Isaiah 17:5 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 17:5 kjv
And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.
Isaiah 17:5 nkjv
It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain, And reaps the heads with his arm; It shall be as he who gathers heads of grain In the Valley of Rephaim.
Isaiah 17:5 niv
It will be as when reapers harvest the standing grain, gathering the grain in their arms? as when someone gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.
Isaiah 17:5 esv
And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain and his arm harvests the ears, and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.
Isaiah 17:5 nlt
The whole land will look like a grainfield
after the harvesters have gathered the grain.
It will be desolate,
like the fields in the valley of Rephaim after the harvest.
Isaiah 17 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 17:4 | For in that day the glory of Jacob will fade... | Immediate context of Israel's diminishing glory. |
| Isa 10:1-4 | Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees... their children desolate. | Assyrian judgment, a similar complete desolation. |
| Isa 24:13 | For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as... | Imagery of gleaning and scarcity during judgment. |
| Jer 51:33 | For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Babylon is like a threshing floor..." | Harvest as a metaphor for judgment and destruction. |
| Joel 3:13 | Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe... | Harvest as a time of divine judgment on nations. |
| Hos 6:11 | For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore the fortunes of My people. | Harvest as a metaphor for a set time of reckoning. |
| Ps 126:5 | Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! | Contrast: Harvest of joy vs. harvest of judgment. |
| Ruth 2:3, 7 | She went and gleaned in the field after the reapers... | Context of gleaning, showing a stark contrast (lack of provision vs. charity). |
| Lev 19:9-10 | When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge... | Law of gleaning for the poor, here reversed to show absolute removal. |
| Dt 24:19 | When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf... | Commandment for gleaning, contrasted with God's complete removal here. |
| Mt 13:30 | Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers... | Harvest as a metaphor for final judgment/separation. |
| Mt 13:39 | ...the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. | Clarification of harvest metaphor in final judgment. |
| Rev 14:15-16 | Then another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice... | Harvest of the earth as a picture of divine judgment. |
| Jer 9:22 | ...dead bodies will lie like dung on the open field, like sheaves after the reaper... | Sheaves as a sign of absolute desolation post-judgment. |
| Job 5:5 | His harvest the hungry devour, and they take it even out of the thorns... | Enemy taking the harvest, reflecting the plundering nature of judgment. |
| Hab 3:17 | Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... | Scarcity and barrenness following divine judgment. |
| Amos 8:1-2 | This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit... | The "end" of Israel, ripe for judgment like summer fruit. |
| Mic 7:1-2 | Woe is me! For I am like when they have gathered the summer fruit... | Despair over scarcity, linking to judgment and remnant. |
| Isa 6:13 | And though a tenth remains in it, it will again be laid waste, like a terebinth or an oak... | Concept of a remnant (here minimal) after destruction. |
| Isa 2:19-21 | They will enter the caves of the rocks... from before the terror of the Lord... | Nations fleeing overwhelming judgment. |
| Ps 83:9-12 | Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the brook of Kishon... | Judgment on enemies, including those in Rephaim. |
| 2 Sam 5:17-25 | ...David went down into the stronghold... the Philistines deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. | Historical battles in Rephaim, context of judgment. |
| Isa 1:8 | And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard... | Image of desolation, small remnant after destruction. |
Isaiah 17 verses
Isaiah 17 5 meaning
Isaiah 17:5 prophesies a coming judgment upon Syria (Damascus) and Northern Israel (Ephraim), metaphorically comparing their utter desolation to a harvested field. The land will be stripped bare, much like a reaper collects every bit of grain from a standing field or a harvester methodically gathers the heads of wheat. The final image of gleaning in the fertile Valley of Rephaim further emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction, where even the smallest remaining fragments are gathered, signifying a near-total removal of the population and wealth. This indicates a complete, decisive, and irreversible judgment.
Isaiah 17 5 Context
Isaiah 17 begins an oracle primarily against Damascus, the capital of Aram (Syria), and Ephraim, representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Historically, Aram and Israel formed an alliance against Judah in the Syro-Ephraimite War (735-732 BC), pressuring King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz, despite Isaiah's warnings, appealed to Assyria for help. This prophecy, delivered during or slightly after this period, foretells the devastation of Damascus by Assyria (which occurred around 732 BC) and then expands to encompass the ruin of Ephraim (Israel's capital Samaria fell in 722 BC). Verse 5 portrays the depth of the economic and demographic collapse of these nations, likening it to a field utterly stripped bare by harvesters. The chapter emphasizes divine judgment on their pride and idolatry, with a recurring theme of a small remnant surviving, reflecting God's ultimate plan despite the severe punishment.
