Jeremiah 44:18 — Meaning and Application

{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.

And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? {men: or, husbands?}

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,