For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The imagery of a shaken olive tree and gleaned grapes highlights that even in utter devastation, a remnant will be left behind. This isn't just about survival; it points to the divine act of carefully selecting and preserving precious fruit, suggesting a purpose and hope in those who remain.
For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is describing a devastating judgment that will fall upon the earth, leaving it desolate and stripped bare. This imagery of a beaten olive tree and gleanings after a harvest emphasizes that only a small remnant will be left behind. This remnant will then sing praises to God for their deliverance amidst the widespread destruction.
Imagine the scene: the final fruits of a harvest are gathered, but something is left behind. What does this image reveal about God's judgment?
Isaiah uses powerful agricultural imagery to describe the totality of God's judgment upon the earth. The "shaking of an olive tree" and the "gleaning of grapes" are not about complete destruction, but about a thorough, yet incomplete, removal.
These images paint a picture of a judgment so severe that it leaves behind only a tiny fraction. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of God's dealings with sin and rebellion, stripping away the abundance of the wicked.
Amidst the devastation of judgment, a small, almost hidden, portion remains. Who are they, and why are they spared?
While the imagery of shaking and gleaning points to a devastating judgment, it simultaneously points to a hopeful reality: a remnant.
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This passage vividly illustrates the devastating impact of God's judgment, likening it to the thoroughness of harvesting crops. The imagery of a few olives or grapes remaining after the harvest speaks to a remnant that survives, a recurring theme in Isaiah, hinting at future restoration even amidst utter desolation.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his public ministry during the reign of King Uzziah in Judah, a time of relative prosperity but also growing moral decay. He delivers prophecies concerning judgment and hope for Judah and surrounding nations.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Expansion
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and later Sargon II exerts increasing pressure on the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, leading to political instability and fear.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian army conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital, Samaria, and deporting a large portion of its population. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah.
701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
Assyrian King Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the surrounding land is devastated.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judean elites, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile and a period of significant national trauma.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending Judah's independence and leading to a massive deportation of the remaining population.
This passage uses the exact same imagery of the olive tree and gleaning grapes to describe a remnant left after judgment, reinforcing the idea of a sparse survival of God's people.
Jeremiah 4:27This verse echoes Isaiah's theme of widespread desolation, stating that while the land will be laid waste, God will not make a complete end, mirroring the concept of a remnant.
Zechariah 13:8-9Similar to Isaiah's imagery, this passage speaks of a future judgment where two-thirds of the land's inhabitants will be cut off, but the final third will be refined and tested, becoming God's people.
Matthew 24:22Jesus uses the idea of shortening days for the sake of the elect, which aligns with the concept of a remnant being preserved through severe judgment, as depicted by the sparse gleaning.
Romans 11:5This New Testament passage directly references the Old Testament idea of a remnant, stating that in the present age, there is a remnant chosen by grace, paralleling the 'gleaning' left after the harvest.
bensonIsaiah 24:13: "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."
Isaiah 24:13-14 . When thus it shall be in the midst of the land, &c. — When this judgment shall be executed, there shall he left a remnant; as there are some few olives or grapes left after the vintage is over. They shall lift up their voice, &c. — The remnant shall sing for the glorious power and goodness of God m…
cambridgeIsaiah 24:13: "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."
13 . The whole human race must perish, with the exception of an insignificant remnant. Render: For so shall it be in the midst of the earth among the peoples as at the beating of an olive-tree, as the after-gleaning when the vintage is over . The images are borrowed from ch. Isaiah 17:6 , and are used in the same se…
The imagery of a shaken olive tree and gleaned grapes highlights that even in utter devastation, a remnant will be left behind. This isn't just about survival; it points to the divine act of carefully selecting and preserving precious fruit, suggesting a purpose and hope in those who remain.
The prophet Isaiah is describing a devastating judgment that will fall upon the earth, leaving it desolate and stripped bare. This imagery of a beaten olive tree and gleanings after a harvest emphasizes that only a small remnant will be left behind. This remnant will then sing praises to God for their deliverance amidst the widespread destruction.
The prophet Isaiah is describing a devastating judgment that will fall upon the earth, leaving it desolate and stripped bare. This imagery of a beaten olive tree and gleanings after a harvest emphasizes that only a small remnant will be left behind. This remnant will then sing praises to God for their deliverance amidst the widespread destruction.
"For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done." — The imagery of a shaken olive tree and gleaned grapes highlights that even in utter devastation, a remnant will be left behind. This isn't just about survival; it points to the divine act of carefull…
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Last reviewed October 2026