King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 24:3 Mean?

Jeremiah 24:3 in the King James Version says “Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very ev...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Jeremiah 24:3 · 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.

4

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

5

Thus 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. them: Heb. the captivity

Read Jeremiah 24 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah?—God's question engages the prophet in interpretation, a pedagogical method seen throughout Scripture (Amos 7:8, 8:2; Zechariah 4:2, 5:2). The question tests understanding and prepares Jeremiah to explain the vision. God doesn't merely show visions but ensures prophets comprehend their meaning before proclaiming them.

And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil—Jeremiah's response mirrors the vision's stark contrast. His threefold emphasis on the bad figs' condition ("evil, very evil... cannot be eaten, they are so evil") underscores their absolute worthlessness. The Hebrew ra' (רַע, evil/bad) appears three times, creating rhetorical intensity. This repetition prepares for the devastating application in verses 8-10: the "bad figs" represent King Zedekiah, Jerusalem's officials, and those who remained in Judah or fled to Egypt—all facing destruction. The vision's simplicity makes its message unmistakable: God has rendered final judgment on these two groups.

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Historical & Cultural Context

When Jeremiah received this vision, Jerusalem still stood, the temple still functioned, and Zedekiah still reigned—all appearances suggested God's continued favor on those in the land. The exiles in Babylon seemed cursed, living among pagans, unable to offer temple sacrifices, separated from the land God promised Abraham. Yet God's verdict reversed these assumptions completely. The explanation in verses 5-7 reveals that God would set His eyes on the exiles "for good," return them to the land, build them, plant them, and give them hearts to know Him. Meanwhile, those in Jerusalem would become "a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse" (v. 9), destroyed by sword, famine, and pestilence. History vindicated this prophecy: Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, and the Babylonian exiles returned under Cyrus's decree in 538 BC to rebuild.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's question to Jeremiah teach about how He prepares His servants to deliver difficult messages?
  2. How should the stark "good/evil" binary in this vision inform our understanding of covenant faithfulness versus unfaithfulness?
  3. In what ways might religious people today resemble the "bad figs"—externally positioned in God's community but internally corrupt?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וָאֹמַ֖ר1 of 20

“And I said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֜ה2 of 20

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֵלַ֗י3 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מָֽה4 of 20
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אַתָּ֤ה5 of 20
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

רֹאֶה֙6 of 20

“unto me What seest”

H7200

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

יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ7 of 20

“thou Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

וָאֹמַ֖ר8 of 20

“And I said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הַתְּאֵנִ֤ים9 of 20

“Figs”

H8384

the fig (tree or fruit)

הַתְּאֵנִ֤ים10 of 20

“Figs”

H8384

the fig (tree or fruit)

טֹב֣וֹת11 of 20

“good”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

טֹב֣וֹת12 of 20

“good”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

מְאֹ֔ד13 of 20

“very”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

רָע֣וֹת14 of 20

“and the evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

רָע֣וֹת15 of 20

“and the evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

מְאֹ֔ד16 of 20

“very”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

אֲשֶׁ֥ר17 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹא18 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֵאָכַ֖לְנָה19 of 20

“that cannot be eaten”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

מֵרֹֽעַ׃20 of 20

“they are so evil”

H7455

badness (as marring), physically or morally

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 24:3 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 24:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 8:2Zechariah 5:5-11Matthew 25:32-33Zechariah 4:2Jeremiah 1:11-14Amos 7:8

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