Jeremiah 24:1-8

1 The Lord showed to me, and lo! two panniers full of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, translated Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and the princes of him, and a subtle craftsman, and a goldsmith, from Jerusalem, and brought them into Babylon. (The Lord showed to me, and lo! two baskets full of figs were put before the Temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away captive Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and his princes, or his leaders, and the craftsmen, and the goldsmiths, from Jerusalem, and brought them to Babylon.)

2 And one pannier had full good figs, as figs of the first time be wont to be; and one pannier had full evil figs, that might not be eaten, for those were evil figs.

3 And the Lord said to me, Jeremy, what thing seest thou? And I said, Figs, good figs, full good; and evil figs, full evil, that may not be eaten, for those be evil figs. (And the Lord said to me, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, Figs, good figs, very good; and bad figs, very bad, that cannot be eaten, for they be bad, or rotten, figs.)

4 And the word of the Lord was made to me, and said,

5 The Lord God of Israel saith these things, As these figs be good, so I shall know the transmigration of Judah, which I sent out from this place into the land of Chaldees, into good. (The Lord God of Israel saith these things, Like these figs be good, so I consider those of Judah who be carried away captive, yea, whom I sent out from this place to the land of the Chaldeans, to be good.)

6 And I shall set mine eyes on them to please (And I shall put my eyes on them to do good for them), and I shall bring them again into this land; and I shall build them, and I shall not destroy them; and I shall plant them, and I shall not draw (them) up by the root.

7 And I shall give to them an heart, that they (would) know me, for I am the Lord; and they shall be into a people to me, and I shall be into God to them, for they shall turn again to me in all their heart. (And I shall give them a heart, that they would desire to know me, for I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I shall be their God, for they shall return to me with all their heart.)

8 And as the worst figs be, that may not be eaten, for those be evil figs, the Lord saith these things, So I shall give Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and the princes of him, and other men of Jerusalem, that dwell in this city, and that dwell in the land of Egypt. (And as for the worst figs that cannot be eaten, for they be evil figs, saith the Lord, so I shall consider Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his princes, or his leaders, and the other people of Jerusalem, who live in this city, and who live in the land of Egypt.)

Jeremiah 24:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 24

This chapter contains a vision of two baskets of figs, representing the Jews both in captivity, and at Jerusalem. The vision is declared, Jer 24:1-3; where both time and place are pointed at, in which the vision was seen, and the nature of the figs described, and what passed between the Lord and the prophet concerning them. The explication of the vision begins, Jer 24:4; and continues to the end of the chapter. The good figs were an emblem of the good people that were carried captive with Jeconiah into Babylon, which the Lord says was for their good; and he promises to own them, and set his eyes upon them for good, and that they should return to their own land, and have a heart to know him as their God, and return unto him, Jer 24:5-7; the bad figs signify the people that were with Zedekiah at Jerusalem, and those that were in Egypt, who are threatened to be carried captive into all lands, and there live under the greatest reproach and disgrace; or be destroyed in their own land by the sword, famine, or pestilence, Jer 24:8-10.