If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the utter devastation awaiting Edom by contrasting it with ordinary plunder. Unlike grape pickers who leave gleanings or thieves who take only their fill, Edom's attackers will leave absolutely nothing behind, signifying a complete and total annihilation.
If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is declaring judgment on Edom, a nation descended from Esau, for its pride and cruelty towards His people. The prophet uses vivid imagery of ordinary plunderers—grape gatherers and thieves—to emphasize that the devastation coming upon Edom will be far more severe and absolute than any typical raid. Unlike those who take only what they need and leave remnants behind, the enemy sent against Edom will leave nothing at all.
Think about the last time something was taken from you – maybe a theft, or a natural disaster that damaged property. Did it feel like everything was gone, or were there leftovers?
Jeremiah uses two familiar images of destruction to highlight the severity of what's coming upon Edom.
Gentle Harvesters
Grape gatherers, even when diligent, inevitably leave some stray grapes behind. These gleanings were often for the poor or for a second pass.
Satisfied Thieves
Thieves, too, usually have a limit. They take what they need or can carry, and then they stop. Their goal is personal gain, not utter annihilation.
These examples represent the normal level of loss – destructive, yes, but not total. They set the stage for a far more devastating picture.
What happens when destruction doesn't stop at 'enough'? What does it look like when nothing is left behind?
The power of Jeremiah's words lies in the stark contrast between the normal destructive acts and the impending fate of Edom.
Beyond Gleaning
While grape gatherers leave gleanings, the judgment on Edom will be so complete that nothing will be left. The interrogative questions in the verse are understood by many commentators not as genuine questions, but as rhetorical statements implying the opposite: 'They will leave gleanings.'
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Beyond Sufficiency
Thieves take until they are satisfied. But the judgment on Edom will exceed any human measure of satisfaction. It's a total sweep, leaving no refuge or resource.
This isn't just defeat; it's annihilation. The entire nation, its wealth, its hiding places, and even its future generations will be stripped bare.
The prophecy against Edom in Jeremiah 49:9 isn't just about their destruction; it highlights their uncharacteristic cruelty. Unlike normal raiders who take only what they need, Edom's actions against Judah during its suffering were merciless and excessive.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Invasion of Judah
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah, initiating the first wave of exiles. This event signals Babylon's growing dominance in the region.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation of Judah to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This further weakens the kingdom.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, bringing the Southern Kingdom of Judah to an end and exiling most of the remaining population.
c. 582 BC
Third Deportation from Judah
Babylon carries out another deportation from Judah, completing the devastation of the land and scattering its people.
c. 580 BC— this verse
Judgment on Edom
Jeremiah delivers prophecies of judgment against the nation of Edom for their actions during Judah's downfall, highlighting their cruelty and lack of compassion.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Babylonian empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia. This marks a significant shift in regional power and eventually leads to the return of some Jewish exiles.
This passage is the direct source material for Jeremiah 49:9, contrasting the thoroughness of Edom's destruction with the limited plundering of grape gatherers and thieves.
Isaiah 17:6This verse uses a similar agricultural metaphor of gleaning after a harvest to describe the remnant left after a devastating judgment, highlighting the severity of what is being prophesied for Edom.
Jeremiah 51:3Here, Jeremiah uses the imagery of soldiers being like archers who have drawn their bows, illustrating a complete and decisive destruction that leaves no survivors, echoing the total devastation prophesied for Edom.
Lamentations 4:1This verse uses the stark image of precious things becoming worthless, like stones in a street, after a devastating fall, which resonates with the idea of Edom being utterly stripped bare and having nothing left.
cambridgeJeremiah 49:9: "If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough."
9 . would they not leave some gleaning grapes ?] The v . is based on Obadiah 1:5 , but while the general sense is the same, Obadiah contrasts the extremities to which the foe proceeds with the comparative moderation shewn by grape-gatherers or thieves. Here, on the contrary, the enemy’s conduct is directly illustrated by the figures employed,…
barnesJeremiah 49:9: "If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough."
Translate it: "If vintagers come to thee, they will not leave any gleaning: if thieves by night, they will destroy their fill."
This verse highlights the utter devastation awaiting Edom by contrasting it with ordinary plunder. Unlike grape pickers who leave gleanings or thieves who take only their fill, Edom's attackers will leave absolutely nothing behind, signifying a complete and total annihilation.
God is declaring judgment on Edom, a nation descended from Esau, for its pride and cruelty towards His people. The prophet uses vivid imagery of ordinary plunderers—grape gatherers and thieves—to emphasize that the devastation coming upon Edom will be far more severe and absolute than any typical raid. Unlike those who take only what they need and leave remnants behind, the enemy sent against Edom will leave nothing at all.
God is declaring judgment on Edom, a nation descended from Esau, for its pride and cruelty towards His people. The prophet uses vivid imagery of ordinary plunderers—grape gatherers and thieves—to emphasize that the devastation coming upon Edom will be far more severe and absolute than any typical raid. Unlike those who take only what they need and leave remnants behind, the enemy sent against Edom will leave nothing at all.
"If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves?" — This verse highlights the utter devastation awaiting Edom by contrasting it with ordinary plunder. Unlike grape pickers who leave gleanings or thieves who take only their fill, Edom's attackers will…
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Last reviewed October 2026