JeremiahChapter 24

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The LORD showed me this: two baskets of figs set out before the temple of the LORD. This was after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen and the metalworkers, and had brought them to Babylon.

One basket held very good figs, like those that ripen first; the other held very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

The LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "Figs. The good ones are very good, and the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten."

Then the word of the LORD came to me:

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Like these good figs, so I will look with favor on the exiles of Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.

I will keep my eyes on them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten—this is what the LORD says—so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem, both those left in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.

I will make them a horror, a thing of evil, to all the kingdoms of the earth—a disgrace and a byword, an object of ridicule and cursing, in every place where I drive them.

I will send the sword, famine, and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and to their ancestors.

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Summary2

Chapter 24

Main Theme: God reveals through a vision of two baskets of figs the different destinies of Judah's people—blessing for those taken into exile and judgment over those who remain.

Content: After King Jehoiachin and the leaders were taken to Babylon, God showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs in front of the temple. The good figs represent those taken into exile, whom God will protect, bring back, and give a heart to know Him. The bad figs represent King Zedekiah, those remaining in Jerusalem, and those living in Egypt—they will be struck by sword, famine, and pestilence and become an object of scorn among the nations.

Key Words/Images:

The Two Baskets of Figs: A prophetic image distinguishing two groups in Judah with opposite destinies.
Good Figs: Symbolizing those taken into exile whom God will bless, restore, and give a new heart.
Bad Figs: Symbolizing those who remain and will face God's judgment through sword, famine, and pestilence.
The Exile to Babylon: Paradoxically portrayed as the path to salvation and renewal for God's people.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Jeremiah 24

People

The chapter mentions several key historical figures. Jeconiah (יְכָנְיָהוּ, also called Jehoiachin), the son of Jehoiakim, was king of Judah for only three months in 597 B.C.E. before he was taken into exile to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר) was the king of Babylon who carried out this deportation. Zedekiah (צִדְקִיָּהוּ), mentioned in verse 8, was the king installed by Nebuchadnezzar over what remained of Judah after 597 B.C.E.

Places

The temple of the Lord (הֵיכַל יְהוָה) in Jerusalem is the setting for Jeremiah's vision, where the two baskets of figs were placed before the temple. The land of the Chaldeans (אֶרֶץ כַּשְׂדִּים, Babylon) is where the exiles were sent—and paradoxically, the place where God promises to do good for them. Egypt (מִצְרָיִם) is mentioned in verse 8 as a refuge for some who fled there—a group that shares in the judgment over the "bad figs."

Events and Customs

The chapter is dated "after Nebuchadnezzar had taken Jeconiah into exile"—the deportation of 597 B.C.E. On this occasion, the king, his court, the craftsmen (הֶחָרָשׁ), and the smiths/metalworkers (הַמַּסְגֵּר) were taken to Babylon. The Babylonians deliberately deported skilled workers to weaken the military capacity of the provinces.

Key Terms

The word דּוּדָאֵי (duda'e, "baskets") describes the containers in which the fruit was presented—likely woven from reeds or palm leaves, typically used to carry fruit to the temple. תְּאֵנֵי הַבַּכֻּרוֹת (te'ene habbikkurot, "early figs") refers to the first ripening of figs in June, which was especially valued for its sweetness and quality. These first-ripe figs also had cultic significance as offerings.

The expression לֵב לָדַעַת (lev lada'at, "a heart to know") in verse 7 expresses the Hebrew understanding of the heart as the seat of will and insight—to "know" God involves both intellectual recognition and relational faithfulness.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Verse 9 contains a textual variant: the ketiv (the written text) has לזועה while the qere (the read text) has לְזַעֲוָה—both mean "to horror/dread." The vision with the two baskets forms a clear structural pattern: good figs = the exiles = blessing (vv. 5-7); bad figs = those remaining and those in Egypt = judgment (vv. 8-10).

People5

Jehoiakim (son of Josiah)1 Nebuchadnezzar1 Jeremiah1 Zedekiah (son of Kenaanah, prophet under Ahab)1 Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim)1

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Key words7

Fig — Fruit from the fig tree, used as a symbol in Jeremiah chapter 24 to represent different groups of God's people Israel.
Good figs — In Jeremiah chapter 24, the good figs symbolize those Israelites who are regarded as righteous and faithful toward God.
Bad figs — In Jeremiah chapter 24, the bad figs symbolize those Israelites who are not faithful to God and have turned away from His ways.
Jerusalem — The capital city of ancient Israel and Judah, a central place for worship and political power.
Babylon — An ancient city and empire in Mesopotamia, known for its power and influence. In Jeremiah chapter 24, Babylon refers to the place where many Israelites were taken into exile.
Exile — The condition of being forced to leave one's homeland, often as punishment or because of war. In Jeremiah chapter 24, the exile represents a consequence of God's people Israel's disobedience toward Him.
Restoration — The process of restoring something to its original state. In Jeremiah chapter 24, restoration is a promise that God will restore His people after the exile.