Definition: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 44:25. It’s a really powerful and dramatic statement about God’s judgment and the consequences of disobedience. Here's a simplified explanation: What it means in plain language: “God says, ‘I, the Lord of Israel, is very angry with you both. You have broken your promises and started to fulfill them – burning incense and offering drinks to the queen of heaven! I’m going to make sure this happens.’” Let's unpack it into smaller parts: “Thus saith the LORD…” : This is just a formal way of saying "God speaks." “…of hosts” : This refers to God himself. “…the God of Israel…” : This tells us who is speaking – God, as the leader and judge. “…saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths…” : This means that the people who disobeyed God (specifically, the leaders and families) have openly confessed their wrongdoing. "...and fulfilled with your hand, saying..." : They actually started to do what they promised. This is a key point – they were actively taking action. "...we will surely perform our vows that we have vowed…” : This is the core of the verse. They swore to do something – to burn incense and offer drinks. "...to burn incense to the queen of heaven..." : This is a symbolic reference to a powerful, divine being – the Queen of Heaven. It's a metaphor for worship and offering. "...and to pour out drink offerings unto her:" : This means they were providing gifts or drinks to this divine being. "Ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows." : This is the final part of God’s warning. He says that because they disobeyed, they will be held accountable for fulfilling their promises – even if it means facing consequences. The big idea: Jeremiah 44:25 is a strong message about the importance of keeping your commitments and taking responsibility for your actions. It’s a warning against breaking promises and emphasizes God's justice and judgment when disobedience occurs. Important Note: It's crucial to understand this verse in context. It comes after a lengthy description of the rebellion and wickedness of the people. God is angry, but also ultimately just and will hold them accountable for their actions. --- Do you want me to: Explain any specific part in more detail? Connect it to a broader theme (like sin or repentance)? Provide a comparison to another Bible passage?