Jeremiah 44:14
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The phrase "to which they have a desire to return" actually translates a Hebrew idiom meaning "they lift up their souls," revealing a deep, almost desperate longing for home. This isn't just a casual wish; it's their soul's entire aspiration, making the stark prophecy of their inability to return all the more devastating.
so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the destruction of Jerusalem, a group of Jewish survivors fled to Egypt, against Jeremiah’s warning, believing it a safer refuge and still holding onto the hope of returning home. This verse delivers a devastating prophecy: virtually none of those who fled to Egypt will ever see Judah again, unlike the exiles in Babylon who, though further away, were ultimately brought back. The only ones to return are a tiny, "escaping" remnant, highlighting the severe judgment that awaits their idolatry and disobedience.
You might think fleeing to a foreign land means safety, a way out. But God's word here cuts through that illusion.
Jeremiah 44:14 delivers a stark message to the remnant of Judah who fled to Egypt. The prophet declares that none of them who went to sojourn there shall 'escape or remain' to return to their homeland.
This isn't just about physical survival. It's about the complete failure of their chosen path. They sought refuge in Egypt, believing it offered them a way back to Judah that their brethren in Babylon did not have. However, God's judgment is absolute for this rebellious group.
Their act of fleeing to Egypt, particularly after defying God's command through Jeremiah, sealed their fate. They traded God's promised land for a temporary, idolatrous refuge, and that refuge would not ultimately save them or grant them their desired return.
They longed for home, but their stubborn hearts turned that longing into a misplaced hope, leading to deeper despair.
The phrase 'to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there' is powerful. Literally, it's about them 'lifting up their souls' towards Judah.
This wasn't just a casual wish; it was a deep yearning, an aspiration. They pinned their hopes on returning to their land, perhaps thinking their stay in Egypt was temporary. They believed they could eventually go back.
But God declares this desire, fueled by their self-will and continued idolatry, would be thwarted. Their hope was misplaced because it wasn't rooted in obedience. The very thing they longed for – a return to their land – would be denied to most of them as a consequence of their actions.
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Even in the most absolute-sounding judgments, God often reserves a remnant. Who are they, and why are they spared?
While the verse sounds utterly final with 'none... shall escape or survive or return,' it ends with a crucial exception: 'For they shall not return, except some fugitives.'
This 'except' is vital. It hints at a remnant, a small number who will escape. Commentators suggest this refers to those who were forced to Egypt against their will, or perhaps those few who, like Jeremiah and Baruch, resisted the idolatry.
It's not a loophole for the rebellious; it's a testament to God's sovereign grace. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant for His purposes. These 'fugitives' are not escaping by their own merit but by God's decree, underscoring that ultimate salvation and return are always His work.
The Jews who fled to Egypt did so out of fear and a misplaced desire to return home, defying God's prophet. Their hope for safety and a quick return was shattered by a devastating invasion, illustrating that true security comes from obedience, not from seeking refuge in disobedience.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army conquer Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and the city, and exiling many to Babylon.
c. 586 BC
Assassination of Gedaliah
Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah, is assassinated by Jewish rebels. This act sparks fear of Babylonian retribution.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Flight to Egypt
Johanan son of Kareah leads a large group of Judean survivors, including the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, to Egypt, defying Jeremiah's warnings.
c. 586 - 568 BC
Judean Settlement in Egypt
The Judeans settle in various locations in Egypt, such as Tahpanhes, and continue their idolatrous practices, especially worshipping the Queen of Heaven.
c. 568 BC
Babylonian Invasion of Egypt
Nebuchadnezzar invades Egypt, conquering it and likely destroying the Judean settlements there, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of judgment.
This passage directly precedes the one in question and shows the people's persistent refusal to obey Jeremiah's prophecy of doom if they went to Egypt, setting the stage for the verse's pronouncement of their fate.
Jeremiah 44:28This verse offers a crucial clarification to Jeremiah 44:14, specifying that 'a remnant' will indeed escape, thus reconciling the seeming contradiction and highlighting God's ultimate mercy even in judgment.
Ezekiel 7:16This passage uses similar language to describe a doomed people, stating that 'those who escape' will be mourning in the mountains, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the impending judgment and the desperation of any survivors.
Deuteronomy 28:64-65These verses echo the theme of scattering and a lack of rest for disobedient Israel, prophesying that they would be scattered among the nations and find no peace, mirroring the fate of those who fled to Egypt.
calvinJeremiah 44:14: "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."
- 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 retu…
pooleJeremiah 44:14: "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."
There is a great variety in the reading of the words, Jeremiah 44:14 ; some reading besides such as have a desire to return ; others, although they have a desire to return ; others, for they have a desire to r…
The phrase "to which they have a desire to return" actually translates a Hebrew idiom meaning "they lift up their souls," revealing a deep, almost desperate longing for home. This isn't just a casual wish; it's their soul's entire aspiration, making the stark prophecy of their inability to return all the more devastating.
After the destruction of Jerusalem, a group of Jewish survivors fled to Egypt, against Jeremiah’s warning, believing it a safer refuge and still holding onto the hope of returning home. This verse delivers a devastating prophecy: virtually none of those who fled to Egypt will ever see Judah again, unlike the exiles in Babylon who, though further away, were ultimately brought back. The only ones to return are a tiny, "escaping" remnant, highlighting the severe judgment that awaits their idolatry and disobedience.
After the destruction of Jerusalem, a group of Jewish survivors fled to Egypt, against Jeremiah’s warning, believing it a safer refuge and still holding onto the hope of returning home. This verse delivers a devastating prophecy: virtually none of those who fled to Egypt will ever see Judah again, unlike the exiles in Babylon who, though further away, were ultimately brought back. The only ones to return are a tiny, "escaping" remnant, highlighting the severe judgment that awaits their idolatry and disobedience.
"so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives.”" — The phrase "to which they have a desire to return" actually translates a Hebrew idiom meaning "they lift up their souls," revealing a deep, almost desperate longing for home. This isn't just a casual…
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Last reviewed October 2026
