This section (Jeremiah 8:13–17) begins and ends with the Lord describing the judgment that is coming to Judah (Jeremiah 8:13, Jeremiah 8:17). In the middle verses (Jeremiah 8:14–16) the future destruction is described by Jeremiah with words that have been placed on the lips of the people as the enemy from the north invades.
The Hebrew in this verse is unclear and difficult to interpret. It could mean that in his judgment the Lord will destroy Judah’s agriculture when the invading army comes. Alternatively, it could mean that the Lord comes as the gatherer to harvest the crop he expects to find amongst his people, but finds none.1 The second meaning is probably the most likely and the crop the Lord seeks from his people is not physical grapes and figs, but rather the fruit of covenant faithfulness. The vine mentioned in Jeremiah 2:21 and Jeremiah 6:9 is now completely fruitless. Such is the natural progression of a people who reject their covenant
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13 When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.”