King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 44:10 Mean?

Jeremiah 44:10 in the King James Version says “They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set ...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 44 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“They 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. humbled: Heb. contrite”

Jeremiah 44:10 · KJV

Context

8

In 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?

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, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? wickedness: Heb. wickednesses, or, punishments, etc

10

They 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. humbled: Heb. contrite

11

Therefore 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.

12

And 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.

Read Jeremiah 44 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They are not humbled even unto this day—lōʾ-dukkeʾû (they are not humbled/crushed) uses the Pual perfect of dākāʾ, a term for being crushed or broken (Psalm 34:18, 51:17; Isaiah 57:15). The phrase ʿad hayyôm hazzeh (even unto this day) emphasizes the ongoing nature of their hardness—witnessing Jerusalem's destruction produced no brokenness. Neither have they feared (wəlōʾ yārēʾû)—the absence of yirʾâ (fear, reverence) shows no holy awe despite seeing God's terrifying judgments.

Nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes (wəlōʾ-hāləkû bətôrātî ûbəḥuqqōtay)—tôrâ (law, instruction) and ḥuqqôt (statutes, decrees) represent the covenant stipulations. The verb hālaḵ (to walk) depicts lifestyle orientation, not mere intellectual assent. That I set before you and before your fathers recalls Mosaic covenant language (Deuteronomy 4:8, 44; 11:32). The historical continuity ('you and your fathers') shows they're rejecting a long-established, well-attested covenant, not responding to new or unclear demands. Their hardness is inexcusable because the standards were clear, public, and historically validated.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Despite the trauma of 586 BC—mass death, starvation, deportation, temple destruction—the Egyptian refugees remained spiritually unchanged. This fulfills warnings about hardened hearts (Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 6:9-10). Archaeological evidence of Elephantine later shows Jewish syncretism, validating Jeremiah's warnings. The 'law and statutes' reference the Torah given at Sinai and renewed in Deuteronomy, establishing a 700+ year covenant heritage.

Reflection Questions

  1. What level of judgment or suffering would it take to produce genuine humility and fear of God in your heart?
  2. How can people experience devastating consequences yet remain spiritually unchanged?
  3. What does it mean to 'walk in' God's law versus merely knowing it intellectually?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
לֹ֣א1 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

דֻכְּא֔וּ2 of 16

“They are not humbled”

H1792

to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively)

עַ֖ד3 of 16
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

הַיּ֣וֹם4 of 16

“even unto this day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַזֶּ֑ה5 of 16
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְלֹ֣א6 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָרְא֗וּ7 of 16

“neither have they feared”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

וְלֹֽא8 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

הָלְכ֤וּ9 of 16

“nor walked”

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

בְתֽוֹרָתִי֙10 of 16

“in my law”

H8451

a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch

וּבְחֻקֹּתַ֔י11 of 16

“nor in my statutes”

H2708

a statute

אֲשֶׁר12 of 16
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נָתַ֥תִּי13 of 16

“that I set”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

וְלִפְנֵ֥י14 of 16

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וְלִפְנֵ֥י15 of 16

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃16 of 16

“your fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 44:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 44:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 28:14Revelation 15:41 Peter 5:6Jeremiah 8:12Malachi 4:2Exodus 10:3

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