Jeremiah 24

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 24

1¶ The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

2One basket [had] very good figs, [even] like the figs [that are] first ripe: and the other basket [had] very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

3Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

4Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for [their] good.

6For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull [them] down; and I will plant them, and not pluck [them] up.

7And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

8And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

9And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for [their] hurt, [to be] a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

10And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD showed Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs before the temple, after Nebuchadrezzar had carried away Jeconiah and others to Babylon. One basket held very good figs, while the other contained very evil, uneatable figs. The good figs represented the captives in Babylon, whom the LORD would restore and bless, while the evil figs symbolized King Zedekiah and those remaining in Judah or fleeing to Egypt, destined for severe judgment.

Medium Summary

The prophet Jeremiah received a vision from the LORD, depicting two baskets of figs placed before the temple, following the first deportation of Judah's elite to Babylon. The first basket contained excellent, ripe figs, while the second held figs so bad they were inedible. The LORD explained that the good figs represented the exiles whom He had sent to Babylon for their ultimate good. He promised to watch over them, bring them back to their land, build them up, and plant them securely, giving them a heart to know Him. Conversely, the evil figs symbolized King Zedekiah, his princes, those remaining in Jerusalem, and those who fled to Egypt. For these, the LORD declared a future of removal to all kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, making them a reproach and a curse. They would be consumed by sword, famine, and pestilence from the land.

Long Summary

Following the initial Babylonian captivity under Nebuchadrezzar, which saw King Jeconiah, the princes, carpenters, and smiths taken from Jerusalem to Babylon, the LORD presented Jeremiah with a prophetic vision. Jeremiah saw two baskets of figs set before the temple. One basket contained figs of excellent quality, likened to the first ripe fruit, while the other held figs that were exceedingly bad and utterly unfit for consumption. The LORD prompted Jeremiah to identify what he saw, and Jeremiah confirmed the stark contrast between the very good and the very evil figs. The LORD then revealed the interpretation of this vision, explaining that the good figs represented those carried away captive from Judah to the land of the Chaldeans. These exiles, the LORD declared, were sent by Him for their own good, and He promised to set His eyes upon them for good, to bring them back to their land, to build and plant them, and not to pull them down or pluck them up. Furthermore, He would grant them a heart to know Him, establishing a renewed covenant where they would be His people and He their God, for they would return to Him wholeheartedly. In stark contrast, the evil figs symbolized King Zedekiah of Judah, his princes, the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem, and those who had sought refuge in Egypt. The LORD declared that He would deliver these individuals to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, making them a reproach, a proverb, a taunt, and a curse wherever they were driven. Ultimately, the LORD would send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them until they were completely consumed from the land He had given to them and their fathers.

Core Concepts

  • Vision of the FigsJeremiah is shown two baskets of figs, one containing very good figs and the other very bad, symbolizing two distinct groups of people and their destinies.
  • The Good Figs (Exiles in Babylon)These represent the captives whom the LORD sent to Babylon for their ultimate good. God promises to restore them, bring them back to their land, rebuild them, and give them a new heart to know Him.
  • The Evil Figs (Zedekiah & Remnant)These symbolize King Zedekiah, his princes, those remaining in Jerusalem, and those who fled to Egypt. They are destined for severe judgment, removal to other nations, and destruction by sword, famine, and pestilence.
  • Divine Purpose in CaptivityThe LORD reveals that the initial captivity of some to Babylon was not merely punishment but a divine act for their long-term benefit and spiritual renewal.
  • Covenant Renewal and RestorationFor the 'good figs,' God promises a renewed relationship, stating, 'they shall be my people, and I will be their God,' along with physical restoration to their land.
  • Divine Judgment and ReproachThe 'evil figs' face a future of being scattered among nations, becoming a 'reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse,' and being consumed by various calamities.