Jeremiah 44
Tree of Life Version
Calamity in Egypt
44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews dwelling in the land of Egypt—at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Noph, and in the region of Pathros[a], saying, 2 thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel: “You have seen all the calamity that I brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah. Behold, today they are a ruin, and no one lives in them, 3 because of their wickedness which they committed to provoke Me, by continuing to burn sacrifices for and serve other gods, whom they had not known—not they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets, sending them early and often, saying: ‘Oh, do not do this loathsome thing that I hate.’ 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to stop making offering to other gods.
6 “Therefore My fury and Mine anger was poured out and blazed in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. So they are waste and a ruin, as it is today. 7 So now, thus says Adonai, Elohim-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel: “Why are you committing this great evil against your own souls? You cut off from yourselves man and woman, infant and nursing child, from the midst of Judah, to leave yourself without a remnant. 8 You are provoking Me with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have come to dwell, so that you will be cut off and become a curse and a disgrace among all the nations of the earth. 9 Have you forgotten the evils of your fathers, the evils of the kings of Judah, the evils of their wives, and your own evils and the evils of your wives, which were committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not become contrite even to this day, nor have they feared nor walked in My Torah, My statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.”
11 Therefore thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel: “I will soon set My face against you for calamity, to cut off all Judah. 12 I will take the remnant of Judah who set their faces to enter the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they will all be consumed, falling in the land of Egypt by the sword and by famine. They will die, from the least to the greatest, by the sword and by famine, and they will be an execration, and a horror, a curse, and a disgrace.
13 So I will punish those dwelling in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by plague. 14 So none of the remnant of Judah entering the land of Egypt to sojourn there will escape or remain, to return to the land of Judah, when they are longing with their soul to return to live there; for none will return except as refugees.”
15 Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women that stood by—a large assembly—with all the people dwelling in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying: 16 “As for the word that you spoke to us in the Name of Adonai, we are not going to listen to you! 17 Instead we will definitely do every word as went out of our mouth—burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we did, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—for then we had plenty of food, were well off, and saw no calamity. 18 But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine. 19 Moreover, when we were burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, when we made cakes for her in her image and poured out drink offerings to her, were we without our husbands?”
20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and the women, to all the people that were giving him such an answer, saying: 21 “The incense-burning that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—you and your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land—Adonai did remember them, they did come into His heart. 22 Then Adonai could no longer endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations that you committed! So your land has become a wasteland, a desolation and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Because you have burned incense, because you have sinned against Adonai and have not listened to the voice of Adonai, nor walked in His Torah, nor in His statutes, nor in His testimonies—that is why this calamity has befallen you, as it is this day.”
24 Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women: “Hear the word of Adonai, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt. 25 Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel, saying: ‘You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying: “We will definitely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings to her.” You surely will confirm your vows and surely will perform your vows!’”
26 Therefore hear the word of Adonai, all Judah dwelling in the land of Egypt: “Behold, I have sworn by My great Name,”[b] declares Adonai, “never more will My Name be invoked in the mouth of anyone of Judah in all the land of Egypt saying: ‘As my Lord Adonai lives.’ 27 Here I am, watching over them for evil, and not for good. All the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them. 28 Those escaping the sword will return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah only few in number. Then the remnant of Judah who entered the land of Egypt to sojourn there, will know whose word stands up—Mine or theirs!” It is a declaration of Adonai.
29 “Moreover, this will be the sign to you: I will visit punishment on you in this place, so that you may know that My words will surely stand against you as calamity.”
30 Thus says Adonai: “Soon, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them who seek his life, just as I gave King Zedekiah of Judah into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his enemy who was seeking his life.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 44:1 In Upper or Southern Egypt; the other places were in Lower or Northern Egypt.
- Jeremiah 44:26 cf. Heb. 6:13.
Jeremiah 44
New King James Version
Israelites Will Be Punished in Egypt
44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwell in the land of Egypt, who dwell at (A)Migdol, at (B)Tahpanhes, at (C)Noph,[a] and in the country of (D)Pathros, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘You have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are (E)a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went (F)to burn incense and to (G)serve other gods whom they did not know, they nor you nor your fathers. 4 However (H)I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!” 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. 6 So My fury and My anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they [b]are wasted and desolate, as it is this day.’
