Jeremiah 44:8
In 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?
Original Language Analysis
לְהַכְעִסֵ֙נִי֙
In that ye provoke me unto wrath
H3707
לְהַכְעִסֵ֙נִי֙
In that ye provoke me unto wrath
Strong's:
H3707
Word #:
1 of 23
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י
with the works
H4639
בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י
with the works
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
2 of 23
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יְדֵיכֶ֔ם
of your hands
H3027
יְדֵיכֶ֔ם
of your hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 23
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
לְקַטֵּ֞ר
burning incense
H6999
לְקַטֵּ֞ר
burning incense
Strong's:
H6999
Word #:
4 of 23
to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
לֵאלֹהִ֤ים
gods
H430
לֵאלֹהִ֤ים
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
5 of 23
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
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בָּאִ֖ים
whither ye be gone
H935
בָּאִ֖ים
whither ye be gone
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
11 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
לָג֣וּר
to dwell
H1481
לָג֣וּר
to dwell
Strong's:
H1481
Word #:
12 of 23
properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);
שָׁ֑ם
H8033
לְמַ֙עַן֙
H4616
לְמַ֙עַן֙
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
14 of 23
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
הַכְרִ֣ית
that ye might cut yourselves off
H3772
הַכְרִ֣ית
that ye might cut yourselves off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
15 of 23
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
וּלְמַ֤עַן
H4616
וּלְמַ֤עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
17 of 23
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
הֱיֽוֹתְכֶם֙
H1961
הֱיֽוֹתְכֶם֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
18 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּכֹ֖ל
H3605
בְּכֹ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
21 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Jeremiah 42:18For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.Jeremiah 44:3Because 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.Jeremiah 18:16To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.2 Chronicles 7:20Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.Hebrews 3:16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.Isaiah 65:15And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:Isaiah 3:8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.Jeremiah 26:6Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.Jeremiah 29:18And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:Jeremiah 44:12And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
Historical Context
Egypt was filled with idolatrous worship—Ra, Osiris, Isis, Horus, and countless local deities. The Jewish refugees apparently participated in Egyptian cults and continued worship of the 'Queen of Heaven' (likely Ishtar). Archaeological discoveries at Elephantine show later Jewish communities syncretizing Yahweh worship with pagan elements. Jeremiah warns that such compromise would lead to their extinction and infamy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the phrase 'works of your hands' expose the absurdity of trusting in human-created securities (ideologies, systems, wealth)?
- What ironic purposes might your actions be accomplishing—seeking one thing but guaranteeing its opposite?
- How does cultural accommodation to pagan surroundings lead to forfeiting God's protection?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands—bəmaʿăśê yədekem (with the works of your hands) is technical vocabulary for idols (Deuteronomy 4:28, 27:15, 31:29; Isaiah 2:8). Idols are 'works of hands' because humans manufacture them—the absurdity of worshiping one's own creations. Burning incense unto other gods continues the indictment from verse 3, showing their pattern persisted from Judah into Egypt.
In the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell (bəʾereṣ miṣrayim ʾăšer-ʾattem bāʾîm-šām lāgûr šām)—the verb gûr (to sojourn, dwell temporarily) recalls their stated intention to stay 'temporarily' (42:15, 17, 22; 43:2), but their idolatry shows permanence of purpose. The devastating purpose clauses: that ye might cut yourselves off (ləmaʿan haḵrît lākem) and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations (ûləmaʿan hĕyôtəkem liqlālâ ûləḥerpâ). The ləmaʿan (in order that) clauses depict ironic purpose—their actions achieve the opposite of their intentions. Seeking safety, they guarantee destruction; seeking honor in Egypt, they become a curse-word among nations (cf. Deuteronomy 28:37).