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Jeremiah 44

30 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah delivers a stern warning to the Jewish exiles in Egypt, condemning their idolatry and foretelling their destruction, yet noting that a remnant may survive and return to Judah.

Summary

Jeremiah receives a divine commission to speak to Jews who have fled to Egypt, accusing them of the same idolatrous practices that plagued Jerusalem and Judah—burning incense and serving foreign gods. He recounts how the Lord’s anger has turned cities into desolation, emphasizing the people's unwillingness to heed prophetic warnings. Jeremiah declares that the exiles’ continued worship of the "queen of heaven" will bring them sword, famine, and pestilence, and that none of them will remain to return to Judah unless they escape these judgments. He confronts the populace, reminding them of their ancestors’ sins and their own failure to follow the law, and predicts that the Lord’s name will no longer be invoked among them. The chapter concludes with the Lord promising to hand Pharaohhophra over to his enemies as He did with Zedekiah, and assuring that a few survivors will later return to Judah, serving as a sign of God’s judgment.

Outline
  1. 1. The Lord’s warning to the Jewish exiles in Egypt regarding idolatry and its consequences
  2. 2. The exiles’ stubborn refusal to abandon worship of the queen of heaven
  3. 3. The prediction of destruction, survival of a remnant, and the promise of eventual return
Themes
Judicial condemnation of idolatryProphetic obedience versus rebellionRedemptive hope through a remnant
Keywords
incensequeen of heavenprophecyjudgmentremnant
People
JeremiahPharaohhophraZedekiahNebuchadrezzar
Places
EgyptMigdolTahpanhesNophPathrosJudahJerusalemthe land of Egypt
Things
incenseofferings to the queen of heavenswordfaminepestilence
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 44:7: God declares that the people’s sinful acts will cut off their souls
  • Jeremiah 44:13: God promises to punish the exiles in Egypt just as He punished Jerusalem
  • Jeremiah 44:28: A remnant may escape and return, signaling hope amid judgment
Questions
  • Why does Jeremiah insist that the exiles must abandon their idolatrous practices before any hope of return can exist?
  • What does the repeated emphasis on "sword, famine, and pestilence" reveal about the nature of the Lord’s judgment?
  • In what ways does the promise of a surviving remnant provide theological hope for the persecuted community?
Sentiment

negative
the chapter mainly describes judgment and destruction, with a brief glimmer of hope for survivors