Jeremiah 44:26
Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵן֙
H3651
לָכֵן֙
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 31
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
שִׁמְע֣וּ
Therefore hear
H8085
שִׁמְע֣וּ
Therefore hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
2 of 31
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דְבַר
ye the word
H1697
דְבַר
ye the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 31
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 31
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יְהוּדָ֗ה
all Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֗ה
all Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
6 of 31
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים
that dwell
H3427
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים
that dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
7 of 31
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתִּי
Behold I have sworn
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתִּי
Behold I have sworn
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
11 of 31
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
שְׁמִ֜י
name
H8034
שְׁמִ֜י
name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
12 of 31
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
הַגָּדוֹל֙
by my great
H1419
הַגָּדוֹל֙
by my great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
13 of 31
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 31
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
16 of 31
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִהְיֶה֩
H1961
יִהְיֶה֩
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
17 of 31
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
ע֨וֹד
H5750
ע֨וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
18 of 31
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
שְׁמִ֜י
name
H8034
שְׁמִ֜י
name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
19 of 31
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
נִקְרָ֣א׀
shall no more be named
H7121
נִקְרָ֣א׀
shall no more be named
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
20 of 31
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
בְּפִ֣י׀
in the mouth
H6310
בְּפִ֣י׀
in the mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
21 of 31
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אִ֣ישׁ
of any man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
of any man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
23 of 31
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יְהוּדָ֗ה
all Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֗ה
all Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
24 of 31
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
חַי
liveth
H2416
חַי
liveth
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
26 of 31
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
29 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Hebrews 6:13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,Psalms 50:16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?Genesis 22:16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:Ezekiel 20:39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.Jeremiah 5:2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.Jeremiah 4:2And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.Amos 6:8The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
Historical Context
This oath-judgment finds partial fulfillment in the extinction of the Egyptian Jewish exile community. Unlike Babylonian exiles who returned under Ezra/Nehemiah, Egyptian refugees assimilated and disappeared from redemptive history. The Elephantine papyri (5th century BC) show syncretistic worship combining Yahweh with pagan deities.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God swearing by His own name reveal about the absolute certainty of His judgments?
- How does losing the privilege to invoke God's name represent ultimate covenant exclusion?
- In what ways might modern believers take lightly the privilege of calling on the Lord's name?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
I have sworn by my great name (נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בִשְׁמִי הַגָּדוֹל)—God invokes His own name as witness, the highest possible oath since nothing greater exists (Hebrews 6:13). The shem gadol (great name) represents His essential character and reputation—the very name the exiles profaned through idolatry.
My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah—The divine decree eliminates covenant privilege: no Egyptian Jew would validly invoke Yahweh's name in oath or worship. The Lord GOD liveth (חַי אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) was the standard oath formula (Ruth 3:13, 1 Samuel 14:39)—now forbidden. This judgment reverses blessing, transforming covenant people into effective pagans unable to call on God's name.