In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

JEREMIAH 44:8KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 44:8 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 44:8 mean?

Jeremiah 44:8 describes God’s anger toward the people of Judah for worshiping other gods by burning incense to them in Egypt, which He says will lead to their own ruin and cause them to become a curse and a disgrace among other nations. The verse warns that their actions are not only offensive to God but also self-destructive, cutting themselves off from His protection and favor.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s words to the Jewish people who have fled to Egypt after Jerusalem’s fall. God accuses them of provoking Him with the "works of your hands"—specifically, their idol worship in a foreign land. The warning is that their choice to serve "other gods" will not only bring God’s wrath but will also make them an example of misfortune and shame among all the surrounding nations.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 44:8

  • "Wrath" (אַף, ’af, H3707): This word often means anger or fierce displeasure. Here, it emphasizes the intensity of God’s response to their actions, not just mild disapproval.
  • "Works" (מַעֲשֵׂי, ma‘asey, H4639) and "hands" (יָדַיִם, yadayim, H3027): Together, these words stress that the people’s actions are deliberate and personal—what they have chosen to do themselves, not just accidental mistakes.
  • "Incense" (קָטַר, qatar, H6999): Burning incense was a common act of worship. Here, it specifically refers to offering worship to "other gods" (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, ’elohim ’acherim, H430, H312), which is the core of their unfaithfulness.
  • "Curse" (קְלָלָה, qelalah, H7045) and "reproach" (חֶרְפָּה, cherpah, H2781): These words show that the consequence is not just spiritual but social—the people will become a warning sign and an object of scorn to others.

Why Jeremiah 44:8 matters

  • Jeremiah 44:8 clarifies that the people’s exile to Egypt did not free them from God’s expectations; their actions there still have serious consequences.
  • The verse highlights that idolatry is not just a private matter but brings public shame and disaster, affecting how other nations see God’s people.
  • This warning connects to the larger message of Jeremiah: turning away from God leads to both spiritual and practical ruin, no matter where the people try to escape.

Where else these words appear

“curse” Hebrew H7045 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
  • Deuteronomy 29:27 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:
  • Proverbs 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

“wrath” 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.

“reproach” Hebrew H2781 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 30:23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
  • Psalms 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
  • Jeremiah 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

“dwell” Hebrew H1481 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
  • Psalms 59:3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.