King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 44:12 Mean?

Jeremiah 44:12 in the King James Version says “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 ... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 44 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Jeremiah 44:12 · KJV


Context

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.

13

For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:

14

So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape. have: Heb. lift up their soul


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt—the ironic contrast is devastating. God sets His face against them (v. 11) because they set their faces (śāmû ʾet-pənêhem) toward Egypt. The identical idiom shows competing determinations: God's resolve versus theirs. They shall all be consumed (wətammû kullām)—tāmam (be consumed, finished, completed) uses the Qal perfect with prophetic certainty. Kullām (all of them) emphasizes totality.

They shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine lists covenant curse instruments (Leviticus 26:25-26; Deuteronomy 28:21-22). The repetition from the least even unto the greatest (miqqāṭōn wəʿad-gādôl) covers all social classes. The final phrase: they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach (wəhāyû ləʾālâ ûləšammâ wəliqləlâ ûləḥerpâ) uses four synonyms for cursed status: ʾālâ (oath-curse), šammâ (horror, desolation), qələlâ (curse), ḥerpâ (reproach, disgrace). This echoes Deuteronomy 28:37—they become a proverbial example of divine judgment, their name synonymous with curse.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The comprehensive judgment—sword, famine, covering all social classes—indicates total destruction. Historical records don't mention these communities surviving. Unlike Babylonian exiles who returned and preserved Jewish identity, the Egyptian refugees disappeared from history, fulfilling this prophecy. Their fate became a cautionary tale: disobedience forfeits covenant protection regardless of heritage.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the image of 'setting faces' against each other (God versus the people) depict the tragedy of willful rebellion?
  2. What does it mean to become 'a curse and a reproach'—a proverbial example of judgment?
  3. How should the comprehensive nature of this judgment (all classes, multiple forms of death, permanent infamy) inform our view of covenant seriousness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
וְלָקַחְתִּ֞י1 of 31

And I will take

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

אֶת2 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שְׁאֵרִ֣ית3 of 31

the remnant

H7611

a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion

יְהוּדָ֗ה4 of 31

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

אֲשֶׁר5 of 31
H834

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

שָׂ֨מוּ6 of 31

that have set

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

פְנֵיהֶ֜ם7 of 31

their faces

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

לָב֣וֹא8 of 31

to go

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בְּאֶ֧רֶץ9 of 31

in the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֣יִם10 of 31

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לָג֣וּר11 of 31

to sojourn

H1481

properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);

שָׁם֒12 of 31
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

יִתַּ֔מּוּ13 of 31

there and they shall all be consumed

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

כֹ֜ל14 of 31
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

בְּאֶ֧רֶץ15 of 31

in the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֣יִם16 of 31

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

יִפֹּ֗לוּ17 of 31

and fall

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

בַּחֶ֥רֶב18 of 31

by the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וּבָרָעָ֖ב19 of 31

and by the famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

יִתַּ֔מּוּ20 of 31

there and they shall all be consumed

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

מִקָּטֹן֙21 of 31

from the least

H6996

abbreviated, i.e., diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)

וְעַד22 of 31
H5704

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

גָּד֔וֹל23 of 31

even unto the greatest

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

בַּחֶ֥רֶב24 of 31

by the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וּבָרָעָ֖ב25 of 31

and by the famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

יָמֻ֑תוּ26 of 31

they shall die

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וְהָיוּ֙27 of 31
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לְאָלָ֣ה28 of 31

and they shall be an execration

H423

an imprecation

לְשַׁמָּ֔ה29 of 31

and an astonishment

H8047

ruin; by implication, consternation

וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה30 of 31

and a curse

H7045

vilification

וּלְחֶרְפָּֽה׃31 of 31

and a reproach

H2781

contumely, disgrace, the pudenda


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 44:12 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 44:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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