Jeremiah 44:25

25 thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will 1certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her." 2Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!'

Jeremiah 44:25 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 44:25

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel
Which is an usual preface to prophecies coming from him: saying;
as follows: ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with
your hand;
they had said they would burn incense to the queen of heaven, and they had done it; they had been as good as their word, true to it, though in a bad thing: their words and works agreed, and so did the men and their wives: the women had before said they did not perform worship to the queen of heaven without their men; this is acknowledged by the Lord, and their confession is improved against them: saying, we will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn
incense to queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her;
they thought, because they made a vow that they would do it, that it was therefore obligatory upon them, and this would be sufficient to justify them before God, and excuse it to him; whereas nothing that is sinful ought to be vowed or performed; and to vow and perform in such a case is doubly criminal: a vow cannot make that lawful which is unlawful; and the performance of it can never be a laudable action: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows;
they were resolutely set upon it, and nothing would hinder their performance of it; this shows the obstinacy and firmness of their minds: though some think these words are spoken ironically.

Jeremiah 44:25 In-Context

23 "Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day."
24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including 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, as follows: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her." Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!'
26 "Nevertheless hear the word of the LORD , all Judah who are living in the land of Egypt, 'Behold, I have sworn by My great name,' says the LORD , 'never shall My name be invoked again by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "As the Lord GOD lives."
27 'Behold, I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will meet their end by the sword and by famine until they are completely gone.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Jeremiah 44:17; Matthew 14:9; Acts 23:12
  • 2. Ezekiel 20:39

Footnotes 2

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