Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
JEREMIAH 44:7KJVWhat does Jeremiah 44:7 mean?
Jeremiah 44:7 records God’s warning to the people of Judah, asking why they are bringing such great harm upon themselves by their actions—actions so destructive that they threaten to wipe out every man, woman, child, and infant from Judah, leaving no one behind. God is confronting them about choices that endanger their own lives and the future of their community.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish people who have fled to Egypt after Jerusalem’s destruction. The people are continuing in behaviors God calls “great evil,” and God points out the tragic result: their own self-destruction. The verse highlights the seriousness of their actions—not just as personal failings, but as choices with consequences for every generation.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 44:7
- evil (רַע, ra‘): This word means “harm” or “bad,” and here it is called “great” (גָּדוֹל, gadol). God is emphasizing the seriousness and magnitude of their wrongdoing, not just a minor mistake.
- souls (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh): Often translated as “life” or “self,” this word shows that the people’s actions are not just offenses against God but are actually bringing harm to their own lives.
- cut off (כָּרַת, karat): This verb means to “cut off” or “eliminate.” God is warning that their choices will result in the complete removal of people from Judah—no one left behind.
- leave...remain (יָתַר, yatar; שְׁאֵרִית, she’erit): These words stress the idea of a remnant or survivors. God’s warning is that their actions could leave Judah without even a small group of survivors, which is a strong way to express total devastation.
Why Jeremiah 44:7 matters
- Jeremiah 44:7 clarifies that God’s warnings are not just about religious rules but about choices that threaten the very survival of the people.
- The verse emphasizes personal responsibility; the people are not just victims of fate but are actively “committing” (עָשָׂה, asah) actions that bring about their own ruin.
- This verse connects to the larger message in Jeremiah 44, where God pleads with the people to recognize the consequences of their continued disobedience, highlighting that God’s concern is for their well-being and future.