One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "first-ripe figs" weren't just good; they represented the choice pick of the harvest, a delicacy gathered early, implying a blessing even within their hardship. This subtly highlights that God's judgment, while severe for some, also brought a discerning grace to others, separating them as something precious even in exile.
One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just after King Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin, was exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah received a vision of two baskets of figs set before the Temple of the Lord. One basket contained excellent, early-ripened figs, symbolizing hope and favor, while the other held spoiled figs, too rotten to eat, representing those left behind in Jerusalem. This stark contrast highlights the differing destinies God ordained for the exiles versus those who remained in the ravaged land.
Jeremiah sees two baskets of figs. One is a prize, the other is trash. What does this vivid contrast reveal about God's perspective on people?
The vision in Jeremiah 24 starts with a powerful visual: two baskets of figs set before the Lord's temple. One basket holds 'very good figs, like first-ripe figs.' These are the choice, early harvest figs, a true delicacy. The other basket is filled with 'very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten.'
This isn't just about fruit; it's a spiritual snapshot. The 'good figs' represent the exiles taken to Babylon, including King Jeconiah. They were suffering, yes, but their hardship was a form of God's discipline, leading them toward repentance and a future restoration. They were like the early figs – a choice, though chastened, crop.
The 'bad figs,' however, represent those left behind in Judah, particularly King Zedekiah and his court. They continued in their rebellion and wickedness, ignoring God's warnings. Their condition was not one of discipline but of decay; they were so thoroughly corrupted that they were utterly rejected, fit only for destruction.
Why would God allow one group to suffer exile while another remains in their homeland, seemingly more secure? The figs reveal God's unique purpose for each group.
The vision isn't just about labeling people as 'good' or 'bad.' It's about God's active purpose in their lives, especially through hardship.
The Good Figs (The Exiles)
The 'good figs' – those taken captive to Babylon – were not inherently righteous. They were suffering the consequences of sin. However, their captivity was intended by God as a corrective measure. This discipline was meant to humble them, turn them from their idolatry, and ultimately lead them back to Him with a whole heart. Their suffering was remedial, a difficult path toward healing and future restoration. They were 'good' in the sense that God's corrective hand was upon them, leading to a better outcome.
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The Bad Figs (Those Remaining)
The 'bad figs' – those who stayed in Jerusalem – were not spared judgment; they were accumulating it. Their continued wickedness, their refusal to repent despite the devastation around them, meant that God's impending judgment would be far more severe and final. They were like rotten fruit, beyond saving, destined for utter destruction because they rejected God's mercy and continued in their sin. Their prosperity was deceptive, masking a terminal decay.
This shows us that God's actions aren't always measured by immediate comfort but by ultimate restoration and righteousness.
This vision highlights the stark contrast between the exiled Jehoiachin and his companions, represented by good figs, and the unrepentant people remaining in Jerusalem, symbolized by rotten figs, emphasizing that outward circumstances don't always reflect God's favor.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Judahites to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon initiates his campaigns against Judah, carrying away some of the nobility, including young men like Daniel, and artisans.
598/597 BC— this verse
Deportation of King Jehoiachin and Artisans
After a brief reign, King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite, including skilled craftsmen, are exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 597-586 BC
Continued Division and Unrest in Judah
Zedekiah, appointed king by Nebuchadnezzar, rules in Judah. Tensions rise as factions within Jerusalem disregard Jeremiah's warnings and look to Egypt for support.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its temple, exiling the remaining population, except for a few vinedressers and farmers, to Babylon.
This passage parallels Jeremiah's vision by speaking of a 'tender shoot' taken from the highest branch of the cedar, symbolizing a remnant of the exiles, offering hope amidst judgment, much like the good figs represented the exiles taken to Babylon.
Luke 6:43-45Jesus uses a similar metaphor of fruit to describe character: 'For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor does an evil tree bear good fruit.' This highlights that the quality of the fruit (figs) directly reflects the inner nature of the tree (people).
Matthew 7:16-20Jesus teaches that people will be known by their fruits, emphasizing that true character will be revealed by outward actions. This resonates with Jeremiah's vision where the figs' quality revealed the state of those they represented.
Galatians 6:7-8Paul's teaching on sowing and reaping connects directly to the idea that actions have consequences. Those who sow to the flesh reap corruption (bad figs), while those who sow to the Spirit reap eternal life (good figs).
barnesJeremiah 24:2: "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."
Fig-trees bear three crops of figs, of which the first is regarded as a great delicacy.
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 "first-ripe figs" weren't just good; they represented the choice pick of the harvest, a delicacy gathered early, implying a blessing even within their hardship. This subtly highlights that God's judgment, while severe for some, also brought a discerning grace to others, separating them as something precious even in exile.
Just after King Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin, was exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah received a vision of two baskets of figs set before the Temple of the Lord. One basket contained excellent, early-ripened figs, symbolizing hope and favor, while the other held spoiled figs, too rotten to eat, representing those left behind in Jerusalem. This stark contrast highlights the differing destinies God ordained for the exiles versus those who remained in the ravaged land.
Just after King Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin, was exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah received a vision of two baskets of figs set before the Temple of the Lord. One basket contained excellent, early-ripened figs, symbolizing hope and favor, while the other held spoiled figs, too rotten to eat, representing those left behind in Jerusalem. This stark contrast highlights the differing destinies God ordained for the exiles versus those who remained in the ravaged land.
"One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten." — The "first-ripe figs" weren't just good; they represented the choice pick of the harvest, a delicacy gathered early, implying a blessing even within their hardship. This subtly highlights that God'…
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Last reviewed October 2026