Jeremiah 7:18 The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.

◄ Jeremiah 7:18 ►

New International Version
The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger.

New Living Translation
No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods!

English Standard Version
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.

Berean Standard Bible
The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.

New American Standard Bible
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make sacrificial cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to provoke Me to anger.

NASB 1995
“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me.

NASB 1977
“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out libations to other gods in order to spite Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
The children gather wood, and the fathers make the fire burn, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to provoke Me.

Amplified Bible
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods that they may offend and provoke Me to anger.

Christian Standard Bible
The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven, and they pour out drink offerings to other gods so that they provoke me to anger.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven, and they pour out drink offerings to other gods so that they provoke Me to anger.

American Standard Version
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the 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.

Contemporary English Version
Children gather firewood, their fathers build fires, and their mothers mix dough to bake bread for the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They even offer wine sacrifices to other gods, just to insult me.

English Revised Version
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Children gather wood, fathers light fires, and women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven. They pour out wine offerings to other gods in order to make me furious.

Good News Translation
The children gather firewood, the men build fires, and the women mix dough to bake cakes for the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They also pour out offerings of wine to other gods, in order to hurt me.

International Standard Version
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven, and they pour out liquid offerings to other gods in order to provoke me.

Majority Standard Bible
The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.

NET Bible
Children are gathering firewood, fathers are building fires with it, and women are mixing dough to bake cakes to offer to the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They are also pouring out drink offerings to other gods. They seem to do all this just to trouble me.

New Heart English Bible
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

Webster's Bible Translation
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

World English Bible
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of the sky, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
The sons are gathering wood, "" And the fathers are causing the fire to burn, "" And the women are kneading dough, "" To make cakes to the queen of the heavens, "" And to pour out drink-offerings to other gods, "" So as to provoke Me to anger.

Young's Literal Translation
The sons are gathering wood, And the fathers are causing the fire to burn, And the women are kneading dough, To make cakes to the queen of the heavens, And to pour out libations to other gods, So as to provoke Me to anger.

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons are gathering up woods, and the fathers kindling the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of the heavens, and to pour out libations to other gods, to irritate me.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke me to anger.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons gather the wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the wives spread the grease, so as to make cakes to the queen of heaven and to offer libations to strange gods, and so as to provoke me to anger.

New American Bible
The children gather wood, their fathers light the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven, while libations are poured out to other gods—all to offend me!

New Revised Standard Version
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The children gather wood and the fathers kindle the fire and the women knead dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The children gather wood and the fathers burn fire and the wives knead dough to make cake of fine flour for the service of Heaven, and to pour out a drink offering to other gods that they would anger me

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Their children gather wood, and their fathers kindle a fire, and their women knead dough, to make cakes to the host of heaven; and they have poured out drink-offerings to strange gods, that they might provoke me to anger.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Judah's Idolatry Persists
…17Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. 19But am I the One they are provoking? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ezekiel 8:14
Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, weeping for Tammuz.

Isaiah 44:19
And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

Hosea 2:8
For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.

2 Kings 23:5
Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

2 Kings 23:13
The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

1 Kings 11:5
Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

1 Kings 11:33
For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did.

Deuteronomy 32:17
They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.

Judges 2:13
for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

Psalm 106:37-38
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

1 Corinthians 10:20
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Revelation 2:20
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Revelation 17:4-5
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. / And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Acts 19:27
There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”

Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Treasury of Scripture

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 to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

children.

Jeremiah 44:17-19,25
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…

1 Corinthians 10:22
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

queen of heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

Job 31:26-28
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; …

to pour.

Jeremiah 19:13
And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

Jeremiah 32:29
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

Deuteronomy 32:37,38
And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, …

that they.

Jeremiah 25:7
Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

Isaiah 3:8
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

Isaiah 65:3
A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

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Anger Cakes Children Dough Drink Drink-Offerings Fathers Fire Gather Gods Heaven Kindle Knead Offerings Order Pour Provoke Queen Sky Spite Women Wood

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Jeremiah 7

1. Jeremiah is sent to call to true repentance, to prevent the Jews' captivity.
8. He rejects their vain confidence,
12. by the example of Shiloh.
17. He threatens them for their idolatry.
21. He rejects the sacrifices of the disobedient.
29. He exhorts to mourn for their abominations in Tophet;
32. and the judgments for the same.

