The figs are placed "before the temple of the LORD," a significant detail. This suggests they aren't just ordinary fruit but are presented as a sacred offering, like firstfruits, implying that God Himself is the one examining and judging the condition of His people.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, King Jeconiah and many skilled workers were taken captive to Babylon. Now, the Lord gives Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs placed before the temple. One basket contains good figs, while the other holds rotten ones, setting the stage for God's judgment on those who remained in Jerusalem versus those who were exiled.
Why would God show Jeremiah a vision of figs? And why 'before the temple'?
Jeremiah sees two baskets of figs placed before the Lord's temple. This isn't just a random image; it's a deliberate setup.
A Divine Offering
Scholars note that this imagery likely alludes to the law of firstfruits, where the best of the harvest was presented to the Lord at the temple as an offering of thanksgiving and trust (Deuteronomy 26:2). These figs, though seemingly ordinary, are consecrated, brought into God's presence.
A Visual Tribunal
Placing them 'before the temple' also signifies that the whole situation is under God's gaze. It's as if the people of Judah, represented by these figs, are brought to God's divine tribunal for judgment and assessment. The prophet isn't just observing; he's witnessing God's perspective on His people.
The first exile has happened. Who is 'good' and who is 'bad'?
The timing of this vision is crucial. It occurs after King Jeconiah and many skilled workers (carpenters, metal workers) have been exiled to Babylon. This exile is presented as the first 'basket' of figs.
The Bitter Sweetness of Exile
While exile seems like a terrible fate – the king deposed, the skilled artisans removed – the text hints that this group, paradoxically, represents the 'good' figs. They experienced God's judgment, but it was a more moderate, perhaps corrective, discipline. Their removal, though harsh, might have been a form of preservation from even worse judgment.
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The Illusion of Safety
Conversely, those who remained in Jerusalem, including King Zedekiah who would later be taken captive, are implicitly linked to the 'bad' figs. They might have felt safer, thinking God favored them by leaving them in the land. However, their continued rebellion meant they were accumulating more severe judgment.
Understand the original words
Nebukadne'tstsar · Hebrew Proper Noun
A historical figure of great power, representing the instrument of God’s judgment upon Judah and the surrounding nations in the 6th century BC. He is frequently portrayed in the prophetic books as an agent authorized by God to bring discipline to His covenant people.
galah · Hebrew Noun
The forced removal of people from their homeland, often serving as divine judgment for covenant disobedience. In a theological sense, it signifies a state of being separated from the blessings of the land, yet it also serves as a context where God continues to reveal His purposes and preserves a remnant.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the Creator, the I AM, who reveals Himself to His people. It signifies His unchanging faithfulness, holiness, and personal involvement in history and redemption.
mar'ah · Hebrew Noun
A supernatural revelation or mode of communication by which God makes His truth or future purposes known to the prophet. It is a divine bridge between the heavenly realm and human understanding.
hekal · Hebrew Noun
The dwelling place of God’s presence on earth, symbolizing holiness, sacrifice, and the centrality of worship. It is the designated location where God meets with His people to receive offerings and provide atonement.
This vision occurs shortly after a significant deportation of Judah's leadership and skilled workers, setting up a stark contrast between those already in exile and those who remained in Jerusalem.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins his campaigns against Judah, deporting some of the royal family and educated elite.
c. 598/597 BC— this verse
Jeconiah's Deportation to Babylon
King Jeconiah, along with many officials and skilled workers (craftsmen and metal workers), is exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 597 BC
Zedekiah Appointed King
Nebuchadnezzar installs Zedekiah, Jeconiah's uncle, as the new king of Judah, marking the beginning of his reign.
c. 589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, a turning point that would lead to the city's eventual destruction.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem is conquered, the Temple is destroyed, and a larger portion of the population, including Zedekiah, is exiled to Babylon.
This passage also uses the vivid imagery of figs in baskets to convey a message from the Lord, highlighting a similar prophetic technique of using everyday objects to symbolize divine judgment and the state of the people.
Jeremiah 22:24This verse describes Jeconiah's exile, directly connecting to the historical context provided in Jeremiah 24:1, and foreshadowing his lineage's future.
2 Kings 24:14-16This passage details the specific deportation of craftsmen and artisans to Babylon, corroborating the historical event mentioned in Jeremiah 24:1 and explaining the strategic importance of taking these skilled individuals.
Deuteronomy 26:2The placement of the figs before the temple alludes to the law of firstfruits, suggesting that these groups of people, like the firstfruits, were presented before the Lord for His judgment and assessment.
Jeremiah 29:1This verse also addresses the exiles taken by Nebuchadnezzar, providing further context for the overall message of God's dealings with His people both in exile and those left behind in Jerusalem.
barnesJeremiah 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."
Omit "were." "Set before," i. e put in the appointed place for offerings of firstfruits in the forecourt of the temple. Carpenters - "Craftsmen" (see the marginal referen…
calvinJeremiah 24:1-2: "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."
- 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 Jecon…
The figs are placed "before the temple of the LORD," a significant detail. This suggests they aren't just ordinary fruit but are presented as a sacred offering, like firstfruits, implying that God Himself is the one examining and judging the condition of His people.
Just before this, King Jeconiah and many skilled workers were taken captive to Babylon. Now, the Lord gives Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs placed before the temple. One basket contains good figs, while the other holds rotten ones, setting the stage for God's judgment on those who remained in Jerusalem versus those who were exiled.
Just before this, King Jeconiah and many skilled workers were taken captive to Babylon. Now, the Lord gives Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs placed before the temple. One basket contains good figs, while the other holds rotten ones, setting the stage for God's judgment on those who remained in Jerusalem versus those who were exiled.
"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 sh…" — The figs are placed "before the temple of the LORD," a significant detail. This suggests they aren't just ordinary fruit but are presented as a sacred offering, like firstfruits, implying that God Hi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
