Jeremiah 44:20

“Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,”

Context: Jeremiah 44:20 is part of a larger passage found in Jeremiah 44:15-30. In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is delivering a message from God to the remnant of the Israelites who had settled in the land of Egypt. These people had abandoned the worship of the true God and had turned to idolatry, specifically worshiping the "queen of heaven."

In verse 15, the people respond to Jeremiah’s message, declaring their determination to continue worshiping the queen of heaven and offering sacrifices to her. They believed that their worship of this deity had brought them prosperity and protection in the past, and they were convinced that their current troubles were a result of neglecting her.

In response to their defiant declaration, Jeremiah confronts the people and addresses both men and women, emphasizing that their actions, including their wives’ participation, were known and witnessed by God. He states this in Jeremiah 44:20 when he says, "Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying."

This verse highlights Jeremiah’s commitment to delivering God’s message faithfully and without bias. He does not exclude anyone but addresses all the people, including both genders, who had responded to him with their intentions to continue worshiping the queen of heaven.

Jeremiah’s message, as a whole, serves as a stern warning and rebuke from God to the Israelites who had turned away from Him. God reminds them of the consequences they faced in the past due to their idolatry and disobedience. Through Jeremiah, God declares that their continued worship of idols, including the queen of heaven, would only bring more calamity upon them.

Jeremiah’s boldness and persistence in delivering God’s message to the people, despite their resistance, serves as an example of a faithful servant of God. It also reminds us of the importance of remaining steadfast in our commitment to God’s truth, even when faced with opposition or when the majority may be swayed by false beliefs.

Overall, Jeremiah 44:20 highlights the prophet’s role in faithfully conveying God’s message to the people, regardless of their response, and serves as a reminder to us to remain faithful to God’s truth in the face of opposition or temptation.