Jeremiah 24:8
New International Version
“’But like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.

New Living Translation
“But the bad figs,” the LORD said, “represent King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, all the people left in Jerusalem, and those who live in Egypt. I will treat them like bad figs, too rotten to eat.

English Standard Version
“But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible
But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.

King James Bible
And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

New King James Version
‘And as the bad figs which cannot be eaten, they are so bad’—surely thus says the LORD—‘so will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, his princes, the residue of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.

New American Standard Bible
‘But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness,’ indeed, this is what the LORD says, ‘so will I give up Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and the ones who live in the land of Egypt.

NASB 1995
‘But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness— indeed, thus says the LORD— so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt.

NASB 1977
‘But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness—indeed, thus says the LORD—so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘But like the rotten figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness—indeed, thus says Yahweh—so I will give over Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who inhabit the land of Egypt.

Amplified Bible
‘And as for the bad figs, which are so rotten that they cannot be eaten,’ surely thus says the LORD, ‘so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and those who live in the land of Egypt.

Christian Standard Bible
“But as for the bad figs, so bad they are inedible, this is what the LORD says: In this way I will deal with King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land or living in the land of Egypt.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“But as for the bad figs, so bad they are inedible, this is what the LORD says: in this way I will deal with king Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.

American Standard Version
And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad, surely thus saith Jehovah, So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

Contemporary English Version
The rotten figs stand for King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and all the others who were not taken away to Babylonia, whether they stayed here in Judah or went to live in Egypt.

English Revised Version
And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But this is what the LORD says about the bad figs that are so bad that they can't be eaten. The LORD says, 'Like these bad figs, I will abandon King Zedekiah of Judah, his princes, the remaining few in Jerusalem who stayed behind in this land, and those who are living in Egypt.

Good News Translation
"As for King Zedekiah of Judah, the politicians around him, and the rest of the people of Jerusalem who have stayed in this land or moved to Egypt--I, the LORD, will treat them all like these figs that are too bad to be eaten.

International Standard Version
"'Like the bad figs that are too bad to be eaten—for this is what the LORD says—so I'll give up on Zedekiah king of Judah, along with his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem that is left in this land, and those living in the land of Egypt.

Majority Standard Bible
But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,? says the LORD, ?so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem?those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.

NET Bible
"I, the LORD, also solemnly assert: 'King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.

New Heart English Bible
As the bad figs, which can't be eaten, they are so bad, surely thus says the LORD, 'So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem, who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt,

Webster's Bible Translation
And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

World English Bible
“‘As the bad figs, which can’t be eaten, they are so bad,’ surely Yahweh says, ‘So I will give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And like the bad figs that are not eaten for badness, "" Surely thus said YHWH: So I make Zedekiah king of Judah, "" And his heads, and the remnant of Jerusalem, "" Who are left in this land, "" And who are dwelling in the land of Egypt,

Young's Literal Translation
And like the bad figs, that are not eaten for badness, Surely thus said Jehovah: So do I make Zedekiah king of Judah, And his heads, and the remnant of Jerusalem, Who are left in this land, And who are dwelling in the land of Egypt,

Smith's Literal Translation
And as the evil figs which shall not be eaten from being evil; for thus said Jehovah, So will I give Zedekiah king of Judah, and his chiefs, and the remainder of Jerusalem, those remaining in this land, and those dwelling in the land of Egypt:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as the very bad figs, that cannot be eaten, because they are bad: thus saith the Lord: So will I give Sedecias the king of Juda, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that have remained in this city, and that dwell in the land of Egypt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And just like the very bad figs, which cannot be eaten because they are so bad, thus says the Lord: so will I regard Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his leaders, and the rest of Jerusalem, those who have remained in this city, and those who are living in the land of Egypt.

New American Bible
But like the figs that are bad, so bad they cannot be eaten—yes, thus says the LORD—even so will I treat Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his princes, the remnant of Jerusalem remaining in this land and those who have settled in the land of Egypt.

New Revised Standard Version
But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who live in the land of Egypt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And like the bad figs which cannot be eaten because they are so bad; thus says the LORD, So will I deliver Zedekiah the king of Judah and his princes and the remnant of the people who are left in this city together with those who dwell in the land of Egypt;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And like bad figs that are not eaten for their badness, thus says LORD JEHOVAH, so I shall hand over Tsedeqiah King of Judea and his Princes and the rest of the people that are left in this city, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad; surely thus saith the LORD: So will I make Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, for their badness; thus saith the Lord, So will I deliver Sedekias king of Juda, and his nobles, and the remnant of Jerusalem, them that are left in this land, and the dwellers in Egypt.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Good and Bad Figs
7I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart. 8But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem— those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt. 9I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 29:17-19
this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will send against them sword and famine and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad they cannot be eaten. / I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. / I will do this because they have not listened to My words, declares the LORD, which I sent to them again and again through My servants the prophets. And neither have you exiles listened, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 21:10
For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’

Jeremiah 38:2-3
“This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live. / This is what the LORD says: This city will surely be delivered into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.”

Jeremiah 39:16-18
“Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to fulfill My words against this city for harm and not for good, and on that day they will be fulfilled before your eyes. / But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you will not be delivered into the hands of the men whom you fear. / For I will surely rescue you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will escape with your life like a spoil of war, declares the LORD.’”

Jeremiah 44:11-14
Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah. / And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have resolved to go to the land of Egypt to reside there; they will meet their end. They will all fall by the sword or be consumed by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine; and they will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and reproach. / I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I punished Jerusalem, by sword and famine and plague, ...

