Jeremiah 44:1-12 · Bible study
Jeremiah 44:1-12 Commentary: Judgment on the Refuge in Egypt
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah warns the remnant in Egypt that the same judgment they saw fall on Jerusalem will fall on them if they persist in idolatry.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God warns the Jewish remnant in Egypt that continued idolatry will bring the same judgment they saw fall on Jerusalem.
- Key words: “remnant” (שְׁאֵרִית), “set their faces” (שָׂמוּ פְנֵיהֶם), “evil against your own souls”, “cut off” (כָּרַת), “curse and reproach”.
- Main debate: Whether the judgment applies to all Jews in Egypt or only the idolaters, and the LXX variant reading “your princes” instead of “their wives” in v.9.
- Theological theme: God’s patience with sin is not infinite; judgment is certain for unrepentant disobedience, even after receiving mercy.
- Best use: A sobering call to examine whether we are repeating the sins of previous generations, and to respond to God’s warnings with humility.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis—and in the land of Pathros:
2“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You have seen all the disaster that I brought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, they lie today in ruins and desolation
3because of the evil they have done. They provoked Me to anger by continuing to burn incense and to serve other gods that neither they nor you nor your fathers ever knew.
4Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets again and again, saying: ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate.’
5But they did not listen or incline their ears; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods.
6Therefore My wrath and anger poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so that they have become the desolate ruin they are today.
7So 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?
8Why are you provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to reside? As a result, you will be cut off and will become an object of cursing and reproach among all the nations of the earth.
9Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers and of the kings of Judah and their wives, as well as the wickedness that you and your wives committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed My instruction or the statutes that I set before you and your fathers.
11Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah.
12And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have resolved to go to the land of Egypt to reside there; they will meet their end. They will all fall by the sword or be consumed by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine; and they will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and reproach.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt, who lived at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
2“Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have seen all the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah. Behold, today they are a desolation, and no man dwells in them,
3because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, to serve other gods that they didn’t know, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers.
4However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, “Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I hate.”
5But they didn’t listen and didn’t incline their ear. They didn’t turn from their wickedness, to stop burning incense to other gods.
6Therefore my wrath and my anger was poured out, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is today.’
7“Therefore now Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘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 middle of Judah, to leave yourselves no one remaining,
8in that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to live, that you may be cut off, and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
9Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10They are not humbled even to 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 Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah.
12I will take the remnant of Judah that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to live there, and they will all be consumed. They will fall in the land of Egypt. They will be consumed by the sword and by the famine. They will die, from the least even to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine. They will be an object of horror, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach.
KJV King James Version 1769
1The 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,
2Thus 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,
3Because 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.
4Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
5But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.
6Wherefore 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.
7Therefore 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;
8In 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?
9Have 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?
10They 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.
11Therefore 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.
12And 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews that dwelt in the land of Egypt, that dwelt at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
2Thus saith Jehovah 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,
3because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, that they knew not, neither they, nor ye, nor your fathers.
4Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
5But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.
6Wherefore my wrath 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 it is this day.
7Therefore 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;
8in that ye provoke me unto anger with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are gone to sojourn; that ye may be cut off, and that ye may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
9Have 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 committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10They 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.
11Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah.
12And 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; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1The word that hath been unto Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who are dwelling in the land of Egypt--who are dwelling in Migdol, and in Tahpanhes, and in Noph, and in the land of Pathros--saying,
2`Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Ye--ye have seen all the evil that I have brought in on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah, and lo, they are a waste this day, and there is none dwelling in them,
3because of their wickedness that they have done, by provoking Me to anger, by going to make perfume, by serving other gods, that they knew not, they, ye, and your fathers.
4`And I send unto you all my servants, the prophets, rising early and sending, saying: I pray you, do not this abomination that I have hated--
5and they have not hearkened nor inclined their ear, to turn back from their wickedness, not to make perfume to other gods,
6and poured out is My fury, and Mine anger, and it burneth in cities of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, and they are for a waste, for a desolation, as at this day.
7`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:
8by provoking Me to anger by the works of your hands, by making perfume to other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are going in to sojourn, so as to cut yourselves off, and so as to your being for a reviling and for a reproach among all 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, that they have done in the land of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem?
10They have not been humbled unto this day, nor have they been afraid, nor have they walked in My law, and in My statutes, that I have set before you and before your fathers.
