Jeremiah 29:17

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}; Behold, I will send {H7971} upon them the sword {H2719}, the famine {H7458}, and the pestilence {H1698}, and will make {H5414} them like vile {H8182} figs {H8384}, that cannot be eaten {H398}, they are so evil {H7455}.

thus says ADONAI-Tzva'ot: 'I will attack them with sword, famine and plague; I will make them like bad figs, so bad they are inedible.

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.

thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 29:17

Jeremiah 29:17 is a stark pronouncement of judgment delivered by the prophet Jeremiah, serving as a direct contrast to the more widely known message of hope found in Jeremiah 29:11. This verse is part of a letter Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the Jewish exiles already in Babylon. In this letter, he countered the false prophets who were giving the exiles (and those still in Jerusalem) deceptive assurances of a quick return or no exile at all. The "them" in this verse refers specifically to King Zedekiah and the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem who had resisted God's word through Jeremiah, refusing to surrender to Babylon and holding onto false hope. They represent the "vile figs" in contrast to the "good figs" – the earlier exiles in Babylon – described in Jeremiah 24.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse unequivocally states God's active role in bringing severe judgment upon those who defy Him. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD of hosts" emphasizes His absolute authority and power over all creation and events.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The calamities of "the sword, the famine, and the pestilence" are direct consequences of the people's stubborn rebellion, idolatry, and rejection of God's prophetic warnings. These were common covenant curses threatened in the Old Testament for disobedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 28.
  • The Metaphor of Vile Figs: This vivid image of "vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil" signifies utter worthlessness, corruption, and an inability to be redeemed. Just as rotten figs are useless for consumption, so too were the people of Jerusalem considered beyond spiritual usefulness in God's eyes due to their persistent sin and rejection of His will.

Linguistic Insights

The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is a powerful designation for God, emphasizing His sovereignty as the commander of heavenly armies and all creation. It underscores the certainty and power behind His pronouncements. The term "vile figs" (Hebrew: te'enim sho'arim) literally translates to "rotten figs" or "disgusting figs," highlighting their extreme decay and foulness, making them repulsive and completely unusable.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 29:17 serves as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin. While God is merciful and extends plans of hope (Jeremiah 29:11), He is also just and will bring consequences for persistent rebellion and rejection of His truth. This verse encourages believers to:

  • Discern Truth from Falsehood: Be vigilant against deceptive messages that promise peace or prosperity apart from genuine repentance and obedience to God's word.
  • Take Sin Seriously: Understand that unaddressed sin and rebellion lead to spiritual decay and severe consequences, both individually and corporately.
  • Seek God's Will: Prioritize understanding and aligning with God's plans, even when they involve difficulty or waiting, rather than clinging to self-serving desires or false comforts.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 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:

  • Jeremiah 24:10

    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.

  • Jeremiah 29:18

    And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

  • Jeremiah 52:6

    And in the fourth month, in the ninth [day] of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

  • Luke 21:23

    But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

  • Ezekiel 14:12

    ¶ The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,

  • Ezekiel 14:21

    For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
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