King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 24:1 Mean?

Jeremiah 24:1 in the King James Version says “The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar k... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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 · KJV


Context

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.

2

One 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. they: Heb. for badness

3

Then 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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD—this vision came after Nebuchadnezzar had deported King Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin) and Judah's leadership in 597 BC. The Hebrew ra'ah (רָאָה, to see/show) indicates divine revelation, not ordinary sight. Figs (te'enim, תְּאֵנִים) were a covenant blessing symbol (Deuteronomy 8:8), making their condition in this vision particularly significant.

After that Nebuchadrezzar... had carried away captive Jeconiah—the historical marker identifies this vision's precise context: the first deportation (2 Kings 24:10-16). The exiles included the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths—Babylon's strategic removal of leadership and skilled workers left Jerusalem weakened. This deportation preceded Jerusalem's final destruction by eleven years, creating two distinct groups: those already in exile and those remaining in Jerusalem. The vision of two fig baskets represents these two communities and reveals God's unexpected verdict on which group represented hope for the future.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This vision occurred around 597 BC, shortly after Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and deported King Jehoiachin after only three months of reign. The Babylonians took approximately 10,000 captives, including the royal family, nobles, warriors, craftsmen, and smiths (2 Kings 24:14-16). Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, was installed as a puppet king over the depleted population remaining in Jerusalem. Those left in Jerusalem considered themselves the righteous remnant, blessed to remain in the land while the exiles suffered divine punishment. Ezekiel encountered this arrogant attitude among Jerusalem's residents (Ezekiel 11:15). Jeremiah's vision radically reversed this assumption, declaring the exiles to be God's "good figs" destined for restoration, while those in Jerusalem were "bad figs" facing destruction.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's identification of the exiles as "good figs" challenge human assumptions about who represents God's faithful remnant?
  2. What does the setting "before the temple" reveal about where God reveals His purposes, even when the temple itself would soon be destroyed?
  3. In what ways might experiencing judgment and exile actually position people for greater blessing than those who avoid immediate consequences?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
הִרְאַנִי֮1 of 31

shewed

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

יְהוָ֑ה2 of 31

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְהִנֵּ֗ה3 of 31
H2009

lo!

שְׁנֵי֙4 of 31

me and behold two

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

דּוּדָאֵ֣י5 of 31

baskets

H1736

a boiler or basket; also the mandrake (as an aphrodisiac)

תְאֵנִ֔ים6 of 31

of figs

H8384

the fig (tree or fruit)

מוּעָדִ֕ים7 of 31

were set

H3259

to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial), to direct (in a certain quarter or positi

לִפְנֵ֖י8 of 31

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הֵיכַ֣ל9 of 31

the temple

H1964

a large public building, such as a palace or temple

יְהוָ֑ה10 of 31

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אַחֲרֵ֣י11 of 31

after

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

הַגְל֣וֹת12 of 31

had carried away captive

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר13 of 31

that Nebuchadrezzar

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ14 of 31

king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶֽל׃15 of 31

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

אֶת16 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְכָנְיָ֣הוּ17 of 31

Jeconiah

H3204

jekonjah, a jewish king

בֶן18 of 31

the son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים19 of 31

of Jehoiakim

H3079

jehojakim, a jewish king

מֶֽלֶךְ20 of 31

king

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֜ה21 of 31

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וְאֶת22 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שָׂרֵ֨י23 of 31

and the princes

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

יְהוּדָ֜ה24 of 31

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וְאֶת25 of 31
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

הֶחָרָ֤שׁ26 of 31

with the carpenters

H2796

a fabricator or any material

וְאֶת27 of 31
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

הַמַּסְגֵּר֙28 of 31

and smiths

H4525

a fastener, i.e., (of a person) a smith, (of a thing) a prison

מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם29 of 31

from Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וַיְבִאֵ֖ם30 of 31

and had brought

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בָּבֶֽל׃31 of 31

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 24:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 24:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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