11`Therefore, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am setting my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah,
12and I have taken the remnant of Judah, who have set their faces to enter the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they have all been consumed in the land of Egypt; they fall by sword, by famine they are consumed, from the least even unto the greatest, by sword and by famine they die, and they have been for an execration, for an astonishment, and for a reviling, and for a reproach.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwelt in the land of Egypt, who dwelt at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
2Thus saith Jehovah 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 they are, this day, a waste, and no man dwelleth therein,
3because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense to serve othergods which they knew not, they, [nor] ye, nor your fathers.
4And I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing which I hate!
5But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto othergods.
6And 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 become a waste, a desolation, as at this day.
7And now thus saith Jehovah the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Wherefore commit ye great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and suckling, out of the midst of Judah, to leave you no remnant;
8provoking me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense unto othergods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are come to sojourn, that ye should be cut off, and that ye should be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
9Have 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?
10They are not humbled unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes which I set before you and before your fathers.
11Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.
12And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to enter into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed: in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword [and] by the famine, from the least even unto the greatest; they shall die by the sword and by the famine, and they shall be an execration, an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1The word that came to Jeremiah, concerning all the Jews that dwelt in the land of Egypt, dwelling in Magdal, and in Taphnis, and in Memphis, and in the land of Phatures, saying:
2Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: You have seen all this evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Juda: and behold they are desolate this day, and there is not an inhabitant in them:
3Because of the wickedness which they have committed, to provoke me to wrath, and to go and offer sacrifice, and worship other gods, which neither they, nor you, nor your fathers knew.
4And I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early, and sending, and saying: Do not commit this abominable thing, which I hate.
5But they heard not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their evil ways, and not to sacrifice to strange gods.
6Wherefore my indignation and my fury was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and they are turned to desolation and waste, as at this day.
7And now thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Why do you commit this great evil against your own souls, that there should die of you man and woman, child and suckling out of the midst of Juda, and no remnant should be left you:
8In that you provoke me to wrath with the works of your hands, by sacrificing to other gods in the land of Egypt, into which you are come to dwell there: and that you should perish, and be a curse, and a reproach to all the nations of the earth?
9Have you forgotten the evils of your fathers, and the evils of the kings of Juda, and the evils of their wives, and your evils, and the evils of your wives, that they have done in the land of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10They are not cleansed even to this day: neither have they feared, nor walked in the law of the Lord, nor in my commandments, which I set before you and your fathers.
11Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will set my face upon you for evil: and I will destroy all Juda.
12And I will take the remnant of Juda that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt, and to dwell there; and they shall be all consumed in the land of Egypt: they shall fall by the sword, and by the famine: and they shall be consumed from the least even to the greatest, by the sword, and by the famine shall they die: and they shall be for an execration, and for a wonder, and for a curse, and for a reproach.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 44:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this passage delivers a direct warning from God through Jeremiah to the Jewish refugees who had settled in Egypt. The prophet reminds them that they themselves witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah, cities now wasted and uninhabited, because of persistent idolatry. Calvin emphasizes that God’s sending of prophets “rising up early” (v.4) demonstrates extraordinary patience. Gill and Matthew Henry note that the people’s refusal to “incline their ear” (v.5) sealed their fate. The same Hebrew verb for pouring out wrath (נָתַךְ, “pour forth”) used in v.6 for Jerusalem is applied again to the exiles in Egypt (cf. Jer 42:18), showing the continuity of judgment. Barnes adds that the threat “to cut off all Judah” (v.11) applies specifically to the community in Egypt, with exceptions only for a handful who would escape (v.14). The cumulative weight of the argument is that fleeing to a new land does not remove the obligation to obey; it only transports the same heart into a new setting where God’s eye still sees.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Geographical representation view: The four cities represent the major Jewish settlements in Egypt, showing the extent of the diaspora (Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
- Festival gathering view: The list indicates that Jews from all over Egypt gathered at Pathros for a religious festival, giving Jeremiah an audience (Keil & Delitzsch).
