Jeremiah 44:8
New International Version
Why arouse my anger with what your hands have made, burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live? You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves a curse and an object of reproach among all the nations on earth.

New Living Translation
Why provoke my anger by burning incense to the idols you have made here in Egypt? You will only destroy yourselves and make yourselves an object of cursing and mockery for all the nations of the earth.

English Standard Version
Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth?

Berean Standard Bible
Why are you provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to reside? As a result, you will be cut off and will become an object of cursing and reproach among all the nations of the earth.

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
in that you provoke Me to wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to dwell, that you may cut yourselves off and be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

New American Standard Bible
provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt where you are entering to reside, so that you may be eliminated and become a curse and a disgrace among all the nations of the earth?

NASB 1995
provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to reside, so that you might be cut off and become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

NASB 1977
provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to reside, so that you might be cut off and become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Legacy Standard Bible
provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to sojourn, so that you might be cut off and become an imprecation and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Amplified Bible
Why do you [deliberately] provoke Me to anger with the works (idols) of your hands, burning sacrifices and incense to [make-believe] gods in the land of Egypt, where you [of your own accord] have come to live [as temporary residents], that you might be cut off and become a curse and a disgrace [an object of taunts] among all the nations of the earth?

Christian Standard Bible
You are angering me by the work of your hands. You are burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to stay for a while. As a result, you will be cut off and become an example for cursing and insult among all the nations of earth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You are provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands. You are burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to live for a while. As a result, you will be cut off and become an object of cursing and insult among all the nations of earth.

American Standard Version
in that ye provoke me unto anger with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are gone to sojourn; that ye may be cut off, and that ye may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Contemporary English Version
You have made me angry by worshiping idols and burning incense to other gods after you came here to Egypt. You will die such a disgusting death, that other nations will use the name of Judah as a curse word.

English Revised Version
in that ye provoke me unto anger with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to sojourn; that ye may be cut off, and that ye may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Why do you make me angry by burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live. You will destroy yourselves and be cursed and ridiculed by all the nations on earth.

Good News Translation
Why do you make me angry by worshiping idols and by sacrificing to other gods here in Egypt, where you have come to live? Are you doing this just to destroy yourselves, so that every nation on earth will make fun of you and use your name as a curse?

International Standard Version
And why have you provoked me to anger by the works of your hands, by offering sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to settle so that you cut yourselves off and become an object of ridicule and scorn among all the nations of the earth?

Majority Standard Bible
Why are you provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to reside? As a result, you will be cut off and will become an object of cursing and reproach among all the nations of the earth.

NET Bible
That is what will result from your making me angry by what you are doing. You are making me angry by sacrificing to other gods here in the land of Egypt where you live. You will be destroyed for doing that! You will become an example used in curses and an object of ridicule among all the nations of the earth.

New Heart English Bible
in that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to live; that you may be cut off, and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

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

World English Bible
in that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to live, that you may be cut off, and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
by provoking Me to anger by the works of your hands, by making incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, to where you are going to sojourn, so as to cut yourselves off, and so as to your being for a reviling and for a reproach among all nations of the earth?

Young's Literal Translation
by provoking Me to anger by the works of your hands, by making perfume to other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are going in to sojourn, so as to cut yourselves off, and so as to your being for a reviling and for a reproach among all nations of the earth?

Smith's Literal Translation
For your irritating me with the works of your hands, to burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where ye go to sojourn there, to cut off to you, and for your being for a curse and for a reproach in all the nations of the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In that you provoke me to wrath with the works of your hands, by sacrificing to other gods in the land of Egypt, into which you are come to dwell there: and that you should perish, and be a curse, and a reproach to all the nations of the earth?

Catholic Public Domain Version
For you have provoked me by the works of your hands, by sacrificing to strange gods in the land of Egypt, into which you have entered in order to live there, and so that you would perish and become a curse and a disgrace before all the nations of the earth.

New American Bible
Why do you provoke me with the works of your hands, offering sacrifice to other gods here in the land of Egypt where you have come to live? Will you cut yourselves off and become a curse, a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

New Revised Standard Version
Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to settle? Will you be cut off and become an object of cursing and ridicule among all the nations of the earth?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And thus have provoked me to anger with the works of your hands, and have burned incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have come to dwell, so that I may destroy you, and you shall become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because you angered me by the works of your hands and you set incense for other gods in the land of Egypt which you entered to dwell there, for I shall destroy you, and you shall be for a curse and for reproach in all the nations of the Earth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
in that ye provoke Me with the works of your hands, offering unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are gone to sojourn; that ye may be cut off, and that ye may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
by provoking me with the works of your hands, to burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, into which ye entered to dwell there, that ye might be cut off, and that ye might become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment on the Jews in Egypt
7So now, this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves by cutting off from Judah man and woman, child and infant, leaving yourselves without a remnant? 8Why are you provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to reside? As a result, you will be cut off and will become an object of cursing and reproach among all the nations of the earth. 9Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers and of the kings of Judah and their wives, as well as the wickedness that you and your wives committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:16-21
They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations. / They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear. / You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth. ...

2 Kings 17:7-18
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. ...

Isaiah 1:4
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.

Ezekiel 8:17-18
“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to anger? Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose! / Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”

2 Chronicles 36:14-16
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 65:3-5
to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick, / sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs and polluted broth from their bowls. / They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.

Hosea 4:6-9
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. / The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. / They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. ...

Ezekiel 16:26-32
You prostituted yourself with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians, and increased your promiscuity to provoke Me to anger. / Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct. / Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied. ...

