Bible Strands
Jeremiah 44:26
Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah delivers this declaration to Judahites residing in Egypt, immediately following God's command to persist in their vows to the Queen of Heaven. The prophet speaks on behalf of Yahweh to a community that has already chosen open rebellion.
The words — The Hebrew term לָ/כֵן (la./Khen) translates literally as "therefore," anchoring this verdict to the preceding context. The imperative שִׁמְע֣וּ (shim.'U) commands "hear," establishing that the audience must acknowledge the coming divine response.
The thread — God’s oath by His great name mirrors Genesis 22:16, where Yahweh swears by Himself to confirm a promise. The restriction on invoking His name corresponds to Psalm 50:16, which addresses those who recite statutes and bear the covenant on their lips while living in rebellion.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that covenant privilege is forfeited when professed loyalty is replaced by active idolatry. It demands a clear-eyed acceptance that divine judgment follows deliberate, persistent defiance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord God liveth.
Cross-references
- Genesis 22:16 saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son,
- Psalms 50:16 To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
- Ezekiel 20:39 And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.
- Hebrews 6:13 When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,
- Isaiah 48:1 “Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—
- Jeremiah 4:2 and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
- Jeremiah 5:2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”
- Amos 6:8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself—the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared: “I abhor Jacob’s pride and detest his citadels, so I will deliver up the city and everything in it.”
- Numbers 14:21 “Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD,
- Numbers 14:28 So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say.