The Meaning of Jeremiah 24:2 Explained

Jeremiah 24:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: In the one basket are figs very good, like the first-ripe figs, and in the other basket are figs very bad, that are not eaten for badness.

Darby: One basket had very good figs, like the figs first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten for badness.

ASV: 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 were so bad.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Jeremiah 24:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Jeremiah 24:1-10 - Two Baskets Of Figs
These two baskets represent the different, fates that overlook the people at the fall of Jerusalem. The good figs in the first were those who were taken to Babylon with Jeremiah. It was for their good that they were transplanted, Jeremiah 24:5. How often we are led into captivity for the same reason. With bitter regrets we turn our backs on our early home, the scenes of our youth, and the faces we have loved. Sometimes we are carried into a strange land, where we find it impossible to sing the Lord's song. But in the absence of all creature aid we find God drawing near to substitute restoration for destruction, building up for pulling down, and planting for uprooting.
Have we profited by our discipline? If so we are as the ripe figs of June, sweet to the taste of the owner who searches beneath the leaves of profession. Let those who congratulate themselves on their immunity from the troubles that have overtaken others, ponder Jeremiah 24:8-10. In the light of Hebrews 12:9, immunity from chastisement is not to be sought after. The residue of the Jews drifted to their hurt. See Jeremiah 41:1-18; Jeremiah 42:1-22. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 24:2 mean?

Basket [had] one figs good very like the figs [that are] first ripe and basket [had] bad which not could be eaten they were so bad -
הַדּ֣וּד אֶחָ֗ד תְּאֵנִים֙ טֹב֣וֹת מְאֹ֔ד כִּתְאֵנֵ֖י הַבַּכֻּר֑וֹת וְהַדּ֣וּד רָע֣וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ תֵֽאָכַ֖לְנָה מֵרֹֽעַ ס

הַדּ֣וּד  Basket  [had] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דּוּד  
Sense: pot, jar, basket, kettle.
אֶחָ֗ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
תְּאֵנִים֙  figs 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תְּאֵנָה  
Sense: fig, fig tree.
טֹב֣וֹת  good 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
מְאֹ֔ד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
כִּתְאֵנֵ֖י  like  the  figs 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תְּאֵנָה  
Sense: fig, fig tree.
הַבַּכֻּר֑וֹת  [that  are]  first  ripe 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: בִּכּוּרָה  
Sense: first ripe fig, early fig.
וְהַדּ֣וּד  and  basket  [had] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דּוּד  
Sense: pot, jar, basket, kettle.
רָע֣וֹת  bad 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
תֵֽאָכַ֖לְנָה  could  be  eaten 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
מֵרֹֽעַ  they  were  so  bad 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹעַ  
Sense: badness, evil.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation