Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

JEREMIAH 44:25KJV
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Jeremiah 44:25 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 44:25 mean?

Jeremiah 44:25 records God, through Jeremiah, telling the people of Judah and their wives that they have openly declared and carried out their intention to keep their vows to burn incense and pour out drink offerings to the "queen of heaven." God affirms that since they are so determined, they will indeed fulfill these vows they have made.

In this verse, Jeremiah is addressing the Jewish exiles living in Egypt, who have continued the worship of a pagan goddess despite God’s warnings. The verse highlights that both the men and their wives have spoken and acted together in this idolatry, and God is acknowledging their stubborn commitment to these practices. The tone is not one of approval, but rather a recognition of their choice and its consequences, which will be explained in the following verses.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 44:25

  • "queen" (מְלֶכֶת, melekhet): This word refers to the "queen" in "queen of heaven," a title for a pagan goddess, likely associated with fertility or the moon. The use of this specific title shows the people’s devotion to a foreign deity, which is central to the conflict in this chapter.
  • "vows" (נֶדֶר, neder): The repetition of this word emphasizes the seriousness with which the people made promises to perform these acts of worship. In Hebrew culture, a vow was a binding commitment, and here, it is used ironically to show their dedication to the wrong object of worship.
  • "surely" (עָשָׂה, asah; קוּם, qum): These words, translated as "surely" and "accomplish," stress the certainty and determination behind the people’s actions. God is highlighting that they are not acting out of ignorance or accident, but with deliberate intent.

Why Jeremiah 44:25 matters

  • Jeremiah 44:25 clarifies that the people’s idolatry was not accidental or hidden; it was a public, deliberate choice involving both men and women, showing the depth of their commitment to these practices.
  • The verse sets up the seriousness of the situation by showing that God is not ignoring their actions—He is holding them accountable for their vows and the direction they have chosen.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme in Jeremiah 44, where God confronts the people’s stubbornness and warns of the consequences that will follow their continued idolatry, making the coming judgment more understandable.