What is the meaning of Jeremiah 44:24? Then Jeremiah said - Jeremiah faces the same audience that had dragged him to Egypt against God’s clear command (Jeremiah 42:19; 43:7). - He speaks not on his own initiative but as God’s appointed mouthpiece, consistent with his call in Jeremiah 1:7–9 and the pattern of “Thus says the LORD” throughout the book. - The scene reminds us that genuine prophets keep proclaiming truth even when previous warnings were ignored (Ezekiel 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:2). to all the people - The message is corporate; no one can plead ignorance or exclusion. - God’s covenant dealings are with the whole community (Deuteronomy 29:10–15) and collective disobedience brings collective consequence (Joshua 7:1). - By addressing everyone, Jeremiah underscores that accountability before God does not skip anyone present (Romans 14:12). including all the women - Women had taken a prominent role in the worship of the “queen of heaven” (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:15–19). - God's call reaches those who may have been especially active in the very sin He is confronting, showing both His justice and His desire for repentance (Joel 2:12–13). - The mention affirms the full spiritual responsibility of women, anticipating New-Testament clarity that in Christ all are equally called and accountable (Galatians 3:28). “Hear the word of the LORD,” - “Hear” demands more than listening; it calls for obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4; James 1:22). - The authority is divine, not merely prophetic. The phrase “word of the LORD” appears over 100 times in Jeremiah, underscoring that Scripture records God’s own speech (2 Peter 1:21). - Rejecting this word has already cost Judah its land; another refusal in Egypt will seal their fate (Jeremiah 25:4–7). all those of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. - The remnant fled to Egypt for safety, directly disobeying God’s instruction to remain in the land (Jeremiah 42:13–19). - Egypt, the place of former slavery (Exodus 13:3), symbolizes a backward step of distrust in the Lord’s protection (Isaiah 30:1–3). - Jeremiah’s message warns that geography offers no refuge from divine judgment; faithfulness, not location, secures blessing (Psalm 139:7–10; Hebrews 3:12). summary Jeremiah 44:24 captures a prophet’s final plea to an exiled, stubborn people. He speaks with God-given authority to every member of the community, highlighting women because many had led in idolatrous practices. His call to “hear” confronts their misplaced trust in Egypt and summons wholehearted obedience. The verse reminds us that God’s word is universal in scope, uncompromising in authority, and eternally relevant: no one is beyond its reach, and no refuge—geographical, cultural, or personal—can shield us from its demands or its promises. |