King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 44:18 Mean?

Jeremiah 44:18 in the King James Version says “But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted a...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 44 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.”

Jeremiah 44:18 · KJV

Context

16

As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

17

But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. queen: or, frame of heaven victuals: Heb. bread

18

But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

19

And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? men: or, husbands?

20

Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer , saying,

Read Jeremiah 44 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven (מֵאָז חָדַלְנוּ לְקַטֵּר לִמְלֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם)—The people construct a false causality: they attribute the sword and famine (חֶרֶב וְרָעָב) not to their idolatry but to its cessation. This inverts reality through confirmation bias: they remember pre-exilic prosperity while worshiping Ishtar/Astarte (queen of heaven, מְלֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם) and blame reform efforts (Josiah's, 622 BC) for subsequent calamity.

We have wanted all things (חֲסַרְנוּ כֹּל)—chasar (חָסֵר) means to lack or be in want. Their theology: idolatry = blessing, faithfulness = curse. This represents total spiritual blindness where judgment itself is interpreted as evidence for idolatry's efficacy. They cannot perceive that their suffering resulted from centuries of covenant violation, not from Josiah's brief reforms.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Josiah's reforms (2 Kings 23) attempted to purge Judah of Baal, Asherah, and astral deity worship around 622 BC. The subsequent deaths of Josiah (609 BC), deportations (605, 597 BC), and Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC) occurred after this purge, creating a temporal sequence the people misinterpreted as causal. They forgot 300+ years of prior unfaithfulness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do modern believers misattribute blessing or suffering to wrong causes?
  2. What makes confirmation bias particularly dangerous in spiritual matters?
  3. How can temporal sequence (A then B) be distinguished from true causation (A caused B) in interpreting life events?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וּמִן1 of 14
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

אָ֡ז2 of 14
H227

at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore

חָדַ֜לְנוּ3 of 14

“But since we left off”

H2308

properly, to be flabby, i.e., (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle

לְקַטֵּ֨ר4 of 14

“to burn incense”

H6999

to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)

לִמְלֶ֧כֶת5 of 14

“to the queen”

H4446

a queen

הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם6 of 14

“of heaven”

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וְהַסֵּֽךְ7 of 14

“and to pour out”

H5258

to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king

לָ֥הּ8 of 14
H0
נְסָכִ֖ים9 of 14

“drink offerings”

H5262

a libation; also a cast idol

חָסַ֣רְנוּ10 of 14

“unto her we have wanted”

H2637

to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen

כֹ֑ל11 of 14
H3605

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

וּבַחֶ֥רֶב12 of 14

“by the sword”

H2719

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

וּבָרָעָ֖ב13 of 14

“and by the famine”

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

תָּֽמְנוּ׃14 of 14

“all things and have been consumed”

H8552

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

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 44:18 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 44:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Malachi 3:13-15Numbers 11:5-6Jeremiah 40:12Job 21:14-15Psalms 73:9-15

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