“ ‘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. I will even give them up to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I will drive them. I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, until they are consumed from off the land that I gave to them and to their fathers.’ ”
Parallel Translations
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“ ‘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.
I will even give them up to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I will drive them.
I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, until they are consumed from off the land that I gave to them and to their fathers.’ ”
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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:
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
Show all 3 translations
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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;
I will even make them a horror among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.'
Cross-references (53)
- Deuteronomy 28:37 (v9) You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where Yahweh will lead you away.
- Jeremiah 29:18 (v9) I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed back and forth among…
- 1 Kings 9:7 (v9) then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have made holy for my name, out of…
- Jeremiah 15:4 (v9) I will cause them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah,…
- Jeremiah 34:17 (vv9–10) Therefore Yahweh says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold,…
Show all 52 cross-references
- Isaiah 51:19 (v10) These two things have happened to you— who will grieve with you?— desolation and destruction, and famine and the sword. How can I comfort…
- Jeremiah 25:18 (v9) Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as…
- Jeremiah 43:1–44:1 (v8) When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh their God had sent him to them,…
- Deuteronomy 28:25 (v9) Yahweh will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You…
- 2 Chronicles 7:20 (v9) then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will…
- Psalms 44:13-14 (v9) You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. You make us a byword among the nations, a…
- Isaiah 65:15 (v9) You will leave your name for a curse to my chosen; and the Lord Yahweh will kill you. He will call his servants by another name,
- Jeremiah 19:7 (v10) “ ‘ “I will make the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem void in this place. I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by…
- Jeremiah 24:2 (v8) One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they…
- Jeremiah 26:6 (v9) then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.” ’ ”
- Jeremiah 29:16-18 (v8) Yahweh says concerning the king who sits on David’s throne, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who haven’t…
- Jeremiah 29:22 (v9) A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab,…
- Jeremiah 37:17 (v8) then Zedekiah the king sent, and had him brought out. The king asked him secretly in his house, “Is there any word from Yahweh?” Jeremiah…
- Jeremiah 39:2-9 (v8) In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city. All the princes of the…
- Jeremiah 42:18 (v9) For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and my wrath has been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath…
- Jeremiah 44:12 (v9) I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to live there, and they will all be consumed. They…
- Lamentations 2:15-17 (v9) All that pass by clap their hands at you. They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, “Is this the city that men…
- Ezekiel 5:12-17 (v10) A third part of you will die with the pestilence, and they will be consumed with famine within you. A third part will fall by the sword…
- Deuteronomy 28:65-67 (v9) Among these nations you will find no ease, and there will be no rest for the sole of your foot; but Yahweh will give you there a trembling…
- Psalms 109:18-19 (v9) He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones. Let it be to…
- Jeremiah 5:12 (v10) They have denied Yahweh, and said, “It is not he. Evil will won’t come on us. We won’t see sword or famine.
- Jeremiah 9:16 (v10) I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. I will send the sword after them, until I have…
- Jeremiah 14:15-16 (v10) Therefore Yahweh says concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, but I didn’t send them, yet they say, ‘Sword and famine will not be…
- Jeremiah 15:2 (v10) It will happen, when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go out?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Yahweh says: “Such as are for death, to death; such…
- Jeremiah 16:4 (v10) “They will die grievous deaths. They will not be lamented, neither will they be buried. They will be as dung on the surface of the ground.…
- Jeremiah 19:8 (v9) I will make this city an astonishment and a hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its plagues.
