Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

JEREMIAH 44:4KJV
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Jeremiah 44:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 44:4 mean?

Jeremiah 44:4 describes how God sent His prophets again and again to warn the people not to do things He finds detestable, but the people ignored these warnings. The verse highlights God's repeated efforts to turn the people away from actions He hates, showing both His patience and His clear opposition to their behavior.

In this verse, God is speaking through Jeremiah to the people of Judah who are living in Egypt after fleeing there. The situation is tense: the people have continued to worship other gods despite many warnings. The verse emphasizes that God did not give up easily—He sent His "servants the prophets" early and often, urging the people to stop doing what is "abominable" to Him.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 44:4

  • "Servants" (עֲבָדַי, ʿăvādai): This word refers to those who serve God, in this case, the prophets. It stresses their role as loyal messengers, not acting on their own authority.
  • "Early" (הַשְׁכֵּם, hashkem): This word literally means "to rise early." It is often used to show eagerness or urgency. Here, it paints a picture of God persistently and urgently sending warnings, not just once, but over and over.
  • "Abominable" (תּוֹעֵבָה, toʿevah): This word means something detestable or disgusting, especially in a moral or religious sense. It makes clear that the actions God is warning against are not just minor mistakes, but deeply offensive to Him.

Why Jeremiah 44:4 matters

  • Jeremiah 44:4 shows that God’s warnings were not a one-time event; He repeatedly reached out, which highlights both His patience and the seriousness of the people’s refusal to listen.
  • The verse clarifies that the prophets were not acting on their own, but were sent as God’s "servants," reinforcing the authority and urgency of their message.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by setting up the reason for the coming judgment: the people’s stubbornness in doing what God clearly hates, despite many warnings.

Where else these words appear

“early” Hebrew H7925 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
  • Judges 6:38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
  • 2 Chronicles 29:20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

“abominable” Hebrew H8441 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  • Ezekiel 7:4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

“hate” Hebrew H8130 · used in 139 verses

  • Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
  • Esther 9:1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them,(though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
  • Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?