When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just describe a barren landscape; it shows that the very blessings God gave them, like the fruits of the land, would be taken away, highlighting a devastating reversal where divine gifts become fuel for divine judgment. The withered leaves and absent fruit aren't just bad luck; they symbolize the total absence of God's favor, the utter destruction of all that was meant to sustain them.
When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is describing the utter desolation that will come upon Judah. The people have rejected God's guidance, like a fruitful vine that suddenly becomes barren, yielding no grapes, no figs, and even its leaves are withered. God declares that all the blessings and provisions He gave them will be taken away, swept away by invading armies.
Imagine looking out at your most prized trees, expecting a bountiful harvest, only to find them completely bare. This isn't just a picture of a bad season; it's a divine declaration.
Jeremiah 8:13 paints a stark picture of God's judgment on Judah. The imagery of a vine with no grapes and a fig tree with no figs, not even a withered leaf, is powerful.
The Devastation of Judgment
This isn't a minor setback. It signifies a total absence of blessing and fruitfulness. In the ancient Near East, grapes and figs were staple foods and signs of prosperity. Their absence signals a land stripped bare by God's decree.
More Than Literal Loss
While this describes a literal famine and destruction that would come, it's also a spiritual metaphor. Judah, God's chosen vine (Isaiah 5:1-7), was failing to produce the fruit of righteousness. Their disobedience meant the blessings God had given them were now removed.
What happens when the very things God blesses you with are turned against you, or simply taken away? This verse reveals a painful reality of divine justice.
The final phrase, 'and what I gave them has passed away from them,' carries profound weight.
The Source of Blessings
God had generously given Judah many things: a fertile land, laws to guide them, His presence. These were not meager provisions but rich gifts meant for life and prosperity.
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The Consequence of Disobedience
However, their persistent rebellion and transgression meant these gifts would not endure. The scholarly discussion suggests two main interpretations for why these gifts 'passed away':
Both interpretations highlight a critical truth: God's gifts are tied to obedience. When people persistently disobey, those very blessings can be removed or even used to bring about their downfall.
This passage was delivered during the climactic period leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, when the land's fruitfulness, a sign of God's favor, had ceased due to their unfaithfulness.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Deportations
The Neo-Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III deports Israelites from northern regions of Israel, disrupting society and demonstrating the vulnerability of the kingdom.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, Samaria, falls to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its population and the end of the northern kingdom.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem, but ultimately failing to capture the city.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Judah and takes Jehoiakim captive, along with a group of elite citizens and artisans, initiating the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
After Jehoiakim's rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and another significant portion of the Judean population, including the prophet Ezekiel.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's armies destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the kingdom of Judah and exiling most of its remaining population to Babylon.
c. 586-539 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, experiencing profound loss and questioning their relationship with God, with prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel addressing their situation.
This passage uses a similar image of finding no fruit when God looks for it, comparing Israel to grapes in the wilderness and the first fruit on a fig tree, highlighting their spiritual barrenness.
Matthew 21:19Jesus curses a fig tree that had leaves but no fruit, mirroring the prophetic judgment where the expected fruit of righteousness is absent and the 'leaves' of outward appearance are also withering.
Luke 13:6-9The parable of the barren fig tree speaks directly to the theme of unfruitfulness and the patience of God before judgment, connecting the lack of fruit to impending destruction.
Isaiah 5:1-7This famous vineyard song describes God's diligent care for His people, who are like a vineyard, yet they produced only wild grapes, leading to judgment and desolation, a clear parallel to Jeremiah's imagery.
Micah 7:1Micah expresses a similar lament of spiritual barrenness, comparing himself to gleanings after the harvest, seeing no fruit or choice fruit, reflecting the same sense of scarcity and divine displeasure.
pulpitJeremiah 8:13: "I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them."
Verse 13 - Jeremiah 9:1. - Further description of the judgment; grief of Jeremiah. Verse 13. - There shall be no grapes, etc.; rather, there are no grapes... and the leaf is faded. It is the actual condition of things which the prophet describes. Elsewhere Judah is compared to a vin…
barnesJeremiah 8:13: "I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them."
Or, "I will gather and sweep them away, saith Jehovah: there are no grapes on the vine, and no figs on the fig-tree, and the leaf is dry: therefore will I appoint those that shall pass over them." Judah is a vine which bears no fruit: a tree which makes even no profession of life, fo…
This verse doesn't just describe a barren landscape; it shows that the very blessings God gave them, like the fruits of the land, would be taken away, highlighting a devastating reversal where divine gifts become fuel for divine judgment. The withered leaves and absent fruit aren't just bad luck; they symbolize the total absence of God's favor, the utter destruction of all that was meant to sustain them.
Jeremiah is describing the utter desolation that will come upon Judah. The people have rejected God's guidance, like a fruitful vine that suddenly becomes barren, yielding no grapes, no figs, and even its leaves are withered. God declares that all the blessings and provisions He gave them will be taken away, swept away by invading armies.
Jeremiah is describing the utter desolation that will come upon Judah. The people have rejected God's guidance, like a fruitful vine that suddenly becomes barren, yielding no grapes, no figs, and even its leaves are withered. God declares that all the blessings and provisions He gave them will be taken away, swept away by invading armies.
"When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.”" — This verse doesn't just describe a barren landscape; it shows that the very blessings God gave them, like the fruits of the land, would be taken away, highlighting a devastating reversal where divine…
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Last reviewed October 2026