youngest learning these practices to the fathers leading them, and the women preparing the offerings. It underscored the failure of the family unit, which was meant to be the primary sphere for teaching and modeling faithfulness to Yahweh (e.g., [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teaching Children the Commands")), to uphold the covenant, thereby magnifying the severity of their apostasy and God's righteous anger. This familial involvement indicated a complete breakdown of covenant fidelity at the most foundational level of society.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 7:18, with its vivid depiction of Israel's pervasive idolatry and God's provoked anger, finds its profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Israel's failure to maintain exclusive devotion to Yahweh, as evidenced by their worship of the "queen of heaven" and "other gods," highlights humanity's inherent propensity to create and serve idols. Christ, however, perfectly embodies the exclusive worship and obedience that Israel failed to render. He is the [true and living God](/1_thessalonians/1-9 "1 Thessalonians 1:9 - Serving the Living and True God") to whom all devotion is due, and through His perfect life, He fulfilled the Law's demand for singular allegiance, never once yielding to the temptation of idolatry. In the New Covenant, the need for physical offerings like "cakes" and "drink offerings" is eternally superseded by Christ's [once-for-all sacrifice](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice") on the cross, which truly takes away sin and makes reconciliation with God possible, rendering all other sacrifices obsolete. Furthermore, Christ's coming inaugurated a new spiritual reality where the true temple is no longer a physical building, but the community of believers, the Church, in whom the Holy Spirit dwells (e.g., [1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - You Are God's Temple")), contrasting sharply with Judah's false security in the physical temple while their hearts were far from God. Through Christ, believers are called to a radical and exclusive devotion, recognizing that covetousness itself is idolatry (e.g., [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Covetousness is Idolatry")), and that true worship is now in [spirit and truth](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth"), freeing us from the bondage of serving any created thing and enabling us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (cf. [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 19:13

And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

Jeremiah 44:17

But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for [then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

Jeremiah 44:19

And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

1 Corinthians 10:22

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

1 Kings 14:9

But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

Jeremiah 25:7

Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

1 Kings 16:2

Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;