- Jeremiah 21:10 (v8) For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good,” says Yahweh. “It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and…
- Jeremiah 24:5 (v8) “Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the…
- Jeremiah 27:8 (v10) “ ‘ “ ‘It will happen that I will punish the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that…
- Jeremiah 32:28-29 (v8) Therefore Yahweh says: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,…
- Jeremiah 34:17-22 (v8) Therefore Yahweh says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold,…
- Jeremiah 37:10 (v8) For though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and only wounded men remained among them, they would each…
- Jeremiah 38:18-23 (v8) But if you will not go out to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they will…
- Jeremiah 44:22 (v9) Thus Yahweh could no longer bear it, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed.…
- Jeremiah 44:26-30 (v8) “Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, I have sworn by my great name,’ says Yahweh, ‘that my…
- Jeremiah 52:2-11 (v8) He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through Yahweh’s anger this happened in…
- Ezekiel 5:1-2 (v9) “You, son of man, take a sharp sword. You shall take it as a barber’s razor to yourself, and shall cause it to pass over your head and over…
- Ezekiel 5:12-13 (v9) A third part of you will die with the pestilence, and they will be consumed with famine within you. A third part will fall by the sword…
- Ezekiel 6:12-14 (v10) He who is far off will die of the pestilence. He who is near will fall by the sword. He who remains and is besieged will die by the famine.…
- Ezekiel 7:15 (v10) “ ‘The sword is outside, and the pestilence and the famine within. He who is in the field will die by the sword. He who is in the city will…
- Ezekiel 12:12-16 (v8) “ ‘The prince who is among them will bear on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry things out…
- Ezekiel 14:12-21 (v10) Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and…
- Ezekiel 17:11-21 (v8) Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold,…
- Ezekiel 25:3 (v9) Tell the children of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh! The Lord Yahweh says, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against my sanctuary, when…
- Ezekiel 26:2 (v9) “Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken! She who was the gateway of the peoples has been returned to me.…
- Ezekiel 33:27 (v10) “You shall tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “As I live, surely those who are in the waste places will fall by the sword. I will give he…
- Ezekiel 36:2-3 (v9) The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because the enemy has said against you, “Aha!” and, “The ancient high places are ours in possession!” ’ therefore…
52 distinct cross-references across this passage (53 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv8–10 God, after having promised to deal kindly with the…
God, after having promised to deal kindly with the captives, now declares that he would execute heavier punishment on King Zedekiah, and the whole people who yet remained in their own country. We have stated why God exhibited this vision to the Prophet, even that he might support their minds who saw nothing but grounds of despair, and that also, on the other hand, he might correct their pride who flattered themselves in their own lot, because God had deferred his vengeance as to them. Then the Prophet, having given comfort to the miserable exiles, now speaks against Zedekiah and his people, who boasted that God was propitious to them, and that they had not only been fortunate, but also wise in continuing in their own country.
He then says that Zedekiah and his princes, and all who remained in Judea, were like the bad figs, which could not be eaten on account of their bitterness. I have said that this is to be referred to punishment and not to guilt. They had sinned, I allow, most grievously; but we are to regard the design of the Prophet. The meaning then is, that though the condition of those who had been driven into captivity was for the present harder, yet God would deal more severely with those who remained, because he had for a time spared them, and they did not repent, but hardened themselves more and more in their wickedness.
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Now we know that Zedekiah was set over the kingdom of Judah, when Jeconiah surrendered himself to Nebuchadnezzar: he was the uncle of Jeconiah, and reigned eleven years; and during that time he ought to have been at least wise at the expense of another. For Eliakim, who was also called Jehoiakim, had been chastised, and that not only once; but Nebuchadnezzar, after having spoiled the temple, rendered him tributary to himself, on his return to Chaldea. At length, after having been often deceived by him, he became extremely displeased with him; and his son, who had reigned with his father, three months after his death, voluntarily surrendered himself into the power and will of the conqueror. Mathaniah afterwards reigned, of whom the Prophet speaks here. So, he says, will I render Zedekiah (called previously Mathaniah) the king of Judah, and his princes, and the remnants of Jerusalem, who remain in this land, (for the greater part had been led into exile,) and those who dwell in the land of Egypt, for many had fled thither; and we know that they were confederates with the Egyptians, and that through a vain confidence in them they often rebelled.
And this was also the reason why the prophets so sharply reproved them: they relied on the help of Egypt, and took shelter under its protection. When, therefore, they found themselves exposed to the will of their enemies, they fled into Egypt. But Nebuchadnezzar afterwards, as we shall see, conquered Egypt also. Thus it happened that they were only for a short time beyond the reach of danger. But as fugitive slaves, when recovered, are afterwards treated more severely by their masters, so also the rage of King Nebuchadnezzar became more violent against them. It now follows —
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v8 Which fled thither for succor.