What is clear: God warns that the same judgment that destroyed Jerusalem for idolatry will fall on the Jewish refugees in Egypt if they persist in their sin.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of judgment in v.11 ‘cut off all Judah’ | Commentators agree it refers primarily to the Jewish refugees who had gone to Egypt. | Barnes says the phrase applies to ‘all Judah in Egypt’ with exceptions (some escape, v.14). Calvin sees total destruction of the whole group. |
| The identity of ‘their wives’ in v.9 | The Masoretic Text reads ‘the wickedness of his wives’ (referring to Judah’s kings). | The Septuagint reads ‘your princes’. The Cambridge Bible follows a slight emendation to ‘their wives’, noting women’s prominence in the idolatry (Jer 44:15-19). |
| Significance of the four Egyptian locations | They show the wide dispersal of Jewish refugees across Egypt. | Barnes suggests representatives from these places gathered at Pathros for a festival. Keil and Delitzsch see the list as indicating settlements where the warning must be heard. |
Historical & Cultural Context
After the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587 BC, a small remnant remained in Judah under Gedaliah. When Gedaliah was assassinated, the survivors, fearing Babylonian reprisal, forced Jeremiah to go with them to Egypt (Jer 43:1, 7), directly disobeying God’s command through the prophet to stay in the land. The four locations listed in verse 1 pinpoint the Jewish diaspora in Egypt.
Migdol was a fortress on the northeastern border (cf. Ex 14:2). Tahpanhes (Greek Daphnae) was a frontier city near the Mediterranean where Jeremiah had earlier performed a sign act (Jer 43:8, 9). Memphis (Noph in some translations) was the ancient capital, a center of Egyptian power (Is 19:13). Pathros was Upper Egypt, the southern region (Is 11:11). The Cambridge Bible notes that the listing “Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros” likely reflects the breadth of Jewish settlement from the Delta up the Nile. Barnes suggests the people had gathered for a festival at Pathros, giving Jeremiah a large audience.
The Jews in Egypt had not abandoned the idolatry that caused Jerusalem’s fall. The worship of the “queen of heaven” (a Mesopotamian goddess, possibly Ishtar or Astarte) was especially popular among the women (see vv. 15, 19). The refugees reasoned that their troubles began when they stopped sacrificing to her, a logic the prophets had always condemned. Into this theological confusion Jeremiah speaks the word of the Lord: geography does not insulate from divine justice.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentators note one significant textual variant in verse 9. The Masoretic Text reads ‘the wickedness of his wives’ (referring to the kings of Judah). The Septuagint reads ‘your princes’ (ἀρχόντων ὑμῶν). The Cambridge Bible recommends reading ‘their wives’ (a slight deviation from the MT pointing), which is supported by the context of women’s active role in idolatry later in the chapter (vv. 15, 19). No other textual issues are raised by the supplied sources for this passage.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Jeremiah 44 has been read as a solemn warning against presuming on God’s mercy. Early Christian writers saw in the refugees’ flight to Egypt a picture of human attempts to escape divine justice, attempts that fail when the heart remains unchanged. The Reformers, especially Calvin, drew from the repeated sending of prophets (v.4) a vivid demonstration of God’s patience and the inexcusability of human stubbornness. In later centuries, preachers have used this text to challenge congregations to remember the lessons of past judgments and not to assume that a change of location or circumstance can substitute for a change of heart. The promise that a remnant would eventually return (v.14, 28) has also offered hope, showing that God’s final word is not judgment but the preservation of a people for Himself.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Past judgment as a present lesson. God says, “You have seen all the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem” (v.2). The ruins of Judah are a visible sermon. Those who ignore history’s warnings are prone to repeat its sins.
- God’s relentless pursuit. “I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them” (v.4). The Hebrew phrase הַשְׁכֵּם (haskêm, “rising early”) is a habitual idiom for persistent, eager warning. God does not give up easily.
- Self-inflicted ruin. The people commit “great evil against your own souls” (v.7). Their idolatry is not only rebellion against God; it is a destructive choice that cuts off their own future.
Five-point outline
- The evidence of judgment (vv.2, 3): Jerusalem’s desolation stands as proof that God punishes sin.
- The nature of the sin (vv.3, 5): Worship of gods “they didn’t know” shows the absurdity of exchanging the Creator for handmade objects.
- The persistence of grace (v.4): God sends prophets again and again, not willing that any should perish.
- The hardness of the heart (vv.5, 10): “They are not humbled even to this day”, the verb דֻכְּאוּ (dukk‘u, “crushed”) implies a spirit broken by repentance that never came.
- The inevitable harvest (vv.11, 12): “I will set my face against you for evil” inverts the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24, 26. The sword, famine, and exile that befell Jerusalem will now overtake Egypt’s refugees.
Illustration hooks
- A patient who ignores repeated medical warnings and then continues the same habits, expecting different results.
- A community that builds a flood wall in the wrong place because they refuse to believe the engineers’ data.
