Jeremiah 24:9-10
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God declares He will make these disobedient people "a horror," not just a mere example of judgment. This word suggests they will be a source of profound disturbance and dread to all nations, serving as a terrifying testament to divine wrath. Their fate is to become so universally known for their downfall that their name itself will be invoked in curses and bywords.
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. And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes the terrible fate awaiting the "bad figs"—those who remained in Jerusalem and rebelled against God, specifically King Zedekiah and his officials. Unlike the "good figs" taken captive to Babylon, who God promised to return, these individuals will be scattered far and wide, not for their correction but for their utter destruction and shame. The language echoes Moses' curses in Deuteronomy, emphasizing that their exile will make them a living example of God's judgment for all nations to see and mock.
Why does Jeremiah sound so much like Moses in this verse? It wasn't accidental.
Jeremiah doesn't just predict judgment; he uses language that Moses used centuries earlier.
Echoing the Law
When Jeremiah declared that the people would become "a horror... to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse," he was directly quoting and applying the curses laid out in Deuteronomy 28. Moses had warned Israel that disobedience would lead to such extreme national humiliation.
Undeniable Authority
Jeremiah, like many prophets, borrowed Moses' powerful words to lend undeniable authority to his message. The people revered Moses and the Law. By using this familiar language, Jeremiah underscored that the coming judgment wasn't a new threat, but the direct, foreseen consequence of their rebellion, a consequence they had repeatedly ignored.
God scattered His people before, but this time, the exile was different. Why?
Jeremiah 24:9 distinguishes between two groups of exiles, highlighting a crucial difference in their experience and God's purpose.
The Good Figs vs. The Bad Figs
In the vision of Jeremiah 24, the good figs represent the exiles already in Babylon (like King Jehoiachin). Their captivity, though difficult, was ultimately – a severe but redemptive discipline.
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The Bad Figs' Fate
However, the "bad figs" – those who remained in Jerusalem, including King Zedekiah and his court – were destined for a different kind of scattering. Jeremiah declares God would remove them 'for their hurt.' Unlike the first group, this scattering was not intended for eventual restoration and healing, but to become "a horror... a reproach... a taunt, and a curse." Their exile served as a stark, public testament to the consequences of persistent rebellion, a warning etched into the history of nations.
Being a 'proverb' or 'taunt' sounds harsh. What did that look like for God's people?
The language used to describe the exiles' fate paints a picture of extreme public shame and divine judgment.
More Than Just a Saying
The terms 'reproach,' 'byword,' 'taunt,' and 'curse' aren't just about being disliked. They signify a state of utter degradation and notoriety.
A Living Warning
For the exiled Jews, their existence in foreign lands would serve as a constant, visible reminder to all nations of what happens when a people reject God's covenant. Their misery was to be a cautionary tale, a stark illustration that God's judgment is real and His warnings are not to be ignored. Their scattered lives became a living sermon, proclaiming the severity of sin and the faithfulness of God's justice.
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.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
Divine judgment characterized by extreme physical, social, or spiritual deprivation, often serving as a wake-up call to repentance or a final punishment for persistent rebellion against God.
ra'av · Hebrew Noun
A condition of severe scarcity of food, often sent as a consequence of sin and covenant breaking, highlighting human dependence on God for sustenance and life.
deber · Hebrew Noun
A widespread, deadly disease or plague; in the Old Testament, it is frequently cited as a tool of divine judgment against disobedience, underscoring God's sovereignty over life and health.
This verse directly echoes the curses found in Deuteronomy, powerfully reminding the people that their current, future suffering as scattered exiles is not random but a divinely ordained consequence of their disobedience, fulfilling ancient warnings.
c. 597 BC— this verse
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many skilled workers from Jerusalem to Babylon, marking a significant turning point in Judah's relationship with Babylon.
c. 597-587 BC
Reign of Zedekiah
Zedekiah, appointed king by Nebuchadnezzar, reigns in Judah, but leads the people in further rebellion and ultimately apostasy.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and deports the remaining population (except the poorest) to Babylon, fulfilling the dire prophecies.
c. 586 BC onwards
Scattered Among Nations
Those remaining in the land, or who fled to Egypt after Jerusalem's fall, faced further hardship and scattering, fulfilling the broader curse. This sets the stage for the prophetic pronouncements.
c. 586 BC onwards
Exilic and Post-Exilic Period
The Jewish people live in exile in Babylon and other regions, experiencing the shame and reproach foretold in scripture, becoming objects of scorn.
This passage directly echoes Jeremiah 24:9, showing how the curses Moses prophesied for disobedience are now being fulfilled. It describes the people becoming a reproach, proverb, and byword, painting a vivid picture of their future shame.
Jeremiah 29:18This verse speaks of scattering the remaining people into all nations, making them a curse and an object of horror, similar to the fate described for the bad figs. It highlights the widespread and devastating nature of the judgment.
Psalm 44:14This psalm laments a similar national disgrace, where the people became a byword among the nations. It connects Jeremiah's prophecy to a broader theme of God's people suffering shame and ridicule due to their actions.
Lamentations 1:1-4The Book of Lamentations vividly describes the desolation and suffering of Jerusalem after its fall, showing the people as objects of scorn and sorrow. It provides an emotional backdrop to the 'horror' and 'reproach' mentioned in Jeremiah.
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…
God declares He will make these disobedient people "a horror," not just a mere example of judgment. This word suggests they will be a source of profound disturbance and dread to all nations, serving as a terrifying testament to divine wrath. Their fate is to become so universally known for their downfall that their name itself will be invoked in curses and bywords.
This verse describes the terrible fate awaiting the "bad figs"—those who remained in Jerusalem and rebelled against God, specifically King Zedekiah and his officials. Unlike the "good figs" taken captive to Babylon, who God promised to return, these individuals will be scattered far and wide, not for their correction but for their utter destruction and shame. The language echoes Moses' curses in Deuteronomy, emphasizing that their exile will make them a living example of God's judgment for all nations to see and mock.
This verse describes the terrible fate awaiting the "bad figs"—those who remained in Jerusalem and rebelled against God, specifically King Zedekiah and his officials. Unlike the "good figs" taken captive to Babylon, who God promised to return, these individuals will be scattered far and wide, not for their correction but for their utter destruction and shame. The language echoes Moses' curses in Deuteronomy, emphasizing that their exile will make them a living example of God's judgment for all nations to see and mock.
"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. And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly d…" — God declares He will make these disobedient people "a horror," not just a mere example of judgment. This word suggests they will be a source of profound disturbance and dread to all nations, serving…
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Last reviewed October 2026
