Jeremiah 24:1 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 24:1 nkjv
The LORD showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
Jeremiah 24:1 niv
After Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.
Jeremiah 24:1 esv
After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the LORD.
Jeremiah 24:1 nlt
After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon exiled Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, to Babylon along with the officials of Judah and all the craftsmen and artisans, the LORD gave me this vision. I saw two baskets of figs placed in front of the LORD's Temple in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 24 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 24:2 | Two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord. | Context for the vision |
| Jeremiah 24:3 | What do these figs mean? | Jeremiah's question |
| Jeremiah 24:5 | As these figs are good, so will I regard as good the exiles from Judah. | Explanation of good figs |
| Jeremiah 24:5 | I will look on them with favor. | God's favor on the exiles |
| Jeremiah 24:7 | I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord. | Spiritual transformation of exiles |
| Jeremiah 24:8 | As the bad figs are so bad that they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah. | Explanation of bad figs |
| Jeremiah 24:8 | and the king of Judah, his officials and the remaining people in Jerusalem. | Those facing judgment |
| Jeremiah 24:9 | I will make them a reproach and an object of malice among all the kingdoms. | The fate of the wicked |
| Jeremiah 24:10 | they will fall by the sword, famine and plague, until there are none left. | Destruction of the wicked |
| 2 Kings 24:10 | The extent of the Babylonian invasion. | Historical backdrop |
| 2 Chronicles 36:10 | Nebuchadnezzar's actions against Jerusalem. | Historical backdrop |
| Ezra 1:1 | Cyrus's decree to allow the exiles to return. | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Isaiah 43:25 | God blots out transgressions. | God's merciful aspect |
| Ezekiel 11:19 | God will give them a new heart and spirit. | Parallel prophecy of transformation |
| Ezekiel 36:26 | God promises a new heart and spirit. | Echo of Jeremiah's prophecy |
| Jeremiah 29:4 | The message to the exiles in Babylon. | Similar message to exiles |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | God promises to bring the exiles back after 70 years. | Fulfillment of exilic period |
| Jeremiah 31:33 | God's law written on their hearts. | Inner transformation |
| Matthew 21:43 | The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation producing its fruits. | Figurative application |
| John 15:5 | Apart from me you can do nothing. | Dependence on God |
| Romans 2:12-16 | Judgment based on works. | God's justice |
| 1 Corinthians 1:23 | Christ crucified, a stumbling block and foolishness. | Spiritual perspective on judgment |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | Judgment begins with the household of God. | Judgment within God's people |
| Revelation 3:15-16 | Christ's words to the lukewarm church. | Warning against spiritual compromise |
Jeremiah 24 verses
Jeremiah 24 1 Meaning
The Lord showed Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord. This vision symbolized the future of the people of Judah and Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The good figs represented the exiles who would be treated with favor and kindness by God, while the bad figs represented those left behind or returning later who would face destruction and judgment.
Jeremiah 24 1 Context
Jeremiah 24 occurs within the broader prophetic ministry of Jeremiah during the tumultuous period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. This chapter immediately follows prophecies of impending doom and judgment for Judah due to their persistent sin and idolatry. The vision in chapter 24 provides a message of hope for a remnant, contrasting it with the complete destruction awaiting those who remained stubbornly defiant. The historical backdrop is crucial: Jerusalem has already fallen to Babylon, and many captives, including King Jehoiachin, have been taken to Babylon. This vision is God's communication to those in exile, reassuring them of a future restoration, while also affirming the severe judgment coming upon those left behind and those who reject God's ways.
Jeremiah 24 1 Word Analysis
- "The Lord" (YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises, even amidst judgment.
- "showed" (ra'ah): Means to see, to look upon, to reveal, or to cause to see. Here, it signifies a divine revelation, a visual impartation of understanding.
- "me" ( Jeremiah): The prophet himself is the recipient of this divine vision and message.
- "behold" (hinnēh): An interjection calling for attention, signifying importance and urgency. It draws the prophet (and the reader) to focus on the matter presented.
- "two baskets" (shal·lē·chĕ·na): A pair, indicating a clear division and contrast. The duality is central to the message of the verse.
- "figs" (tĕ'ĕnîm): Figs were a common and significant fruit in ancient Israel, often associated with prosperity and blessing. Their condition (good or bad) is a potent symbol.
- "before" (mi·lĕ·p̄a·nê): In front of, in the presence of. The location before the temple is significant, indicating a divine revelation occurring in God's presence and for His people.
- "the temple" (heḵāl): The sacred house of God, the dwelling place of His presence on earth. Placing the baskets before the temple underscores the religious and covenantal implications of the vision.
- "of the Lord" (la·YHWH): Further connection to God's house and presence.
Words-group analysis:
- "two baskets of figs": This imagery starkly represents two distinct groups within the people of God, divided by their response to God's covenant and His judgment. The contrast is sharp and intended to be easily understood.
- "before the temple of the Lord": This positioning signifies that the fate of these two groups is determined in relation to their covenant standing with God and their participation in His covenant community, symbolized by the temple. It highlights divine authority and scrutiny.
Jeremiah 24 1 Bonus Section
The figs themselves hold cultural significance. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the ripening of figs often signaled the time of harvest and a time of abundance. The state of the figs—good and edible versus bad and unpalatable—was a natural metaphor for worthiness and ruin. This makes the vision easily graspable by Jeremiah's audience. This vision is not the only instance of God using fruit as a symbol of His people's spiritual condition (cf. Isaiah 5:1-7, where Israel is depicted as a vineyard that yielded wild grapes). The emphasis is on a discerning judgment that separates the faithful remnant from the unfaithful majority, a recurring theme throughout Jeremiah's prophecy and indeed much of the Old Testament.
Jeremiah 24 1 Commentary
Jeremiah 24:1 sets the stage for a powerful prophetic illustration of God's dealings with His people. The vision of the two baskets of figs before the temple is not merely a passive observation but a divine revelation intended to communicate a critical distinction between the outcomes of those who are aligned with God's will and those who are not. The good figs, wholesome and ripe, represent those who would be seen as favored by God, specifically the exiles taken captive with King Jehoiachin. This signifies God's restorative purposes for a remnant, demonstrating that even in judgment, there is a path to future blessing and a renewed relationship with Him. The bad figs, rotten and undesirable, symbolize the fate of those who remained in Judah, or those who would return later, facing severe judgment due to their continued rebellion and unfaithfulness. This vision serves as a powerful assurance to the exiles that God has not abandoned them, and it warns those who remained of their impending destruction. The stark contrast presented is designed to be a clear demonstration of God's justice and His sovereign control over the destinies of His people.