- A person who changes jobs or cities to escape problems, only to find the same patterns follow them.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If God is merciful, why does He seem so angry in the Old Testament?”
- “How do I know whether my hardships are discipline from God or just ordinary life?”
- “Is it possible to repent after years of stubbornness?”
Leading a Discussion
This passage forces us to ask whether we learn from the consequences of sin, our own and others’. It also challenges the notion that a new location or fresh start can solve a heart problem. Use these questions to help your group move from the text to their own lives.
Discussion questions
- Why does Jeremiah list four specific Egyptian cities? What does the range of locations tell you about the Jewish community there?
- What did the people “see” in Jerusalem’s fate (v.2)? How could they have witnessed such judgment and yet repeat the same sins?
- In verse 4, God says “I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them.” What does this language reveal about God’s character?
- Verse 7 calls idolatry “great evil against your own souls.” In what sense does sin harm the sinner even before God’s judgment falls?
- Verse 10 says they “are not humbled” and “have not feared.” What is the connection between humility before God, reverence, and obedience?
- How does the phrase “I will set my face against you for evil” (v.11) echo or invert the Aaronic blessing (Num 6:24, 26)? What does that inversion teach about covenant relationship?
- Are there “Egypts” in your own life, places you flee to for safety but where you are tempted to compromise? How does this passage speak to that pattern?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 10:14 | Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim. |
| Exodus 14:2 | “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea. |
| Isaiah 11:11 | It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. |
| Isaiah 19:13 | The princes of Zoan have become fools. The princes of Memphis are deceived. They have caused Egypt to go astray, those who are the cornerstone of her tribes. |
| Jeremiah 2:16 | The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head. |
| Jeremiah 42:15 | now therefore hear Yahweh’s word, O remnant of Judah! Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘If you indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to live there, |
| Jeremiah 42:18 | For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and my wrath has been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath will be poured out on you, when you enter into Egypt; and you will be an object of horror, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach; and you will see this place no more.’ |
| Jeremiah 43:5 | But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah— |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights God's striking use of human emotion in pleading with Israel: "O, do not this abominable thing." He identifies four layers in the appeal—divine command, fatherly entreaty, the wickedness of the act itself, and God's hatred of it—showing a tender, reasoned call before judgment.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that the phrase "your souls" means your very selves, emphasizing personal responsibility. He also clarifies that "all Judah" in this judgment refers only to those in Egypt, not the exiles in Babylon, and notes a textual variant where "wickedness of your princes" may replace "wives."
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that the Jews who fled to Egypt compounded their disobedience by eagerly adopting the very idolatrous practices that had brought Jerusalem's destruction. Having witnessed God's severe judgment firsthand, their refusal to repent or even remember that lesson proved their obstinacy was beyond remedy. They willfully closed their ears to every warning.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the word came to Jeremiah only after enough time had passed for the refugees' worship of other gods to become established. The occasion was likely a festival gathering that included Jewish colonies already living in Egypt. The use of "you" throughout the address underscores the nation's continuous identity across generations.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note points out that the Jews who fled to Egypt repeated the same idolatry that had already brought destruction on Jerusalem. They had witnessed God's judgment firsthand yet remained unrepentant, showing they had learned nothing. Their continued stubbornness would now bring the same devastation upon them in Egypt.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB emphasizes that the Jews in Egypt were not forced into idolatry but went out of their way to practice it, willfully courting their own ruin. He notes they injured only themselves, not God, and that if God did not spare Jerusalem, they would find no safety in Egypt.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasizes that the Jews in Egypt were zealously worshiping the queen of heaven, repeating the very sins that had brought God's judgment on Jerusalem. Jeremiah confronts them by pointing to that historical calamity as a direct result of idolatry, and specifically highlights the zealous role of the wives in this rebellion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that this passage marks Jeremiah's final prophetic act, delivered far from home after terrible judgments, yet the prophet still says the same thing as at first. The people have not become wiser or better, and their present sin stems from forgetting the calamities their own idolatry caused.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that God did not bring judgment on Jerusalem without first sending repeated, urgent warnings through His prophets. The people were not caught off guard; they were called again and again to abandon the idolatry God hates, yet they refused to listen until destruction became unavoidable.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the Egyptian cities where Jewish refugees settled, clarifying that Migdol lay near the Red Sea, Noph was the Memphis later known as Cairo, and Pathros was the province later called Thebais. His point is to fix these ancient place names to familiar geography.