Jeremiah 44:11
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This isn't just a generic threat of punishment; God declares He's "setting His face against" them. This phrase powerfully conveys His determined wrath, a divine resolve to bring judgment specifically upon those who stubbornly chose disobedience, even in their supposed refuge in Egypt.
“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following God's command to stay in Judah despite famine and Babylonian threat, a group of defiant Israelites fled to Egypt, seeking refuge and continuing their idolatrous worship. This verse is God's stern judgment, declaring that He will actively bring destruction upon these refugees in Egypt, ensuring none of them who insisted on this path will escape His wrath.
When God declares He will 'set His face against' a people, it’s not a casual statement. It signifies a deep, unwavering opposition.
The phrase 'set my face against' (or 'set my face like flint') in Scripture signifies a determined, unyielding opposition. It’s God’s resolve to bring judgment. This isn't a fleeting anger but a settled purpose. It’s the opposite of seeking God's face in favor. Here, God's face is set for harm, a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry and disobedience, particularly their flight to Egypt against His command.
The prophet’s message is stark: even those who fled to Egypt for safety would face God’s wrath there.
This prophecy specifically targets the 'remnant of Judah' who had fled to Egypt, seeking refuge from the Babylonian invaders. Despite their attempt to find security in a foreign land, God declares their destruction would be complete, 'to cut off all Judah' (referring to this specific group in Egypt). This wasn't a punishment for seeking safety, but for doing so in disobedience to God’s command and for their continued idolatry there. They had set their faces to go to Egypt, showing a willful disregard for God’s word and a misplaced trust in human solutions.
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Tzeva'ot · Hebrew Noun
A name for God denoting His absolute sovereignty and power over all created beings, often associated with His role as the commander of the angelic armies.
This prophecy directly addresses the remnant of Judah who fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem. They wrongly believed Egypt offered safety, but Jeremiah declares God's judgment would find them even there for their disobedience and idolatry.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Jehoiachin and thousands of Judean nobles and skilled workers are exiled to Babylon following a Babylonian siege of Jerusalem.
588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. The city falls, the temple is destroyed, and most of the remaining population is deported to Babylon.
c. 586 BC
Gedaliah's Governorship
A Judean governor, Gedaliah, is appointed to rule over the remaining people in Judah. He is later assassinated by Jewish nationalists.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Flight to Egypt
Fearful of Babylonian reprisals after Gedaliah's assassination, a large group of Judeans, including the prophet Jeremiah, flees to Egypt, disobeying God's command.
c. 586-570 BC
Destruction of the Jewish Community in Egypt
The Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar, invades Egypt and destroys the Jewish settlements there, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of judgment against those who fled.
This passage, like Jeremiah 44:11, uses the phrase 'set my face against' to signify divine judgment and prohibition, highlighting God's firm opposition to sinful actions.
Ezekiel 14:7-8Both verses describe God setting His face against a rebellious people who have turned to idols, demonstrating His unwavering stance against idolatry and the consequences of seeking false refuge.
Jeremiah 21:10This earlier prophecy to Zedekiah uses the same imagery of God setting His face for disaster, emphasizing a consistent theme of judgment against Judah for disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28:64-66This passage foretells the scattering and destruction of Israel if they disobey God, mirroring the severe fate awaiting the Judahites in Egypt as described in Jeremiah 44:11-14.
barnesJeremiah 44:11: "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah."
All Judah - i. e., all Judah in Egypt, yet even there with exceptions (see Jeremiah 44:14 , Jeremiah 44:28 ), while Judah in Babylon was entirely exempt from this denunciation.
calvinJeremiah 44:11-12: "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah."
- And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be a…
This isn't just a generic threat of punishment; God declares He's "setting His face against" them. This phrase powerfully conveys His determined wrath, a divine resolve to bring judgment specifically upon those who stubbornly chose disobedience, even in their supposed refuge in Egypt.
Following God's command to stay in Judah despite famine and Babylonian threat, a group of defiant Israelites fled to Egypt, seeking refuge and continuing their idolatrous worship. This verse is God's stern judgment, declaring that He will actively bring destruction upon these refugees in Egypt, ensuring none of them who insisted on this path will escape His wrath.
Following God's command to stay in Judah despite famine and Babylonian threat, a group of defiant Israelites fled to Egypt, seeking refuge and continuing their idolatrous worship. This verse is God's stern judgment, declaring that He will actively bring destruction upon these refugees in Egypt, ensuring none of them who insisted on this path will escape His wrath.
"“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah." — This isn't just a generic threat of punishment; God declares He's "setting His face against" them. This phrase powerfully conveys His determined wrath, a divine resolve to bring judgment specifically…
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Last reviewed October 2026
