New English Translation
Jeremiah 44:18
18But ever since we stopped sacrificing and pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven, we have been in great need. Our people have died in wars or of starvation.”
Jeremiah 44:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.”
Context of Jeremiah 44:18
16“We will not listen to what you claim the Lord has spoken to us! 17Instead we will do everything we vowed we would do. We will sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the goddess called the Queen of Heaven just as we and our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders previously did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and had no troubles. But ever since we stopped sacrificing and pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven, we have been in great need. Our people have died in wars or of starvation.” 19The women added, “We did indeed sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven. But it was with the full knowledge and approval of our husbands that we made cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her.” 20Then Jeremiah replied to all the people, both men and women, who responded to him in this way.
Read all of Jeremiah 44Jeremiah 44:18 word by word
וּמִן־אָ֡ז חָדַ֜לְנוּ לְקַטֵּ֨ר לִמְלֶ֧כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהַסֵּֽךְ־לָ֥הּ נְסָכִ֖ים חָסַ֣רְנוּ כֹ֑ל וּבַחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב תָּֽמְנוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But since we left offחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
- to burn incenseקָטַרqâţar · to offer: offerH6999
- to the queenמְלֶ֫כֶתmeleketh · queenH4446
- of heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- and to pour outנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
- drink offeringsנֶ֫סֶךְnesek nêsek · drink offeringH5262
- unto her, we have wantedחָסֵרchâsêr · to lackH2637
- and have been consumedתָּמַםtâmam · to finishH8552
- by the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- and by the famineרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
Cross-references for Jeremiah 44:18
- Jeremiah 40:12So all these Judeans returned to the land of Judah from the places where they had been scattered. They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Thus they harvested a large amount of wine and dates and figs.
- Numbers 11:5We remember the fish we used to eat freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
- Job 21:14So they say to God, ‘Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways.
- Psalms 73:9They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.
- Malachi 3:13“You have criticized me sharply,” says the Lord, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’
Commentaries on Jeremiah 44:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18The suppression of this popular idolatry had apparently been regarded with much ill-will in Josiah‘s time, and many may even have ascribed to it his defeat at Megiddo. Probably Jehoiakim had again permitted it, but Zedekiah, during the miseries of his reign, had forbidden it, and the people ascribed the fall of Jerusalem to the neglect of their favorite goddess.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-19Verses 15-19 These daring sinners do not attempt excuses, but declare they will do that which is forbidden. Those who disobey God, commonly grow worse and worse, and the heart is more hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Here is the real language of the rebellious heart. Even the afflictions which should have parted them from their sins, were taken so as to confirm them in their sins. It is sad when those who should quicken each other to what is good…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18These Judeans believed that worshiping the Queen of Heaven brought prosperity. They thought stopping this worship would lead to war and famine (see Hosea 2:8). Their beliefs were entirely pagan.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. They impute their calamities to their service of God, but these are often marks of His favor, not of wrath, to do His people good at their latter end (De 8:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 44:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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