2 Kings 21:11-15
“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin, / this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah that the news will reverberate in the ears of all who hear it. / I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a bowl—wiping it and turning it upside down. ...

Isaiah 3:8-9
For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence. / The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.

Romans 1:21-25
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. ...

Acts 7:51-53
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— / you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

1 Corinthians 10:20-22
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. / Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Revelation 18:4-5
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues. / For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Matthew 23:37-38
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.


Treasury of Scripture

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

ye provoke

Jeremiah 25:6,7
And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt…

Deuteronomy 32:16,17
They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger…

2 Kings 17:15-17
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them…

that ye might cut

Jeremiah 44:7
Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;

Ezekiel 18:31,32
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? …

a curse

Jeremiah 44:12
And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.

Jeremiah 18:16
To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.

Jeremiah 24:9
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

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Anger Burning Curse Cut Dwell Earth Egypt Gods Hands Incense Nations Offering Provoke Reproach Sojourn Whither Works Wrath Yourselves
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Anger Burning Curse Cut Dwell Earth Egypt Gods Hands Incense Nations Offering Provoke Reproach Sojourn Whither Works Wrath Yourselves
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














Why are you provoking Me to anger
This phrase highlights the personal nature of God's relationship with His people. The Hebrew root for "provoking" is "כעס" (ka'as), which conveys a sense of inciting or stirring up anger. This is not a passive displeasure but an active provocation. Historically, Israel's repeated disobedience and idolatry were seen as direct affronts to God's holiness and covenant relationship. The rhetorical question underscores God's patience and the seriousness of their rebellion.

with the works of your hands
This phrase refers to the idols and altars that the Israelites crafted. The "works of your hands" is a common biblical expression denoting human effort and creation, often in contrast to divine creation. In the context of idolatry, it emphasizes the futility and sinfulness of worshipping man-made objects. Archaeological findings have uncovered numerous idols from this period, illustrating the tangible reality of this sin.

by burning sacrifices to other gods
The act of burning sacrifices was central to worship in ancient cultures. The Hebrew word for "sacrifices" is "זבח" (zebach), which involves offerings that were meant to appease or honor a deity. Offering sacrifices to "other gods" was a direct violation of the first commandment and a betrayal of the exclusive worship due to Yahweh. This practice was not only religiously offensive but also culturally assimilative, as it aligned the Israelites with pagan practices.

in the land of Egypt where you have gone to reside
Egypt, historically a place of bondage for the Israelites, now becomes a place of spiritual bondage. The phrase "where you have gone to reside" indicates a voluntary relocation, suggesting a turning away from the Promised Land and God's promises. Egypt symbolizes a return to old ways and a rejection of God's deliverance. This historical context highlights the irony and tragedy of seeking refuge in a land synonymous with past oppression.

that you may be cut off
The consequence of their actions is severe—being "cut off" implies total separation from God's covenant blessings. The Hebrew root "כרת" (karat) is often used in the context of making or breaking covenants. Here, it signifies the breaking of the covenant relationship due to persistent disobedience. This phrase serves as a warning of the spiritual and communal death that results from idolatry.

and become an object of cursing and reproach
This phrase indicates the social and spiritual ramifications of their actions. To be an "object of cursing" is to be under divine judgment, while "reproach" suggests public disgrace. The Israelites, chosen to be a light to the nations, risk becoming a cautionary tale. This reflects the biblical principle that disobedience leads to shame and dishonor, both in the eyes of God and among the nations.

among all the nations of the earth
The scope of their potential disgrace is global. The phrase "among all the nations" underscores the universal witness of Israel's actions. Their behavior not only affects their relationship with God but also their testimony to the world. This serves as a reminder of the broader implications of sin and the call for God's people to be distinct and holy, reflecting His character to all nations.

(8) Burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt.--The words imply that the exiles were not only carrying on the old idolatrous practices with which they had been familiar in their own lands, but had adopted those of the Egyptians. This was the evil which the prophet had all along dreaded, and which had made him from the first, like his predecessor, Isaiah (Isaiah 30:2; Isaiah 31:1), hostile to every plan of an alliance with Egypt.

Verse 8. - That ye might cut yourselves off; rather, that ye might cut (them) off from you. Who are meant is clear from ver. 7.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
provoking Me to anger
לְהַכְעִסֵ֙נִי֙ (lə·haḵ·‘i·sê·nî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3707: To trouble, to grieve, rage, be indignant

by the work
בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י (bə·ma·‘ă·śê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

of your hands,
יְדֵיכֶ֔ם (yə·ḏê·ḵem)
Noun - fdc | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

burning incense
לְקַטֵּ֞ר (lə·qaṭ·ṭêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

to other
אֲחֵרִים֙ (’ă·ḥê·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

gods
לֵאלֹהִ֤ים (lê·lō·hîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

in the land
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt
מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

where
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you
אַתֶּ֥ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

have gone
בָּאִ֖ים (bā·’îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to reside.
לָג֣וּר (lā·ḡūr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility

As a result,
לְמַ֙עַן֙ (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

you will be cut off
הַכְרִ֣ית (haḵ·rîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

and become
הֱיֽוֹתְכֶם֙ (hĕ·yō·wṯ·ḵem)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

an object of cursing
לִקְלָלָ֣ה (liq·lā·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7045: Vilification

and reproach
וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה (ū·lə·ḥer·pāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2781: Contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

among all
בְּכֹ֖ל (bə·ḵōl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the nations
גּוֹיֵ֥י (gō·w·yê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

of the earth.
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 44:8 In that you provoke me to anger (Jer.)
Jeremiah 44:7
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