King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 44:7 Mean?

Jeremiah 44:7 in the King James Version says “Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 44 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; out: Heb. out of the midst of Judah

Jeremiah 44:7 · KJV


Context

5

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

6

Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.

7

Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; out: Heb. out of the midst of Judah

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


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel—the messenger formula with triple divine titles (Yahweh, God of hosts, God of Israel) adds solemnity. ʾĕlōhê ṣəbāʾôt (God of hosts/armies) emphasizes sovereignty over heavenly and earthly powers. The question Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls (lāmmâ ʾattem ʿōśîm rāʿâ gədōlâ ʾel-napšōtêkem) uses lāmmâ (why?) to express divine incredulity—after witnessing Jerusalem's fate, how can you persist?

Against your souls (ʾel-napšōtêkem) shows sin's self-destructive nature—nepesh (soul, life, self) indicates they're committing spiritual suicide. To cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling uses the Hiphil infinitive ləhaḵrît (to cut off, destroy) with comprehensive categories spanning gender (man/woman) and age (child/nursing infant). This echoes covenant curse language (Deuteronomy 28:18, 32:25), depicting total demographic annihilation. To leave you none to remain (ləbiltî hašʾîr lākem šəʾērît)—the theological term šəʾērît (remnant) becomes tragically negative: no remnant will survive. Their idolatry in Egypt ensures they forfeit the remnant status God had offered.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This addresses the paradox of the remnant theology. God had promised to preserve a remnant (Jeremiah 23:3, 31:7), but the Egyptian refugees forfeited that promise through continued rebellion. The phrase 'man and woman, child and suckling' emphasizes total population extinction—no future generations would survive. Historical evidence suggests this community in Egypt was eventually absorbed or destroyed, validating Jeremiah's warning.

Reflection Questions

  1. How is sin ultimately 'against your souls'—an act of spiritual self-harm?
  2. What does the comprehensive judgment (all ages, both genders) reveal about the seriousness of corporate covenant rebellion?
  3. How can people forfeit 'remnant' status through persistent disobedience despite God's promises?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וְעַתָּ֡ה1 of 27
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

כֹּֽה2 of 27
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר3 of 27

Therefore now thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָה֩4 of 27

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵ֣י5 of 27

the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

צְבָא֜וֹת6 of 27

of hosts

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

אֱלֹהֵ֣י7 of 27

the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל8 of 27

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לָמָה֩9 of 27
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אַתֶּ֨ם10 of 27
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

עֹשִׂ֜ים11 of 27

Wherefore commit

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

רָעָ֤ה12 of 27

evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

גְדוֹלָה֙13 of 27

ye this great

H1419

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

אֶל14 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם15 of 27

against your souls

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

לְהַכְרִ֨ית16 of 27

to cut off

H3772

to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt

לָכֶ֧ם17 of 27
H0
אִישׁ18 of 27

from you man

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

וְאִשָּׁ֛ה19 of 27

and woman

H802

a woman

עוֹלֵ֥ל20 of 27

child

H5768

a suckling

וְיוֹנֵ֖ק21 of 27

and suckling

H3243

to suck; causatively, to give milk

מִתּ֣וֹךְ22 of 27

out

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

יְהוּדָ֑ה23 of 27

of Judah

H3063

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

לְבִלְתִּ֛י24 of 27
H1115

properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n

הוֹתִ֥יר25 of 27

to leave

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

לָכֶ֖ם26 of 27
H0
שְׁאֵרִֽית׃27 of 27

you none to remain

H7611

a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion


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 44:7 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 44:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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