It is relatively common for the Lord to ask his prophets questions about visions he has given them (Amos 7:1–17 and Amos 8:1–14; Zechariah 5:1–4). The same happens at Jeremiah’s commissioning in Jeremiah 1:11–14.1 The purpose of these questions is twofold. First, it draws attention to the main features of the vision; in this case the good and bad figs.2 Secondly, it not only confirms that the prophet has correctly seen the vision, but prepares the reader for the fact that the meaning of the vision will be given by the Lord and not by the prophet.3
3 And the LORD said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”