Jeremiah 44:16 — Meaning and Application

So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape. {have...: Heb. lift up their soul}

Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

{As for} the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

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. {queen...: or, frame of heaven} {victuals: Heb. bread}

But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all {things}, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.