Isaiah 17 5 Word analysis
- In that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bay-yōwm ha-hūʾ): This phrase frequently introduces a prophetic declaration concerning a specific time of God's intervention, usually judgment or salvation. Here, it marks the time when the described desolation will occur, pointing to the Assyrian conquest.
- as when the reaper (כְּאָסֶף קָצִיר - kəʾō-sef qā-tsîr):
- reaper (qā-tsîr): Refers to one who cuts and gathers grain. In the ancient Near East, the reaper was a crucial figure, essential for sustenance. The act of reaping here signifies an irreversible, comprehensive taking away.
- gathers (ʾō-sef): Hebrew verb meaning to collect, gather in. This emphasizes the thoroughness of the action, leaving nothing behind. The image evokes efficiency and totality in collecting the crop.
- gathers the standing grain (קָמָה - qā-māh):
- standing grain (qā-māh): Refers to grain standing in the field, ripe for harvest. It represents the wealth, people, and prosperity of the nations (Damascus and Ephraim). The phrase indicates the complete collection of the main crop.
- and his arm harvests the ears (וּזְרֹעוֹ אֹרֶם קַמִּים - ūzə-rō-ʿōʾ ō-rêm qa-mîm):
- arm (zə-rō-ʿōʾ): Symbolizes strength, power, and effort. Here, it denotes the thoroughness and active participation of the one doing the harvesting, implying a complete, strong action by the divine agent or instrument of judgment.
- harvests/reaps (ō-rêm): While "gathers" was used earlier, ʾōrēm (related to ʾrm) can refer to harvesting or binding sheaves, or even collecting ears. The repetition or slightly different nuance stresses the methodical stripping of the land.
- ears (qa-mîm): The heads of grain, the most valuable part. This imagery stresses that the valuable parts of the "crop" (the people and resources) are specifically targeted and taken.
- and it shall be as when one gleans ears of grain (וְהָיָה כִּמְלַקֵּט שִׁבֳּלִים - wə-hā-yāh kim-laq-qêṭ shib-bo-lîm):
- gleans (mə-laq-qêṭ): Refers to collecting the leftovers after the main harvest. In Israelite law, gleaning was for the poor, a symbol of provision for the destitute (Lev 19:9-10). Here, the image is reversed: the "gleaning" describes an enemy thoroughly stripping even the meager remains. This signifies the extreme poverty and depopulation following judgment.
- ears of grain (shib-bo-lîm): Again, referring to the heads of grain. The specific focus on the ears highlights the loss of vital food and seed, representing both people and sustenance.
- in the Valley of Rephaim (בְּעֵמֶק רְפָאִים - bə-ʿê-meq rə-p̄ā-ʾîm):
- Valley of Rephaim: A fertile valley near Jerusalem, known for its rich harvests (Josh 15:8; 2 Sam 5:18). It was historically a place of battles with the Philistines. By specifying this fertile valley, Isaiah heightens the image of comprehensive desolation. Even in a region known for abundance, everything will be taken, leaving virtually nothing. It serves as a potent symbol of what will happen to Damascus and Ephraim, indicating that even their most prosperous regions will not escape.
Isaiah 17 5 Bonus section
The mention of the "Valley of Rephaim" is particularly striking because it historically connected to giants (Rephaim) and significant battles for David. The use of this specific, known fertile region reinforces the idea that no place, no matter how productive or secure, will be spared the thoroughness of this impending divine judgment through the Assyrian army. This also served as a subtle warning to Judah, who were aligned geographically and politically, indicating that God's judgment would come upon all who turned from Him, even if they initially escaped a similar fate.
Isaiah 17 5 Commentary
Isaiah 17:5 presents a vivid, agrarian metaphor for the devastating judgment awaiting Syria and Israel at the hands of Assyria. It is a three-fold illustration of total destruction: first, like a reaper systematically gathering the entire standing crop, ensuring no major harvest is left; second, like the reaper's powerful arm efficiently harvesting all the ears of grain, denoting thoroughness; and third, like someone gleaning even the tiny remnants in a naturally fertile place like the Valley of Rephaim. This progression signifies that the judgment will be absolute, stripping the land of its population, wealth, and strength, leaving almost no one and nothing behind. The imagery is grim, showing a reversal of God's provision for the poor (gleaning was normally an act of mercy), underscoring the severity of the coming punishment due to their idolatry and unfaithfulness. The once-thriving nations will become a desolate field.