Which fled thither for succor.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv8–10 Jer 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot…
Jer 24:8 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:
Ver. 8. And as the evil figs.] Zedekiah and his subjects, who were looked upon as the happier, because at home; and derided, likely, Jeconiah and his concaptives as cowards. Sure it is, that they were not bettered by their brethren’s miseries.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv8–10 Whither it is probable many of the Jews had…
Whither it is probable many of the Jews had fled, upon the coming, or noise of the coming, of the king of Babylon, as they had done before, Isa 30:2; 31:1.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv8–9 And I will deliver them to be removed into…
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt,.... Jeconiah and the captives with him were only carried into Babylon; but these should be scattered one from another into the several parts of the world. The former were carried captive for their good, and it issued in that; but these were carried away for their hurt, to the injury of their persons and properties, and without having any effect upon them to the good of their souls: though this might begin to be fulfilled by the seventy years' captivity in Babylon, yet it had a more complete fulfilment in the destruction of this people by the Romans; to which these and the following words seem more particularly to refer:
to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them; their names to be used as a proverb for their riches ill gotten, their falsehood and tricking; and under the curse of God, and the reproach of man, as they are this day; see Deu 28:37.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv8, 10 Verse 8. So will I give Zedekiah] I will…
Verse 8. So will I give Zedekiah] I will treat these as they deserve. They shall be carried into captivity, and scattered through all nations. Multitudes of those never returned to Judea; the others returned at the end of seventy years.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v8 Jer 24:8-10. As the evil figs — so will…
Jer 24:8-10. As the evil figs — so will I give Zedekiah — Or rather, so will I make Zedekiah, as אתןshould be rendered here, and as the same verb is rendered Jer 29:17. And they that dwell in the land of Egypt — Whither, it is probable, many of the Jews had fled upon the coming, or the report of the coming, of the king of Babylon: see chap. 43., 44. I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms, &c. — The Lord, by his prophet, uses the words of Moses, wherewith to express those tremendous judgments which he designed to bring upon this wicked prince and people, as well because the Jews had, or professed to have, great reverence for that man of God, how little soever they had for Jeremiah, as to let them see that what the Lord here threatened, and soon would bring to pass, was but an accomplishment of what he foretold by Moses should befall them in case of their disobedience, by which predictions they ought to have taken warning. To be a reproach, and a proverb, and a taunt —
To be made a jest of and a by-word: see Dan 9:16. And a curse in all places whither I shall drive them — Men shall use this phrase as a form of execration, “God make thee like Zedekiah, and those who remained with him;” compare Jer 29:22. On the contrary, to make a man a blessing, implies that his name should be mentioned as a signal instance of God’s favour: see Gen 48:20; Zec 8:13. Till they be consumed from off the land — My judgments shall follow them so closely that neither they nor any of their posterity shall ever enjoy any possession or property in their own country. This seems to be spoken of those miserable remains of the Jews who, when the rest were carried into captivity, were, either by secreting themselves, or some other means left in the desolated country.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v8 Egypt, to which they fled contrary to the prophet’s…
Egypt, to which they fled contrary to the prophet’s advice, 4 Kings xxv. 26.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv8–9 in . . . Egypt--Many Jews had fled for…
in . . . Egypt--Many Jews had fled for refuge to Egypt, which was leagued with Judea against Babylon.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v8 8. But as one throws away evil figs, so…
8. But as one throws away evil figs, so God will throw away Zedekiah and his princes. Even those who have taken refuge in Egypt are remembered in this curse. The language here used is taken substantially from Deu_28:25; Deu_28:37, which see.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv8–10 8. them that dwell in the land of Egypt]…
8. them that dwell in the land of Egypt] Whether those who accompanied Jehoahaz (2Ki_23:34), or others who during the subsequent reigns also took refuge there, as being a kingdom opposed to the Babylonian power. The Assuan papyri (see Intr. p. xix., note) shew that in b.c. 525 there was a colony which had existed there for a considerable time previously.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv8–10 (8) And them that dwell in the land of…
(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 Jer_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 Isa_19:19.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv8–10 And as the evil figs. (So Jer_29:16) That dwell…
And as the evil figs. (So Jer_29:16) That dwell in the land of Egypt. Those who had fled thither during the war; (comp. Jer 42,jer 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.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v8 But like the bad figs that are too bad…
But like the bad figs that are too bad to be eaten
This simile speaks of the evil officials in Jerusalem as if they were bad figs that were too rotten to eat. Just as bad figs are useless, so these people who do not follow Yahweh are also useless. (See: Simile)
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I will turn them into a frightening thing, a disaster ... a disgrace and a subject for proverbs, taunts, and curses
These phrases mean the same thing and emphasize how thoroughly Yahweh will judge the people of Jerusalem. They will become something that will frighten other people when they see it. (See: Doublet and Metaphor)
I will send out sword, famine, and plague against them
"I will kill them with war, famine and sicknesses"
I will send out sword
Here "sword" refers to war or enemy armies. AT: "I will send enemy armies" or "I will send out war" (See: Metonymy)
sword, famine, and plague
These things are spoken of as if they were living things that could attack the people of Jerusalem. (See: Personification)
they are destroyed from the land
"none of them remain in the land"
translationWords
fig
Yahweh
Zedekiah
kingdom of Judah
Jerusalem
Egypt
kingdom
earth
proverb
curse
cast out
send
sword
famine
plague
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v8 24:8-10 The bad figs were those left in Jerusalem,…
24:8-10 The bad figs were those left in Jerusalem, and the Lord would scatter them because of their rottenness. Those included in this group ranged from the remainder of the royal family to the common people. In 586 BC, Zedekiah’s reign ended exactly as predicted here.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.