Jeremiah 24:3

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 24:3 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah 24:3 stands at the center of a symbolic vision given to the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord shows him two baskets of figs placed before the temple. In the ancient Near East, figs were a common fruit and often used metaphorically for the nation of Israel. Here, the two baskets represent the people of Judah and their destiny. This vision came during a time of deep spiritual decline and moral corruption in Judah, when the people had turned to idolatry and wickedness. Jeremiah was called to proclaim warning, judgment, and hope.

Meaning

The Lord’s question, “What seest thou?” is not for His own information but serves as a teaching device. It prompts Jeremiah to describe what he sees so that the Lord can then interpret its meaning. Jeremiah answers that he sees figs—good figs that are “very good,” and evil figs that “cannot be eaten” and are “very evil.” The repetition of “very good” and “very evil” underscores the absolute and deliberate contrast, with no middle ground. The evil figs are so rotten that they are inedible, emphasizing their complete corruption and worthlessness.

The good figs represent the faithful remnant—those who, despite surrounding apostasy, remained true to God, sought righteousness, and trusted in His covenant. The evil figs represent the unfaithful and wicked, whose rebellion had rendered them detestable in the sight of the Lord. The vision conveys both judgment and hope: the good figs point to restoration and blessing even amid impending destruction, while the evil figs foretell punishment for persistent, unrepentant sin. The verse itself does not explain the identity of the figs; that explanation follows in Jeremiah 24:4-10.

Application

This passage invites self-examination. Are we striving to be like the good figs—pursuing righteousness and living in accordance with God’s will—or are we heading down the path of the evil figs, persisting in rebellion? The stark contrast reminds us that God sees and judges the intentions of our hearts. The question posed to Jeremiah also speaks to us: what do we see when we look at our own lives? The vision urges us to choose the path of righteousness, trusting that God discerns the righteous from the wicked and that our choices carry serious consequences.