The Bible Says
Jeremiah 44:20-23 Meaning

Jeremiah, a prophet who served from around 627 BC until after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, speaks directly to the remnant of Judah: Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women—even to all the people who were giving him such an answer—saying (v. 20). These men and women have fled to Egypt, a land in the northeast corner of Africa, historically known for its rich culture and influence. Jeremiah calls out their response to his prophecies, highlighting that they have been answering him with defiance rather than humility. In doing so, he underscores that their actions cannot escape the penetrating gaze of the LORD, who is aware of both their deeds and their attitudes.

Jeremiah’s prophetic role during the final days of the kingdom of Judah carries a sense of urgency that matches the precarious position of these refugees. His words arise from his mission to call the people back to the worship of the one true God. By addressing the men and women, Jeremiah clarifies that all bear responsibility, as in earlier parts of this chapter they justified their idolatry with claims of better circumstances. Such justifications are exposed here, as Jeremiah underscores that they are accountable to God regardless of their temporary safety in Egypt.

In Jeremiah 44:21, the prophet reminds the exiled community that their history of offering sacrifices to foreign gods in Judah’s cities and Jerusalem’s streets was never hidden from God: "As for the smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and did not all this come into His mind" (v. 21). Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, was once the central place of worship for the LORD, yet the people’s burning of smoke offerings to false deities took center stage instead. Jeremiah places blame generously across generations—from forefathers to kings to common folk—emphasizing that no group is exempt from the memory of God’s righteous judgment.

These stern questions illustrate that God’s grace does not manifest as forgetfulness of sin. Instead, He weighs every action, and unfaithfulness leads to eventual consequences. In the overarching story of Scripture, such repeated idolatry contrasts starkly with the teachings where believers are warned to hold fast to worship of God alone (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 1 Corinthians 10:14). Jeremiah’s ministry peers into the heart of the issue: God sees and remembers both the persistent rebellion and the cries for mercy.

 Jeremiah 44:22 paints a picture of divine patience reaching its limit: "So the LORD was no longer able to endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day" (v. 22). God’s forbearance, seen through centuries of warnings and corrections, finally gives way to the judgment the people had brought upon themselves. The term abominations points to the idolatrous practices and moral corruption thriving in the very land God had given them, turning Judah into a desolation.

This stark ruin is not merely a product of political circumstance. It is portrayed as the direct result of disregarding God’s revealed will and ignoring His covenants. Judgment is described in visual terms—ruin, horror, and curse—communicating how far the land has fallen from its promise. This sober portrayal should remind readers that divine judgment aims not at senseless destruction but at bringing people to recognize the gravity of turning away from God.

Jeremiah here provides the ultimate cause of the calamity: "Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day" (v. 23). Burning sacrifices to foreign deities, neglecting God’s law, and resisting His testimonies reveal a pattern of deliberate rebellion. The people of Judah had allowed other practices and shrines to overshadow their devotion to the LORD, resulting in the overwhelming disasters they now face.

In a broader biblical sense, failure to uphold the law points to humanity’s deeper need for a more transformative relationship with God—one that the New Testament highlights is fulfilled in Jesus, who calls believers to genuine worship and a new way of life (John 4:24). The prophet’s warning remains relevant as it underscores how departing from God’s commands has severe repercussions. Yet within Jeremiah’s message, there is always hope for repentance and restoration, should God’s people decide to align themselves with His truth.