7 “Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Why do you commit this great evil (I)against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving none to remain, 8 in that you (J)provoke Me to wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to dwell, that you may cut yourselves off and be (K)a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have 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? 10 They have not been (L)humbled,[c] to this day, nor have they (M)feared; they have not walked in My law or in My statutes that I set before you and your fathers.’
11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, (N)I will set My face against you for catastrophe and for [d]cutting off all Judah. 12 And I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to dwell there, and (O)they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine. They shall die, from the least to the greatest, by the sword and by famine; and (P)they shall be an oath, an astonishment, a curse and a reproach! 13 (Q)For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there shall escape or survive, lest they return to the land of Judah, to which they (R)desire[e] to return and dwell. For (S)none shall return except those who escape.’ ”
15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying: 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, (T)we will not listen to you! 17 But we will certainly do (U)whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the (V)queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to 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 we had plenty of [f]food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. 18 But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.”
19 The women also said, (W)“And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands’ permission?”
20 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people—the men, the women, and all the people who had given him that answer—saying: 21 “The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and did it not come into His mind? 22 So the Lord could no longer bear it, because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which you committed. Therefore your land is a desolation, an astonishment, a curse, and without an inhabitant, (X)as it is this day. 23 Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, (Y)therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day.”
24 Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt! 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, “We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!’ 26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, (Z)I have sworn by My (AA)great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that (AB)My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “The Lord God lives.” 27 Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt (AC)shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end to them. 28 Yet (AD)a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone to the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs. 29 And this shall be a sign to you,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that My words will surely (AE)stand against you for adversity.’
30 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, (AF)I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave (AG)Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.’ ”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 44:1 Ancient Memphis
- Jeremiah 44:6 Or became a ruin
- Jeremiah 44:10 Lit. crushed
- Jeremiah 44:11 destroying
- Jeremiah 44:14 Lit. lift up their soul
- Jeremiah 44:17 Lit. bread
Jeremiah 44
English Standard Version
Judgment for Idolatry
44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at (A)Migdol, at (B)Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of (C)Pathros, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the disaster that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day (D)they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of the evil that they committed, (E)provoking me to anger, (F)in that they went to make offerings (G)and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4 (H)Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’ 5 (I)But they did not listen (J)or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods. 6 (K)Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, (L)and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day. 7 And now thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you commit this great evil (M)against yourselves, to cut off from you (N)man and woman, (O)infant and child, from the midst of Judah, leaving you no remnant? 8 (P)Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, (Q)making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become (R)a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, (S)the evil of the kings of Judah, (T)the evil of their[a] wives, your own evil, (U)and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not humbled themselves even to this day, (V)nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers.
11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: (W)Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah. 12 I will take the remnant of Judah who have (X)set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed. (Y)In the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine (Z)they shall be consumed. (AA)From the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine, (AB)and they shall become an oath, a horror, (AC)a curse, and a taunt. 13 (AD)I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, 14 (AE)so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive (AF)or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, (AG)except some fugitives.”
15 Then all the men who knew that (AH)their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in (AI)Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, (AJ)we will not listen to you. 17 (AK)But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to (AL)the queen of heaven (AM)and pour out drink offerings to her, (AN)as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to (AO)the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything (AP)and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” 19 And the women said,[b] “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven (AQ)and poured out drink offerings to her, was it (AR)without our husbands' approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”
20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, (AS)men and women, all the people who had given him this answer: 21 (AT)“As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, (AU)did not the Lord remember them? Did it not come into his mind? 22 (AV)The Lord could no longer bear your evil deeds and (AW)the abominations that you committed. (AX)Therefore your land has become (AY)a desolation and a waste and a curse, (AZ)without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 It is because you made offerings (BA)and because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey the voice of the Lord or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies (BB)that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.”
24 Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, (BC)all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: (BD)You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, (BE)to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! 26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, (BF)all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: (BG)Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the Lord, (BH)that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, (BI)saying, ‘As the Lord God lives.’ 27 (BJ)Behold, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. (BK)All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them. 28 (BL)And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, (BM)few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, (BN)shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. 29 This shall be the sign to you, declares the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that (BO)my words will surely stand against you for harm: 30 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will give (BP)Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies (BQ)and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave (BR)Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 44:9 Hebrew his
- Jeremiah 44:19 Compare Syriac; Hebrew lacks And the women said
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
