Jeremiah Chapter 44 · Verse 2

Authorized King James Version

Study PDF

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,

Original Language Analysis

כֹּה H3541
כֹּה
Strong's: H3541
Word #: 1 of 26
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַ֞ר Thus saith H559
אָמַ֞ר Thus saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 2 of 26
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֤ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֤ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָאוֹת֙ of hosts H6635
צְבָאוֹת֙ of hosts
Strong's: H6635
Word #: 4 of 26
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
אֱלֹהֵ֣י the God H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י the God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 5 of 26
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
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 6 of 26
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אַתֶּ֣ם H859
אַתֶּ֣ם
Strong's: H859
Word #: 7 of 26
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
רְאִיתֶ֗ם Ye have seen H7200
רְאִיתֶ֗ם Ye have seen
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 8 of 26
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אֵ֤ת H853
אֵ֤ת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 9 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 10 of 26
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָֽרָעָה֙ all the evil H7451
הָֽרָעָה֙ all the evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 11 of 26
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ that I have brought H935
הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ that I have brought
Strong's: H935
Word #: 13 of 26
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 14 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם upon Jerusalem H3389
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם upon Jerusalem
Strong's: H3389
Word #: 15 of 26
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וְעַ֖ל H5921
וְעַ֖ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 16 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 17 of 26
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עָרֵ֣י and upon all the cities H5892
עָרֵ֣י and upon all the cities
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 18 of 26
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יְהוּדָ֑ה of Judah H3063
יְהוּדָ֑ה of Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 19 of 26
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וְהִנָּ֤ם H2005
וְהִנָּ֤ם
Strong's: H2005
Word #: 20 of 26
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
חָרְבָּה֙ they are a desolation H2723
חָרְבָּה֙ they are a desolation
Strong's: H2723
Word #: 21 of 26
properly, drought, i.e., (by implication) a desolation
הַיּ֣וֹם and behold this day H3117
הַיּ֣וֹם and behold this day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 22 of 26
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַזֶּ֔ה H2088
הַזֶּ֔ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 23 of 26
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
וְאֵ֥ין H369
וְאֵ֥ין
Strong's: H369
Word #: 24 of 26
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
בָּהֶ֖ם H0
בָּהֶ֖ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 25 of 26
יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ and no man dwelleth H3427
יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ and no man dwelleth
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 26 of 26
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

Analysis & Commentary

Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem—God appeals to empirical evidence, using the Hebrew perfect tense rəʾîtem (you have seen) to emphasize their eyewitness status. They personally witnessed Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC, yet learned nothing from it. The phrase this day they are a desolation (hayyôm hēmmâ ḥorbâ) uses the demonstrative force of 'this very day' to stress the ongoing nature of the judgment—it wasn't ancient history but present reality.

No man dwelleth therein (ʾên yôšēb bāhem) echoes covenant curses in Leviticus 26:31-33 and Deuteronomy 28:51-52. The Hebrew ḥorbâ (desolation, waste) appears 42 times in Jeremiah, becoming his signature term for covenant judgment. God explicitly claims authorship: I have brought (hēbēʾtî), not Babylon. The Chaldeans were merely instruments; Yahweh was the ultimate cause, fulfilling His sworn covenant threats. This theological framing is crucial—history isn't random; God governs it according to His covenant.

Historical Context

By 582 BC, Jerusalem had lain in ruins for four years. Archaeological excavations confirm the destruction layer from 586 BC, showing massive fire damage and depopulation. The phrase 'no man dwelleth therein' reflects the demographic catastrophe—the population of Judah dropped from perhaps 75,000 to 20,000. These Egyptian refugees had witnessed this firsthand, making their continued idolatry in Egypt inexcusable.

Questions for Reflection