Jeremiah 29:17
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This verse is a stark reminder that God’s judgment isn’t just about punishment, but also about utter worthlessness—the "vile figs" are so rotten they can’t even serve the basic purpose of figs, which is to be eaten. It highlights how sin ultimately renders us unfit for God’s intended use, making us objects of disgust rather than nourishment.
‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is addressing the Jewish exiles in Babylon, who are receiving false prophecies of a speedy return home. To counter this dangerous hope, God declares that He will bring severe judgment—sword, famine, and pestilence—upon those still in Jerusalem, likening them to rotten figs unfit to eat. This stands in stark contrast to the hope promised to the exiles themselves in later verses, highlighting the dire consequences of continued disobedience for those left behind.
God's justice isn't always immediate, but it is always sure. When sin takes root, destruction follows.
Jeremiah delivers a stark message from the Lord of Hosts, detailing the inevitable consequences of Judah's persistent disobedience. The 'sword, famine, and pestilence' aren't random disasters; they are divine instruments of judgment.
Instruments of Wrath
These three calamities form a brutal triad, demonstrating that God's judgment is comprehensive, impacting every aspect of life when His people turn away from Him.
Sometimes, our spiritual condition becomes so corrupted that we are utterly unusable, even an object of disgust.
The imagery of 'vile figs' is incredibly potent. It doesn't just mean bad figs; the Hebrew word carries a sense of something that causes one to shudder or recoil in disgust. This picture directly recalls Jeremiah 24, where two baskets of figs were shown to the prophet: one good, one bad.
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The Rottenness of Judah
This metaphor highlights a state of spiritual decay so profound that it renders a person or a people completely repugnant and beyond redemption in their current state.
Understand the original words
Yahweh Sabaoth · Hebrew Noun
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty over all creation, including the heavenly hosts (angels) and earthly powers. It denotes His supreme authority to execute judgment and salvation.
chereb, ra'ab, deber · Hebrew Noun
Commonly referred to in scripture as the 'three judgments' of God. Together they represent total divine intervention and the breakdown of society, agriculture, and life as punishment for persistent rebellion.
shemamah · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A state of being despised or held in low regard, often reflecting the loss of divine favor. It suggests a condition of worthlessness or moral corruption in the sight of God.
This prophecy is delivered during the Babylonian exile, specifically to those already deported. It contrasts their relative 'safety' with the impending doom of those still in Jerusalem, highlighting the complete destruction and judgment awaiting the city and its leadership.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports members of the Judean elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon. Jeremiah's prophecy in chapter 29 is addressed to these exiles.
c. 589-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem. The city endures a prolonged and devastating siege, leading to widespread famine and suffering.
c. 587 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy the city and the Temple, and carry off the remaining population into exile, leaving the land devastated.
c. 587 BC
Third Deportation
A final wave of exiles, including many prominent figures, are deported to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem, leaving only a small remnant in Judah.
This passage directly parallels the imagery of the figs, contrasting the 'good' figs (exiles) with the 'bad' figs (those left in Jerusalem), which is a powerful visual for the judgment described in Jeremiah 29:17.
Ezekiel 5:12This verse describes a similar threefold judgment of sword, famine, and pestilence, emphasizing God's severe discipline on His people for their disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57This passage in Deuteronomy outlines the curses for disobedience, including famine and siege, which foreshadow the severe judgments God would bring upon Judah, as seen in Jeremiah 29:17.
Lamentations 1:1-5The book of Lamentations poignantly describes the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, reflecting the reality of the sword, famine, and pestilence that befell the city and its people.
calvinJeremiah 29:15-17: "Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;"
Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
Ideo sic dicit Jehova regi sedenti super solium Davidis et toti populo sedenti in hac urbe (hoc est, habitanti, nam yvsv hic diversis modis accipitur,) fratribus vestris, qui non egressi sunt vobisc…
pooleJeremiah 29:17: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This verse is a stark reminder that God’s judgment isn’t just about punishment, but also about utter worthlessness—the "vile figs" are so rotten they can’t even serve the basic purpose of figs, which is to be eaten. It highlights how sin ultimately renders us unfit for God’s intended use, making us objects of disgust rather than nourishment.
Jeremiah is addressing the Jewish exiles in Babylon, who are receiving false prophecies of a speedy return home. To counter this dangerous hope, God declares that He will bring severe judgment—sword, famine, and pestilence—upon those still in Jerusalem, likening them to rotten figs unfit to eat. This stands in stark contrast to the hope promised to the exiles themselves in later verses, highlighting the dire consequences of continued disobedience for those left behind.
Jeremiah is addressing the Jewish exiles in Babylon, who are receiving false prophecies of a speedy return home. To counter this dangerous hope, God declares that He will bring severe judgment—sword, famine, and pestilence—upon those still in Jerusalem, likening them to rotten figs unfit to eat. This stands in stark contrast to the hope promised to the exiles themselves in later verses, highlighting the dire consequences of continued disobedience for those left behind.
"‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten." — This verse is a stark reminder that God’s judgment isn’t just about punishment, but also about utter worthlessness—the "vile figs" are so rotten they can’t even serve the basic purpose of figs, which…
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Last reviewed October 2026