Berean Study Bible

The children gather wood
This phrase highlights the involvement of the entire family unit in idolatrous practices. The Hebrew word for "children" (בָּנִים, banim) emphasizes the innocence and impressionability of youth, who are being led astray by their elders. The act of gathering wood, a seemingly mundane task, becomes a symbol of complicity in sin. Historically, this reflects the societal norms where children participated in family duties, but here it underscores the pervasive nature of idolatry infiltrating every aspect of life.

the fathers light the fire
The role of the fathers, or "אָבוֹת" (avot), in lighting the fire signifies their leadership in the family and community. In ancient Israel, the father was the spiritual head, responsible for guiding the family in worship. Here, however, they lead in false worship, betraying their God-given role. Lighting the fire is an act of preparation for sacrifice, indicating a deliberate choice to engage in pagan rituals. This phrase serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when spiritual leaders fail in their duty to uphold God's commandments.

and the women knead the dough
Women, or "נָשִׁים" (nashim), are depicted as active participants in the idolatrous practice by preparing the dough. Kneading dough was a common domestic task, yet in this context, it is perverted for idol worship. This phrase highlights the comprehensive nature of the sin, involving all family members. It also reflects the cultural reality of women's roles in domestic life, which were being misused for ungodly purposes. The involvement of women in this act underscores the breakdown of societal and spiritual order.

to make cakes for the queen of heaven
The "queen of heaven" (מְלֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, melekhet hashamayim) refers to a pagan deity, likely associated with fertility and astral worship, such as Ishtar or Astarte. Making cakes was a ritualistic act of devotion, indicating a formalized and widespread practice of idolatry. This phrase reveals the syncretism that plagued Israel, where foreign deities were worshipped alongside or instead of Yahweh. Theologically, it represents a direct affront to God's sovereignty and a violation of the first commandment.

They pour out drink offerings
Drink offerings, or "נְסָכִים" (nesakhim), were part of the sacrificial system ordained by God, yet here they are offered to false gods. This act of pouring out libations signifies a complete inversion of true worship. Historically, drink offerings were meant to accompany sacrifices, symbolizing dedication and thanksgiving to God. The misuse of this practice for idols illustrates the depth of Israel's apostasy and the corruption of their worship.

to other gods
The phrase "other gods" (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, elohim acherim) emphasizes the plurality and foreignness of the deities being worshipped. This is a direct violation of the covenant relationship between Israel and Yahweh, who declared Himself as the one true God. The presence of "other gods" in Israel's worship reflects the influence of surrounding nations and the failure to remain distinct as God's chosen people. It serves as a warning against the dangers of cultural assimilation and spiritual infidelity.

