And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

JEREMIAH 32:29KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 32:29 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 32:29 mean?

Jeremiah 32:29 predicts that the Chaldeans (Babylonians) will invade Jerusalem, set the city on fire, and burn its houses because the people have worshiped other gods, especially by making offerings to Baal on their rooftops, which has angered God. This verse explains that the destruction coming to Jerusalem is a direct result of the people's idolatry and unfaithfulness.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God's message to the people of Jerusalem during a siege by the Babylonian army. The verse specifically points out the reason for the coming disaster: the people have openly worshiped other gods, not just in secret but on their rooftops, making their actions public and deliberate. The mention of burning houses highlights how total the destruction will be, and it ties the punishment directly to the people's choices.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 32:29

  • "Chaldeans" (כַּשְׂדִּים, kasdîm): This word refers to the Babylonians, the empire attacking Jerusalem. Their mention makes clear who is carrying out the destruction.
  • "Incense" (קָטַר, qāṭar): This word means to burn incense, a common act of worship in ancient times. Here, it shows that the people were actively participating in rituals to Baal, not just passively ignoring God.
  • "Baal" (בַּעַל, ba‘al): This name refers to a major Canaanite god. The use of this specific name shows the seriousness of the idolatry, as Baal worship was strictly forbidden in Israel.
  • "Anger" (כָּעַס, kā‘as): This word means to provoke or make angry. It emphasizes that the people's actions were not just wrong but were seen as a direct provocation against God.

Why Jeremiah 32:29 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the destruction of Jerusalem was not random or simply political, but a response to specific actions—public and repeated idol worship.
  • By mentioning the rooftops, Jeremiah 32:29 highlights how openly and unashamedly the people turned to other gods, making their unfaithfulness a public matter.
  • The verse connects the coming judgment to the larger message of Jeremiah: that faithfulness to God is central, and turning away has real and serious consequences.

Where else these words appear

“out” Hebrew H5258 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
  • Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

“roofs” Hebrew H1406 · used in 27 verses

  • Exodus 30:3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
  • 1 Samuel 9:26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
  • Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

“set” Hebrew H3341 · used in 28 verses

  • Joshua 8:8 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
  • Isaiah 9:18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
  • Jeremiah 46:19 O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

“anger” Hebrew H3707 · used in 53 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
  • 1 Kings 22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.