The Meaning of Jeremiah 44:5 Explained

Jeremiah 44:5

KJV: But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

YLT: and they have not hearkened nor inclined their ear, to turn back from their wickedness, not to make perfume to other gods,

Darby: But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

ASV: But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But they hearkened  not, nor inclined  their ear  to turn  from their wickedness,  to burn no incense  unto other  gods. 

What does Jeremiah 44:5 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 44

1  Jeremiah expresses the desolation of Judah for their idolatry
11  He prophesies the destruction of those who commit idolatry in Egypt
15  The obstinacy of the Jews
20  For which Jeremiah threatens them
29  and for a sign prophesies the destruction of Egypt

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 44:5 mean?

But not they did listen or incline - their ear to turn from their wickedness to no burn incense to gods other
וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ וְלֹא־ הִטּ֣וּ אֶת־ אָזְנָ֔ם לָשׁ֖וּב מֵרָֽעָתָ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י קַטֵּ֖ר לֵאלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים

וְלֹ֤א  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָֽׁמְעוּ֙  they  did  listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
הִטּ֣וּ  incline 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָזְנָ֔ם  their  ear 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
לָשׁ֖וּב  to  turn 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
מֵרָֽעָתָ֑ם  from  their  wickedness 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
לְבִלְתִּ֥י  to  no 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
קַטֵּ֖ר  burn  incense 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
לֵאלֹהִ֥ים  to  gods 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲחֵרִֽים  other 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.