Book of Jeremiah - Chapter 7 - Verse 18

Jeremiah 7:18 speaks about the act of idol worship that was prevalent among the Israelites during that time. The verse describes a scene where the children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven, a pagan goddess. In addition, the people also pour out drink offerings to other gods in an attempt to seek favor and blessings. This practice of worshiping false gods and engaging in idolatry was a direct violation of God's commandments and angered Him. The verse serves as a warning against turning away from the one true God and seeking fulfillment and satisfaction in idols. It underscores the importance of remaining faithful and devoted to God alone, as He is the only one worthy of worship and praise.

In this verse, we see a vivid description of idolatry and the sins of the people of Judah. The mention of gathering wood, kindling fires, kneading dough, and making cakes to the queen of heaven refers to the worship practices dedicated to a pagan goddess, possibly Astarte or Ishtar. The act of offering drink offerings to other gods shows the extent of polytheism that had taken root among the Israelites, despite the clear commandments in the Bible to worship only the one true God. This verse serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and engaging in idolatrous practices. It highlights the importance of true worship and obedience to the Lord, as well as the danger of provoking God to anger through the worship of false deities.