Jeremiah 44:23
New International Version
Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see.”

New Living Translation
All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the LORD. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws.”

English Standard Version
It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.”

Berean Standard Bible
Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”

King James Bible
Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

New King James Version
Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day.”

New American Standard Bible
Since you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD nor walked in His Law, His statutes, or His testimonies, therefore this disaster has happened to you, as it has this day.”

NASB 1995
“Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day.”

NASB 1977
“Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Because you have burned incense and have sinned against Yahweh and not listened to the voice of Yahweh or walked in His law, His statutes, or His testimonies, therefore this evil has befallen you, as it has this day.”

Amplified Bible
Because you have burned sacrifices [to idols] and because you have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law and in His statutes and in His testimonies, therefore this tragedy has fallen on you, as it has this day.”

Christian Standard Bible
Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD and didn’t obey the LORD and didn’t follow his instruction, his statutes, and his testimonies, this disaster has come to you, as you see today.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD and didn’t obey the LORD’s voice and didn’t follow His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has come to you, as you see today.”

American Standard Version
Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as it is this day.

Contemporary English Version
This disaster happened because you worshiped other gods and rebelled against the LORD by refusing to obey him or follow his laws and teachings.

English Revised Version
Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as it is this day.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You burned incense as offerings to other gods, sinned against the LORD, and wouldn't obey him. You didn't live by his teachings, decrees, or written instructions. That is why you have met with this disaster as it is today."

Good News Translation
This present disaster has come on you because you offered sacrifices to other gods and sinned against the LORD by not obeying all his commands."

International Standard Version
Because you offered sacrifices and sinned against the LORD, you didn't obey the LORD and didn't live according to his Law, his statutes, or his testimonies; therefore, this disaster has happened to you, as is the case today."

Majority Standard Bible
Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”

NET Bible
You have sacrificed to other gods! You have sinned against the LORD! You have not obeyed the LORD! You have not followed his laws, his statutes, and his decrees! That is why this disaster that is evident to this day has happened to you."

New Heart English Bible
Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is this day."

Webster's Bible Translation
Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil hath happened to you, as at this day.

World English Bible
Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed Yahweh’s voice, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is today.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Because that you have made incense, and because you have sinned against YHWH, and have not listened to the voice of YHWH, and have not walked in His law, and in His statutes, and in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has met you as [at] this day.”

Young's Literal Translation
Because that ye have made perfume, and because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and in His law, and in His statutes, and in His testimonies ye have not walked, therefore hath this evil met you as at this day.'

Smith's Literal Translation
From the face of what ye burned incense, and what ye sinned against Jehovah, and ye heard not to the voice of Jehovah, and in his instructions and in his laws and in his testimonies ye went not; for this, this evil befell you as this day.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because you have sacrificed to idols, and have sinned against the Lord: and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have not walked in his law, and in his commandments, and in his testimonies: therefore are these evils come upon you, as at this day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
This is because you have sacrificed to idols, and you have sinned against the Lord. And you have not heeded the voice of the Lord, and you have not walked in his law, and in his precepts, and in his testimonies. It is for this reason that these evils have happened to you, just as it is today.”

New American Bible
Because you offered sacrifice and sinned against the LORD, not listening to the voice of the LORD, not following his law, his statutes, and his decrees, therefore this evil has overtaken you, as it is today.

New Revised Standard Version
It is because you burned offerings, and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his decrees, that this disaster has befallen you, as is still evident today.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is because you have burned incense and because: you have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD nor walked in his law nor in his statutes nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has overtaken you, as it is this day.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because you offered incense and you have sinned against LORD JEHOVAH and you have not listened to the voice of LORD JEHOVAH, and in his Law and in his covenant and in his testimony you have not walked; because of this, this evil has overtaken you as today”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Because ye have offered, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not hearkened to the voice of the LORD, nor walked in His law, nor in His statutes, nor in His testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
because of your burning incense, and because of the things wherein ye sinned against the Lord: and ye have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, and have not walked in his ordinances, and in his law, and in his testimonies; and so these evils have come upon you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Calamity for the Jews
22So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.” 24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD, all those of Judah who are in the land of Egypt.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:15-68
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: / You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. / Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed. ...

2 Kings 17:7-23
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...

2 Chronicles 36:14-17
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. / Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy. ...

Isaiah 1:4-7
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him. / Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted. / From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil. ...

Hosea 4:1-3
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

Amos 2:4-5
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked. / So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

Ezekiel 20:7-8
And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ / But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 26:14-39
If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, / and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, / then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. ...

Nehemiah 9:26-30
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies. / So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies. / But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your compassion. ...

Daniel 9:11-14
All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. / You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. / Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth. ...

Matthew 23:37-39
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. / For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Romans 1:18-32
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. / For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. / For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. ...

1 Corinthians 10:6-11
These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” / We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ...

