I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about judgment; it reveals God's intent for these people to become a stark, unforgettable warning. Their future humiliation will serve as a living illustration for all nations of what happens when people reject God's ways, making their curse a potent, universally understood lesson.
I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah has just described two baskets of figs before the Lord: one good, representing the exiles in Babylon who will be restored, and one bad, representing those left in Jerusalem, including King Zedekiah. This verse pronounces judgment on that bad group, declaring they will be scattered throughout all nations, not for their good like the exiles, but as a lasting warning. Their future will be marked by becoming a byword and a curse, a consequence directly echoing the curses Moses pronounced for disobedience in Deuteronomy.
Ever notice how some phrases just stick with you? This verse echoes ancient warnings, showing God's judgment isn't random but rooted in His covenant.
Jeremiah isn't just speaking; he's channeling the voice of Moses from Deuteronomy. The language here—'a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse'—is pulled directly from the curses Moses laid out for disobedience.
A Covenantal Warning
God's relationship with Israel was a covenant. When they obeyed, blessings followed. When they disobeyed, specific curses were promised. Jeremiah is reminding them that their current disaster isn't a surprise; it's the direct, foreseen consequence of breaking their promises to God. They've chosen rebellion, and now they're receiving the promised result.
God promises discipline can lead to good, but what happens when discipline is purely for judgment? This verse reveals a stark difference.
The vision in Jeremiah 24 contrasts two groups of exiles: the good figs (those already taken to Babylon, like King Jehoiachin) and the bad figs (those remaining in Jerusalem, representing King Zedekiah and his rebellious court).
Judgment Without Redemption
While the captivity of the 'good figs' was intended for their ultimate good—to humble them, purify them, and lead them back to God—the scattering of the 'bad figs' described here is explicitly 'for their hurt.' This isn't disciplinary; it's judicial. Their dispersion throughout the nations won't be a path to repentance and return, but a mark of their final rejection and a demonstration of God's severe judgment.
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Imagine your name becoming a punchline, a warning sign for disaster. That's the fate God declares for these disobedient people.
The repetition of terms like 'reproach,' 'byword,' 'taunt,' and 'curse' emphasizes the complete and utter shame that will befall the bad figs. They won't just be punished; they will become living examples of God's judgment.
The Ultimate Example
When ancient people wanted to describe extreme misfortune or divine displeasure, they would point to the Jews. Their very existence scattered among the nations would serve as a constant, unavoidable illustration of what happens when a people turns its back on God. It’s a terrifying prospect: to be a symbol, not of God’s grace, but of His righteous wrath against persistent sin.
Understand the original words
zeva'ah · Hebrew Noun
A term used for divine judgment where the people become an object of public shame and warning to others, demonstrating the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.
This verse echoes the curses found in Deuteronomy, a powerful reminder that God's judgment, though severe, is a consequence of the people's continued disobedience and rebellion. The scattering and reproach are not random acts but the direct outcome of their choices, serving as a stark warning across generations.
c. 597 BC— this verse
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and many of Judah's elite, including skilled craftsmen, to Babylon. This marks a significant blow to the kingdom.
c. 597-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Despite the earlier deportation, Zedekiah, appointed king by Nebuchadnezzar, rebels. This leads to a prolonged siege of Jerusalem and its eventual destruction.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies raze Jerusalem and destroy the Temple of Solomon. Most of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
586 BC onwards
Scattering of the Exiles
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, the remaining Jewish population is dispersed. Some flee to Egypt, while others are scattered across the Babylonian empire and beyond.
c. 586 BC onwards
Reproach and Taunt among Nations
The scattered Jewish people become a byword, a proverb, and a curse in the lands where they are driven, fulfilling the prophetic warnings of Deuteronomy.
AD 70
Roman Destruction of Jerusalem
Centuries later, the Roman Empire destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple. The Jewish people are again scattered, and the curse described in Jeremiah 24:9 finds a further, devastating fulfillment.
This passage directly echoes Jeremiah's words, highlighting the consequence of disobedience: becoming a proverb, a byword, and a curse among all nations.
Jeremiah 15:4Similar to Jeremiah 24:9, this verse also describes the people being given over to nations and becoming a reproach and a destruction, underscoring a consistent theme of divine judgment for their actions.
Psalm 44:13-14This psalm powerfully illustrates the reality of being a reproach and a mockery to surrounding nations, mirroring the fate described for the disobedient in Jeremiah.
Lamentations 2:15-16This passage describes the enemies of Jerusalem rejoicing and mocking their fallen state, a vivid picture of the 'reproach' and 'taunt' that Jeremiah prophesied.
gillJeremiah 24:9: "And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them."
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt,.... Jeconiah and the captives with him were only carried into Babylon; but these should be scattered one from another into the several parts of the world. The former were carried captive for their good, and it…
calvinJeremiah 24:9: "And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them."
- Et ponam eos in commotionem (vel, strepitum, vel, perturbationem, alii concussionem vertunt) in malum omnibus regnis terrae, in probrum, et parabolam, et proverbium, et execrationem in omnibus locis quo ejecero ipsos (vel, expulero.)
Here the Prophet borrows his words from Moses, in order to s…
This verse isn't just about judgment; it reveals God's intent for these people to become a stark, unforgettable warning. Their future humiliation will serve as a living illustration for all nations of what happens when people reject God's ways, making their curse a potent, universally understood lesson.
Jeremiah has just described two baskets of figs before the Lord: one good, representing the exiles in Babylon who will be restored, and one bad, representing those left in Jerusalem, including King Zedekiah. This verse pronounces judgment on that bad group, declaring they will be scattered throughout all nations, not for their good like the exiles, but as a lasting warning. Their future will be marked by becoming a byword and a curse, a consequence directly echoing the curses Moses pronounced for disobedience in Deuteronomy.
Jeremiah has just described two baskets of figs before the Lord: one good, representing the exiles in Babylon who will be restored, and one bad, representing those left in Jerusalem, including King Zedekiah. This verse pronounces judgment on that bad group, declaring they will be scattered throughout all nations, not for their good like the exiles, but as a lasting warning. Their future will be marked by becoming a byword and a curse, a consequence directly echoing the curses Moses pronounced for disobedience in Deuteronomy.
"I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them." — This verse isn't just about judgment; it reveals God's intent for these people to become a stark, unforgettable warning. Their future humiliation will serve as a living illustration for all nations o…
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Last reviewed October 2026