Jeremiah 44:17

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.

Jeremiah 44:17 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah 44:17 sits within a larger confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and the Jewish remnant who had fled to Egypt after Jerusalem’s fall. These people had persisted in idolatry, and Jeremiah delivered God’s warning against their worship of other deities, including the “queen of heaven.“

Meaning

The people’s declaration, “we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth,” reveals their determined commitment to their own vows and desires rather than to God’s word through Jeremiah. They explicitly state their intention to continue burning incense and pouring drink offerings to the “queen of heaven,” a pagan goddess likely associated with fertility and motherhood, possibly linked to Mesopotamian deities like Ishtar or Astarte. Their reasoning appeals to tradition: they, their fathers, their kings, and their princes had all done this in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. They claim that during that time they had plenty of food, were well, and saw no evil, attributing their past prosperity to this idolatrous practice.

Biblical connections

Jeremiah’s broader message consistently warns that Israel’s suffering and exile resulted from their idolatry, not from abandoning it. The people’s interpretation of cause and effect is therefore directly opposed to the prophetic truth. Their prosperity in the past was not a reward for worshiping false gods but was granted by God’s grace and patience. By persisting in rebellion, they were provoking His righteous anger, as Jeremiah had repeatedly declared.

Application

This verse exposes the danger of reinterpreting history to justify sin. The people preferred their own experience and tradition over the clear word of God, and they were blind to the true cause of their troubles. For believers today, it is a warning against allowing personal circumstances or cultural customs to override Scripture. It also challenges us to examine whether we are truly committed to God’s will or merely to our own desires, especially when we are tempted to attribute blessings to sources other than God.

Reflection

The stubbornness of the remnant in Egypt is a sobering example of self-deception. They were so convinced of their own version of events that they could not see the disaster their idolatry had brought. This passage calls us to humility, repentance, and a genuine return to the worship of the true God, trusting that His ways are right even when our own reasoning suggests otherwise.