Jeremiah 44:7
Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
Original Language Analysis
וְעַתָּ֡ה
H6258
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
2 of 27
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָה֩
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֩
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
5 of 27
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
צְבָא֜וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֜וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
6 of 27
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 #:
7 of 27
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
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
8 of 27
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לָמָה֩
H4100
לָמָה֩
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
9 of 27
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
עֹשִׂ֜ים
Wherefore commit
H6213
עֹשִׂ֜ים
Wherefore commit
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
11 of 27
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
גְדוֹלָה֙
ye this great
H1419
גְדוֹלָה֙
ye this great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
13 of 27
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם
against your souls
H5315
נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם
against your souls
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
15 of 27
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
לְהַכְרִ֨ית
to cut off
H3772
לְהַכְרִ֨ית
to cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
16 of 27
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
אִישׁ
from you man
H376
אִישׁ
from you man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
18 of 27
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)
יְהוּדָ֑ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֑ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
23 of 27
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
לְבִלְתִּ֛י
H1115
לְבִלְתִּ֛י
Strong's:
H1115
Word #:
24 of 27
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
Cross References
Habakkuk 2:10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.Jeremiah 51:22With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;Numbers 16:38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.Proverbs 15:32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.Proverbs 5:22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.Jeremiah 7:19Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?Jeremiah 44:14So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.Jeremiah 9:21For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.Deuteronomy 32:25The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.Ezekiel 33:11Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Historical Context
This addresses the paradox of the remnant theology. God had promised to preserve a remnant (Jeremiah 23:3, 31:7), but the Egyptian refugees forfeited that promise through continued rebellion. The phrase 'man and woman, child and suckling' emphasizes total population extinction—no future generations would survive. Historical evidence suggests this community in Egypt was eventually absorbed or destroyed, validating Jeremiah's warning.
Questions for Reflection
- How is sin ultimately 'against your souls'—an act of spiritual self-harm?
- What does the comprehensive judgment (all ages, both genders) reveal about the seriousness of corporate covenant rebellion?
- How can people forfeit 'remnant' status through persistent disobedience despite God's promises?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel—the messenger formula with triple divine titles (Yahweh, God of hosts, God of Israel) adds solemnity. ʾĕlōhê ṣəbāʾôt (God of hosts/armies) emphasizes sovereignty over heavenly and earthly powers. The question Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls (lāmmâ ʾattem ʿōśîm rāʿâ gədōlâ ʾel-napšōtêkem) uses lāmmâ (why?) to express divine incredulity—after witnessing Jerusalem's fate, how can you persist?
Against your souls (ʾel-napšōtêkem) shows sin's self-destructive nature—nepesh (soul, life, self) indicates they're committing spiritual suicide. To cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling uses the Hiphil infinitive ləhaḵrît (to cut off, destroy) with comprehensive categories spanning gender (man/woman) and age (child/nursing infant). This echoes covenant curse language (Deuteronomy 28:18, 32:25), depicting total demographic annihilation. To leave you none to remain (ləbiltî hašʾîr lākem šəʾērît)—the theological term šəʾērît (remnant) becomes tragically negative: no remnant will survive. Their idolatry in Egypt ensures they forfeit the remnant status God had offered.