to provoke Me to anger
The phrase "provoke Me to anger" (לְהַכְעִיסֵנִי, lehach'iseni) reveals God's righteous indignation towards idolatry. The Hebrew root "כעס" (ka'as) conveys a deep, personal offense taken by God, who is grieved by His people's betrayal. This anger is not arbitrary but is a response to the covenantal unfaithfulness of Israel. It underscores the seriousness of idolatry and the inevitable consequences of turning away from God. Theologically, it highlights God's holiness and the expectation of exclusive worship from His people.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) The queen of heaven.--The goddess thus described was a kind of Assyrian Artemis, identified with the moon, and connected with the symbolic worship of the reproductive powers of Nature. Its ritual probably resembled that of the Babylonian Aphrodite, Mylitta, the mother-goddess, in its impurities (Herod. i. 199; Bar 6:43), and thus provoked the burning indignation of the prophet here and in Jeremiah 44:19; Jeremiah 44:25. The word rendered "cakes," and found only in connection with this worship, was clearly a technical term, and probably of foreign origin. Cakes of a like kind, made of flour and honey, round like the full moon, and known, therefore, as selence or "moons," were offered, like the Minchah or meat-offerings in the Mosaic ritual, the Neideh in the Egyptian worship of the goddess Neith, at Athens to Artemis, and in Sicily to Hecate (Theocr., Idylls, ii. 33). The worship of Ashtoreth (Milton speaks of her as "Astarte, Queen of Heaven, with crescent horn "), though of kindred nature, was not identical with that of the Queen of Heaven, that name signifying a star, and being identified with the planet Venus. A various reading gives, as in the margin, "the frame of heaven."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - The children... the fathers... the women. All ages were represented in this idolatrous act, thus justifying the sweeping character of the judgment as described in Jeremiah 6:11. Cakes (comp. Jeremiah 44:19). The word is peculiar (kavvanim), and perhaps entered Palestine together with the foreign rite to which the cakes belonged. Various conjectures have been offered as to their nature, but without any demonstrable ground. Sacrificial cakes were not uncommon. Hosea refers to the luscious raisin-cakes used by idolaters (Hosea 3:1). To the queen of heaven. This title of a divinity only occurs in Jeremiah (here and in Jeremiah 44:17-19, 25). It reminds us, first, of titles (such as "queen of the gods") of the Babylonic-Assyrian goddesses, Bilat (Beltis) and Istar, who, though divided in later times, were "originally but two forms of the same goddess" (Sayce, Transactions of Society of Biblical Archaeology, 3:169). It is, however, perhaps an objection to the view that Bilat or Istar is intended, that neither here nor in Jeremiah 44. is there any allusion to that characteristic lascivious custom which was connected in Babylonia with the worship of Istar (Herod., 1:199). The phrase has, however, another association. It reminds us, in the second place, of the Egyptian goddess Neith, "the mother of the gods." The first mention of "the queen of heaven" in Jeremiah occurs in the reign of Jehoiakim, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh-Necho, one of the Saite dynasty (Says was the seat of the worship of Neith). If the "queen of heaven" were a Babylonic-Assyrian goddess, we should have looked for the introduction of her cultus at an earlier period (e.g. under Ahaz). But it was in accordance with the principles of polytheism (and the mass of the Jews had an irresistible tendency to polytheism), to adopt the patron-deity of the suzerain. Subsequently Judah became the subject of Nebuchadnezzar; thus it was equally natural to give up the worship of an Egyptian deity. Jewish colonists in Migdol would as naturally revert to the cultus of the Egyptian "mother of the gods" (see Gratz, 'Monatsschrift,' Breslau, 1874, pp. 349-351). The form of the word rendered "queen" being very uncommon, another reading, pronounced in the same way, obtained currency. This should be rendered, not "frame," or "workmanship" (as Authorized Version, margin), but "service." The context, however, evidently requires a person.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The sons
הַבָּנִ֞ים (hab·bā·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

gather
מְלַקְּטִ֣ים (mə·laq·qə·ṭîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3950: To pick up, to gather, to glean

wood,
עֵצִ֗ים (‘ê·ṣîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

the fathers
וְהָֽאָבוֹת֙ (wə·hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

light
מְבַעֲרִ֣ים (mə·ḇa·‘ă·rîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

the fire,
הָאֵ֔שׁ (hā·’êš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

and the women
וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים (wə·han·nā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

knead
לָשׁ֣וֹת (lā·šō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 3888: To knead

the dough
בָּצֵ֑ק (bā·ṣêq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1217: Dough (for cooking)

to make
לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

cakes
כַּוָּנִ֜ים (kaw·wā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3561: Something prepared, a sacrificial wafer

for the Queen
לִמְלֶ֣כֶת (lim·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4446: A queen

of Heaven;
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

they pour out
וְהַסֵּ֤ךְ (wə·has·sêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5258: To pour out, a libation, to cast, to anoint a, king

drink offerings
נְסָכִים֙ (nə·sā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5262: A libation, a cast idol

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

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

to
לְמַ֖עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

provoke Me to anger.
הַכְעִסֵֽנִי׃ (haḵ·‘i·sê·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3707: To trouble, to grieve, rage, be indignant

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood and the fathers (Jer.)