Hebrews 3:7-19
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened to you, as at this day.

ye have burned

Jeremiah 44:8
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 18:21
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

Jeremiah 32:31-33
For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face, …

nor walked

Psalm 119:155
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

nor in his testimonies

Psalm 78:56
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

therefore

1 Kings 9:9
And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.

Nehemiah 13:18
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

Daniel 9:11,12
Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him…

Jump to Previous
Burned Calamity Decrees Evil Followed Hearkened Incense Law Obey Obeyed Offered Sacrifices Sinned Statutes Stipulations Testimonies Voice Walk Walked
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Burned Calamity Decrees Evil Followed Hearkened Incense Law Obey Obeyed Offered Sacrifices Sinned Statutes Stipulations Testimonies Voice Walk Walked
Jeremiah 44
1. Jeremiah expresses the desolation of Judah for their idolatry
11. He prophesies the destruction of those who commit idolatry in Egypt
15. The obstinacy of the Jews
20. For which Jeremiah threatens them
29. and for a sign prophesies the destruction of Egypt














Because you have burned incense
The act of burning incense in this context is symbolic of idolatry and false worship. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, incense was often used in religious rituals to honor deities. The Hebrew root for "burned incense" is "קָטַר" (qatar), which implies offering something up in smoke. This act was a direct violation of the first commandment, which forbids the worship of other gods. The Israelites' choice to burn incense to foreign gods was a deliberate act of rebellion against the LORD, demonstrating a heart turned away from Him.

and sinned against the LORD
The phrase underscores the gravity of their actions. "Sinned" comes from the Hebrew "חָטָא" (chata), meaning to miss the mark or to fall short of God's standards. Sinning against the LORD is not merely a breach of law but a personal affront to God Himself. It reflects a broken relationship and a rejection of His sovereignty and love. The Israelites' sin was not just ritualistic but relational, as they turned their backs on the covenant relationship with God.

and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD
Obedience to God's voice is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of heeding divine instruction. The Hebrew word for "obeyed" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear intelligently, often with the implication of attention and obedience. The Israelites' failure to obey signifies a willful disregard for God's guidance and commands. It highlights the importance of listening to God, not just hearing His words but acting upon them.

or walked in His law
To "walk" in the law implies living one's life according to God's commandments. The Hebrew word "הָלַךְ" (halak) means to go or to walk, suggesting a continuous, habitual lifestyle. The "law" refers to the Torah, God's instructions for righteous living. The Israelites' failure to walk in His law indicates a lifestyle that consistently deviated from God's path, choosing their own ways over His divine guidance.

or in His statutes
"Statutes" are specific decrees or ordinances given by God. The Hebrew word "חֻקָּה" (chuqqah) refers to something prescribed or appointed. These statutes were meant to set Israel apart as God's holy people. Ignoring these statutes was a rejection of their identity and calling as a nation chosen by God to reflect His holiness and justice.

or in His testimonies
"Testimonies" refer to the witness or evidence of God's will and character, often seen in His covenant promises and acts of deliverance. The Hebrew "עֵדוּת" (edut) signifies a declaration or affirmation. By not walking in His testimonies, the Israelites disregarded the very evidence of God's faithfulness and power in their history, choosing instead to trust in false gods.

this disaster has befallen you
The "disaster" is the consequence of their disobedience and idolatry. The Hebrew "רָעָה" (ra'ah) means evil or calamity, often used to describe the judgment of God. This disaster was not arbitrary but a direct result of their actions, a fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy for disobedience. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine justice.

as you see today
This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and visibility of God's judgment. The consequences of their actions were not distant or abstract but present and undeniable. It serves as a call to repentance, urging the people to recognize their sin and turn back to God. The visible disaster was meant to awaken them to the truth of their situation and the need for a restored relationship with the LORD.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Because
מִפְּנֵי֩ (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

you burned incense
קִטַּרְתֶּ֜ם (qiṭ·ṭar·tem)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

and sinned
חֲטָאתֶ֣ם (ḥă·ṭā·ṯem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

against the LORD,
לַיהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

and did not
וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
שְׁמַעְתֶּם֙ (šə·ma‘·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the voice
בְּק֣וֹל (bə·qō·wl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

[or]
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

walk
הֲלַכְתֶּ֑ם (hă·laḵ·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

His instruction,
וּבְתֹרָת֧וֹ (ū·ḇə·ṯō·rā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

His statutes,
וּבְחֻקֹּתָ֛יו (ū·ḇə·ḥuq·qō·ṯāw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute

and His testimonies,
וּבְעֵדְוֺתָ֖יו (ū·ḇə·‘ê·ḏə·wō·ṯāw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5715: Testimony

this
הַזֹּ֖את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

disaster
הָרָעָ֥ה (hā·rā·‘āh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

has befallen you,
קָרָ֥את (qā·rāṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

as you see today.”
כַּיּ֥וֹם (kay·yō·wm)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 44:23 Because you have burned incense and because (Jer.)
Jeremiah 44:22
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