Ezekiel 11:9-10
I will bring you out of the city and deliver you into the hands of foreigners, and I will execute judgments against you. / You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you even to the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 17:19-21
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke. / I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me. / All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’

Ezekiel 21:31-32
I will pour out My anger upon you; I will breathe the fire of My fury against you; I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled in destruction. / You will be fuel for the fire. Your blood will stain your own land. You will not be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.’”

Ezekiel 22:15-16
I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you throughout the lands; I will purge your uncleanness. / And when you have defiled yourself in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

2 Kings 25:21
There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

2 Chronicles 36:17-20
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, / who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. / Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. ...

Lamentations 2:2-5
Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In His wrath He has demolished the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah. He brought to the ground and defiled her kingdom and its princes. / In fierce anger He has cut off every horn of Israel and withdrawn His right hand at the approach of the enemy. He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire that consumes everything around it. / He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion. ...

Isaiah 5:5-7
Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled. / I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.” / For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.

Isaiah 6:11-12
Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged, / until the LORD has driven men far away and the land is utterly forsaken.

Hosea 9:17
My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.


Treasury of Scripture

And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus said the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

as.

Jeremiah 24:2,5
One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad…

Jeremiah 29:16-18
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; …

so will.

Jeremiah 21:10
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

Jeremiah 32:28,29
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it: …

Jeremiah 34:17-22
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth…

and them.

Jeremiah 43:1
And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

Jeremiah 44:1
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,

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Jeremiah 24
1. Under the type of good and bad figs,
4. he foreshows the restoration of those who were in captivity;
8. and the desolation of Zedekiah and the rest.














But like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten
This phrase draws a vivid comparison between the people of Judah and bad figs. In the Hebrew text, the word for "bad" is "ra," which conveys not only the idea of poor quality but also moral corruption. The imagery of figs, a common fruit in the region, would have been easily understood by the original audience. Figs that are "so bad they cannot be eaten" symbolize something that has become utterly useless and repugnant. This metaphor serves as a stark warning about the spiritual and moral decay of the people who have turned away from God.

this is what the LORD says
The phrase underscores the authority and divine origin of the message. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, emphasizing His covenant relationship with Israel. The use of "says" (Hebrew "amar") indicates a direct communication from God, highlighting the seriousness and certainty of the pronouncement. This is not merely a human observation but a divine declaration, demanding the attention and response of the people.

so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah
Here, the focus shifts to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. Historically, Zedekiah was a puppet king installed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. His reign was marked by political instability and spiritual unfaithfulness. The phrase "so will I deal" suggests a direct and personal intervention by God in the affairs of Zedekiah, reflecting the principle that leaders are held accountable for their actions and the spiritual state of their nation.

his officials
The mention of "officials" (Hebrew "sarim") extends the judgment beyond the king to those in positions of power and influence. These leaders were responsible for guiding the people and maintaining justice, yet they often led them astray. This highlights the biblical principle that leadership carries a weighty responsibility, and those who lead others into sin will face severe consequences.

and the remnant of Jerusalem—those who remain in this land and those living in the land of Egypt
The "remnant of Jerusalem" refers to the survivors of the Babylonian conquest who were left in the land, as well as those who fled to Egypt seeking refuge. This phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, affecting all who have turned away from Him, regardless of their location. Historically, many Judeans sought safety in Egypt, but this decision was contrary to God's instructions through the prophets. The inclusion of both groups serves as a reminder that physical relocation cannot shield one from divine judgment; only repentance and obedience can.

(8) And them that dwell in the land of Egypt.--These were, in fact, such as had been carried into captivity with Jehoahaz by Pharaoh-nechoh (see Note on Jeremiah 22:11), or had fled thither in order to avoid submission to Nebuchadnezzar, and were settled in Migdol, and Tahpanhes, and Noph. We meet with them later on in Jeremiah 44. For these there was to be no return, no share in the work of restoration. They formed the nucleus of the Jewish population of Egypt, and in course of time (B.C. 150) set up a rival temple at Leontopolis. (See Note on Isaiah 19:19.)

Verse 8. - And as the evil figs. (So Jeremiah 29:16.) That dwell in the land of Egypt. Those who had fled thither during the war (comp. Jeremiah 42, 43.); hardly those who had been carried captive to Egypt with Jehoahaz, who would presumably have been of the better sort, such as are symbolized by the good figs.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But like the bad
הָֽרָע֔וֹת (hā·rā·‘ō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

figs,
וְכַתְּאֵנִים֙ (wə·ḵat·tə·’ê·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8384: Of foreign derivation, the fig

so bad
מֵרֹ֑עַ (mê·rō·a‘)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7455: Badness, evil

they cannot
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be eaten,
תֵאָכַ֖לְנָה (ṯê·’ā·ḵal·nāh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

says
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD,
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

so
כֵּ֣ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

I will deal with
אֶ֠תֵּן (’et·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

Zedekiah
צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ (ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6667: Zedekiah -- 'Yah is righteousness', six Israelites

king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Judah,
יְהוּדָ֤ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

his officials,
שָׂרָיו֙ (śā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

and the remnant
שְׁאֵרִ֣ית (šə·’ê·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7611: Rest, residue, remnant, remainder

of Jerusalem—
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

those remaining
הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ (han·niš·’ā·rîm)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

in this
הַזֹּ֔את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

land
בָּאָ֣רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and those living
וְהַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (wə·hay·yō·šə·ḇîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the land
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt.
מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 24:8 As the bad figs which can't be (Jer.)
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