Jeremiah 32:29
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.
Original Language Analysis
וּבָ֣אוּ
shall come
H935
וּבָ֣אוּ
shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 25
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֗ים
And the Chaldeans
H3778
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֗ים
And the Chaldeans
Strong's:
H3778
Word #:
2 of 25
a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָעִ֥יר
against this city
H5892
הָעִ֥יר
against this city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
5 of 25
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְהִצִּ֜יתוּ
and set
H3341
וְהִצִּ֜יתוּ
and set
Strong's:
H3341
Word #:
7 of 25
to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָעִ֥יר
against this city
H5892
הָעִ֥יר
against this city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
9 of 25
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְאֵ֣ת
H854
וְאֵ֣ת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
13 of 25
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
הַבָּתִּ֡ים
it with the houses
H1004
הַבָּתִּ֡ים
it with the houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
14 of 25
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
קִטְּר֨וּ
they have offered incense
H6999
קִטְּר֨וּ
they have offered incense
Strong's:
H6999
Word #:
16 of 25
to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
17 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גַּגּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֜ם
upon whose roofs
H1406
גַּגּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֜ם
upon whose roofs
Strong's:
H1406
Word #:
18 of 25
a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar
וְהִסִּ֤כוּ
and poured out
H5258
וְהִסִּ֤כוּ
and poured out
Strong's:
H5258
Word #:
20 of 25
to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king
לֵאלֹהִ֣ים
gods
H430
לֵאלֹהִ֣ים
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
22 of 25
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
Cross References
Jeremiah 19:13And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.Jeremiah 21:10For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.Jeremiah 52:13And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:2 Chronicles 36:19And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.Jeremiah 44:25Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.Jeremiah 39:8And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Historical Context
Baal worship involved incense offerings and drink libations (wine poured out) to secure agricultural fertility. Rooftops provided semi-private worship spaces. Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered rooftop altars from this period, confirming the biblical account.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'rooftop idols'—private sins hidden from public view—might you be harboring?
- How does mixing Christian faith with secular values parallel Israel's Baal syncretism?
- In what ways do we 'provoke' God while maintaining religious appearances?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The Chaldeans...shall come and set fire on this city—Literal fulfillment came in 587 BC when Babylon burned Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:9). God specifies why: upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods. Rooftop worship was common in ancient Israel (Jeremiah 19:13, Zephaniah 1:5), turning domestic space into idolatrous high places.
The phrase to provoke me to anger (לְהַכְעִסֵנִי, l'hakh'iseni) appears repeatedly in Jeremiah (7:18-19, 11:17, 25:6-7). The Hebrew ka'as denotes deliberate provocation, not accidental offense. Israel's syncretism—mixing Yahweh worship with Baal fertility rites—constituted spiritual adultery. The house fires represent poetic justice: places of false worship consumed by flames of judgment. Hebrews 10:31 warns, 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.'