Jeremiah 44:18
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.
Original Language Analysis
וּמִן
H4480
וּמִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
1 of 14
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אָ֡ז
H227
חָדַ֜לְנוּ
But since we left off
H2308
חָדַ֜לְנוּ
But since we left off
Strong's:
H2308
Word #:
3 of 14
properly, to be flabby, i.e., (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
לְקַטֵּ֨ר
to burn incense
H6999
לְקַטֵּ֨ר
to burn incense
Strong's:
H6999
Word #:
4 of 14
to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
6 of 14
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
וְהַסֵּֽךְ
and to pour out
H5258
וְהַסֵּֽךְ
and to pour out
Strong's:
H5258
Word #:
7 of 14
to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king
חָסַ֣רְנוּ
unto her we have wanted
H2637
חָסַ֣רְנוּ
unto her we have wanted
Strong's:
H2637
Word #:
10 of 14
to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen
כֹ֑ל
H3605
כֹ֑ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וּבַחֶ֥רֶב
by the sword
H2719
וּבַחֶ֥רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
12 of 14
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern believers misattribute blessing or suffering to wrong causes?
- What makes confirmation bias particularly dangerous in spiritual matters?
- How can temporal sequence (A then B) be distinguished from true causation (A caused B) in interpreting life events?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & 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.