Jeremiah 44:1
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
Original Language Analysis
הַדָּבָר֙
The word
H1697
הַדָּבָר֙
The word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
1 of 18
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הָיָ֣ה
H1961
הָיָ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ
that came to Jeremiah
H3414
יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ
that came to Jeremiah
Strong's:
H3414
Word #:
5 of 18
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים
concerning all the Jews
H3064
הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים
concerning all the Jews
Strong's:
H3064
Word #:
8 of 18
a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים
which dwell
H3427
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים
which dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
9 of 18
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וּבְאֶ֥רֶץ
and in the country
H776
וּבְאֶ֥רֶץ
and in the country
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
10 of 18
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים
which dwell
H3427
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים
which dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
12 of 18
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וּבְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֣ס
and at Tahpanhes
H8471
וּבְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֣ס
and at Tahpanhes
Strong's:
H8471
Word #:
14 of 18
tachpanches, techaphneches or tachpenes, a place in egypt
וּבְאֶ֥רֶץ
and in the country
H776
וּבְאֶ֥רֶץ
and in the country
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
16 of 18
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Jeremiah 46:14Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.Isaiah 11:11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.Exodus 14:2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.Isaiah 19:13The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.Jeremiah 46:19O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.Jeremiah 2:16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.Ezekiel 30:14And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.Ezekiel 30:18At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.Ezekiel 30:16And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.Ezekiel 29:14And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
Historical Context
This oracle dates to approximately 582 BC, after the murder of Gedaliah and the forced flight to Egypt (Jeremiah 43). Jewish mercenary colonies existed in Egypt from the 7th century BC onward, including the famous Elephantine garrison. Archaeological evidence confirms Jewish settlements at Tahpanhes (Tell Defenneh) and Memphis during this period. These refugees defied Jeremiah's explicit warning in chapter 42, choosing perceived safety in Egypt over obedience to God's word.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you sought safety or security in places or circumstances that contradict God's revealed will?
- How does the irony of God's people returning to Egypt challenge your understanding of spiritual regression?
- What does it mean that God's word pursues His people even in their disobedience?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt—this introduces Jeremiah's final recorded oracle, addressed to the Jewish diaspora in Egypt. The Hebrew construction emphasizes divine initiative: haddābār ʾăšer-hāyâ (the word which came). The geographical specificity—Migdol, Tahpanhes, Noph (Memphis), and Pathros (Upper Egypt)—reveals a widespread Jewish settlement throughout Egypt, fleeing despite God's explicit command through Jeremiah (42:19). This dispersion ironically reverses the Exodus, with God's people voluntarily returning to the land of their former bondage.
The phrase concerning all the Jews (ʾel-kol-hayyəhûdîm) is judicial in tone—this is a covenant lawsuit. These communities had disobeyed Jeremiah's prophetic warning not to flee to Egypt, demonstrating that geographical escape cannot evade spiritual accountability. Their physical locations span the entire length of Egypt from north (Migdol, Tahpanhes) to south (Pathros), showing the comprehensiveness of both their rebellion and God's coming judgment.