Jeremiah 44:3
Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.
Original Language Analysis
מִפְּנֵ֣י
Because
H6440
מִפְּנֵ֣י
Because
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
1 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
רָעָתָ֗ם
of their wickedness
H7451
רָעָתָ֗ם
of their wickedness
Strong's:
H7451
Word #:
2 of 16
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
3 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשׂוּ֙
which they have committed
H6213
עָשׂוּ֙
which they have committed
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
4 of 16
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי
to provoke me to anger
H3707
לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי
to provoke me to anger
Strong's:
H3707
Word #:
5 of 16
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
לָלֶ֣כֶת
H1980
לָלֶ֣כֶת
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
6 of 16
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לְקַטֵּ֔ר
to burn incense
H6999
לְקַטֵּ֔ר
to burn incense
Strong's:
H6999
Word #:
7 of 16
to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
לַעֲבֹ֖ד
and to serve
H5647
לַעֲבֹ֖ד
and to serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
8 of 16
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
לֵאלֹהִ֣ים
gods
H430
לֵאלֹהִ֣ים
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
9 of 16
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
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:26For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:Deuteronomy 13:6If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;Deuteronomy 32:17They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.Jeremiah 44:8In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?Nehemiah 9:33Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:Daniel 9:5We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Historical Context
The specific idolatry likely included worship of Egyptian deities and the 'Queen of Heaven' (Jeremiah 44:17-19, 25), probably Ishtar/Astarte. Incense burning was central to ancient Near Eastern worship and explicitly forbidden in Israel's cult except to Yahweh (Exodus 30:37-38). The refugees' idolatry in Egypt represents a tragic irony—they fled to the land that had enslaved their ancestors, now worshiping that land's false gods.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern equivalents exist to 'serving gods you knew not'—trusting systems or ideologies with no proven covenant faithfulness?
- How does the deliberate nature of sin ('to provoke me to anger') challenge contemporary views of sin as weakness or mistake?
- Why is the historical relationship between God and His people emphasized as the basis for exclusive worship?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger—the causal Hebrew particle mippənê (because of, on account of) establishes clear moral causation. The term wickedness (rāʿātām) denotes active moral evil, not mere weakness. The phrase to provoke me to anger (ləhaḵʿîsēnî) uses the Hiphil infinitive, emphasizing deliberate causation—their sin wasn't accidental but intentionally provocative.
They went to burn incense, and to serve other gods—qəṭar (burn incense) and ʿābad (serve) describe comprehensive false worship, combining ritual and devotion. The devastating phrase whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers emphasizes these gods' fraudulent claims. Unlike Yahweh, who revealed Himself historically to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, these deities had no covenantal history with Israel. The Hebrew yādaʿ (to know) implies covenant relationship—these gods were covenant strangers. The threefold repetition (they, ye, your fathers) creates a damning continuity: each generation persisted in serving entities with no legitimate claim on their worship.