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.

JEREMIAH 7:18KJV
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Jeremiah 7:18 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 7:18 mean?

Jeremiah 7:18 describes how entire families in Judah were participating in idol worship, with each member playing a role in making offerings to the "queen of heaven" and other gods, which provoked God to anger. The verse highlights the organized and widespread nature of this idolatry, showing that it was not just a private act but a community-wide practice.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, exposing how deeply idolatry had taken root in their daily lives. The children, fathers, and women are all involved in preparing offerings—specifically cakes and drink offerings—to foreign deities, which is a direct violation of Israel’s exclusive worship of God. This verse is part of a larger warning where Jeremiah calls out the people’s unfaithfulness and the consequences that will follow.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 7:18

  • "queen" (מְלֶכֶת, meleket): This word refers to a female royal figure, often understood here as a goddess associated with the sky or heavens. The phrase "queen of heaven" points to a specific pagan deity, likely linked to fertility or celestial worship, which was popular in the ancient Near East.
  • "cakes" (כַּוָּנִים, kavvanim): The word for "cakes" refers to small, shaped offerings made from dough, often molded in the image of the deity being worshipped. This detail shows the physical and deliberate nature of the offerings.
  • "anger" (כָּעַס, ka'as): This word means to provoke or stir up anger. The verse uses it to show that these acts of worship were not neutral but directly offensive to God.

Why Jeremiah 7:18 matters

  • Jeremiah 7:18 clarifies that idolatry in Judah was a family affair, not just the actions of isolated individuals, which underscores the depth of the nation’s spiritual decline.
  • The verse highlights the specific worship of the "queen of heaven," giving insight into the kinds of foreign religious practices that had infiltrated Israelite society.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain why Jeremiah and other prophets spoke so forcefully against idolatry and why judgment was coming upon the people—it was a widespread, deliberate turning away from God.

Where else these words appear

“cakes” Hebrew H3561 · used in 2 verses

  • Jeremiah 44:19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

“knead” Hebrew H3888 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
  • 1 Samuel 28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
  • 2 Samuel 13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

“dough” Hebrew H1217 · used in 5 verses

  • Exodus 12:34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
  • Exodus 12:39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
  • 2 Samuel 13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

“queen” Hebrew H4446 · used in 5 verses

  • Jeremiah 44:17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
  • Jeremiah 44:18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
  • Jeremiah 44:19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?