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Jeremiah 44:25

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Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, saying {H559}; Ye and your wives {H802} have both spoken {H1696} with your mouths {H6310}, and fulfilled {H4390} with your hand {H3027}, saying {H559}, We will surely {H6213} perform {H6213} our vows {H5088} that we have vowed {H5087}, to burn incense {H6999} to the queen {H4446} of heaven {H8064}, and to pour out {H5258} drink offerings {H5262} unto her: ye will surely {H6965} accomplish {H6965} your vows {H5088}, and surely {H6213} perform {H6213} your vows {H5088}.

this is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says: 'You and your wives stated your intentions with your mouths and performed them with your hands - you said, "We will certainly fulfill our vows that we made to offer incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her."' Without doubt, you will indeed fulfill every point of your vows.

This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows!

Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her: establish then your vows, and perform your vows.

Commentary

Context

Jeremiah 44:25 is part of God's final, severe message delivered through the prophet Jeremiah to the remnant of Judah who had fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem. Despite God's explicit warnings through Jeremiah not to go to Egypt (as seen in Jeremiah 42:19 and Jeremiah 43:7), they defiantly settled there. This verse captures their unrepentant and audacious declaration of continued idolatry, specifically their devotion to the pagan deity known as the "queen of heaven," even after witnessing the devastating consequences of similar sins in Judah.

Key Themes

  • Defiant Idolatry: The verse highlights the shocking audacity of the people. They are not merely practicing idolatry in secret but openly declaring their intention to continue their forbidden rituals, emphasizing their stubborn rebellion against the LORD.
  • Rejection of God's Word: Despite Jeremiah's tireless warnings and prophecies, the people actively choose to disregard God's commands. Their words, "We will surely perform our vows," demonstrate a complete dismissal of divine authority and a preference for their own desires and false gods.
  • Pervasive Apostasy: The mention of "Ye and your wives" indicates that this idolatry was widespread and deeply ingrained within the community, affecting both men and women. It was a corporate sin, not just the transgression of a few individuals.
  • The "Queen of Heaven": This refers to a prominent pagan goddess, likely Ishtar or Astarte, worshipped across various ancient Near Eastern cultures for fertility and prosperity. The Israelites had a long history of worshipping her, as noted in Jeremiah 7:18. Their vows included burning incense and pouring out drink offerings, specific acts of devotion to this false deity.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel" emphasizes the divine authority behind this declaration. The Hebrew phrase for "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) signifies God's supreme power over all creation and armies, making the people's defiance even more egregious. The repetition of "surely perform our vows" (Hebrew: haqem naqim) underscores their firm and unwavering commitment to their idolatrous practices, indicating a resolute intention rather than a momentary lapse.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 44:25 serves as a powerful warning against willful disobedience and spiritual stubbornness. Even today, people can defiantly cling to "idols" that compete with God for ultimate devotion, whether they be wealth, power, pleasure, self-reliance, or even traditions that contradict biblical truth. This verse challenges us to:

  • Examine Our Commitments: Are our "vows" or deep-seated commitments aligned with God's will, or are we, like the Israelites, stubbornly pursuing things that lead away from Him?
  • Heed God's Warnings: We must be diligent to listen to God's Word, which is often conveyed through Scripture, faithful preaching, and the counsel of godly individuals. Ignoring divine warnings can lead to severe consequences.
  • Beware of Cultural Pressures: The "queen of heaven" represented popular pagan worship. We must be cautious not to conform to cultural trends or popular opinions that contradict biblical principles, even if they seem to promise prosperity or comfort.

Ultimately, this verse calls for a spirit of humility and repentance, urging us to turn from anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives and to commit wholeheartedly to Him alone, recognizing His supreme authority and love.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 14:9 (3 votes)

    And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded [it] to be given [her].

  • Ezekiel 20:39 (2 votes)

    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.

  • James 1:14 (2 votes)

    But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

  • James 1:15 (2 votes)

    Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • Jude 1:13 (2 votes)

    Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

  • Acts 23:12 (2 votes)

    ¶ And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

  • Acts 23:15 (2 votes)

    Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.