Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
JEREMIAH 24:3KJVWhat does Jeremiah 24:3 mean?
Jeremiah 24:3 describes God asking Jeremiah what he sees, and Jeremiah replying that he sees two types of figs: some are very good, and others are so bad that they cannot be eaten. The verse sets up a vision where the quality of the figs represents two distinct groups or outcomes.
In this scene, God is speaking directly to Jeremiah, using a vision to communicate a message. The figs are not just literal fruit but symbols that God will later explain. Jeremiah’s response highlights the extreme difference between the two groups—one is described as "very good" and the other as "very evil," emphasizing a sharp contrast that is important for understanding the rest of the chapter.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 24:3
- LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God, used here to show that the message comes directly from Israel’s covenant God, not just a generic deity.
- good (טוֹב, tov) and evil (רַע, ra‘): These words are repeated and intensified in the verse ("very good" and "very evil"), stressing the complete difference between the two kinds of figs. The Hebrew makes clear that this is not a small or subtle distinction.
- eaten (אָכַל, akhal): Jeremiah says the bad figs are so evil that they cannot be eaten, underlining their total uselessness. In the context of ancient Israel, inedible fruit would be seen as completely rejected or cursed.
Why Jeremiah 24:3 matters
- The verse introduces a symbolic vision that God will use to explain His judgment and mercy toward different groups among the people of Judah.
- The strong contrast between the "very good" and "very evil" figs prepares the reader for a message about separation and differing destinies.
- Understanding the symbolism here helps make sense of the rest of Jeremiah 24, where God explains what each group of figs represents and what will happen to them.