Jeremiah 44:20

20 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people -- men and women -- who answered him.

Jeremiah 44:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 44:20

Then Jeremiah said unto all the people
Immediately, being influenced, directed, and assisted by the Spirit of God; though what he says, in ( Jeremiah 44:21-23 ) ; he does not declare as coming from the Lord; but what was upon his mind, and was a full refutation of all that had been said: and which he delivered to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him
[that] answer;
in which they all agreed, though delivered by one; and to which he made a reply: saying;
as follows:

Jeremiah 44:20 In-Context

18 But since we stopped making sacrifices to the Queen Goddess and stopped pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had great problems. Our people have also been killed in war and by hunger."

19 The women said, "Our husbands knew what we were doing. We had their permission to burn incense to the Queen Goddess and to pour out drink offerings to her. Our husbands knew we were making cakes that looked like her and were pouring out drink offerings to her."

20 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people -- men and women -- who answered him.

21 He said to them, "The Lord remembered that you and your ancestors, kings and officers, and the people of the land burned incense in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. He remembered and thought about it.

22 Then he could not be patient with you any longer. He hated the terrible things you did. So he made your country an empty desert, where no one lives. Other people curse that country. And so it is today.