Isaiah 17 6

Isaiah 17:6 kjv

Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

Isaiah 17:6 nkjv

Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, Like the shaking of an olive tree, Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in its most fruitful branches," Says the LORD God of Israel.

Isaiah 17:6 niv

Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs," declares the LORD, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 17:6 esv

Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten ? two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, declares the LORD God of Israel.

Isaiah 17:6 nlt

Only a few of its people will be left,
like stray olives left on a tree after the harvest.
Only two or three remain in the highest branches,
four or five scattered here and there on the limbs,"
declares the LORD, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 17 verses

Isaiah 17 6 meaning

Isaiah 17:6 vividly describes the severity of divine judgment through an agricultural metaphor. It reveals that after a widespread devastation, only a minuscule portion of inhabitants will remain, likened to the sparse olives left on a tree after a thorough beating. This signifies a profound reduction in population, severe depopulation, yet notably, not complete annihilation. There is an intentional divine act of preservation, ensuring a "remnant" even amidst desolation, testifying to God's sovereign hand in both judgment and mercy.

Isaiah 17 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 17 is primarily an "Oracle concerning Damascus," predicting the swift and severe destruction of the capital of Aram (Syria). This prophecy is situated within a broader series of "burdens" or "oracles" against various nations, typically detailing God's judgment upon them. Historically, Isaiah 17 aligns with the Syro-Ephraimite War (around 735-734 BC), where Damascus and the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) formed an alliance against Judah. The prophet Isaiah declared that both Damascus and Ephraim would be destroyed, largely by the rising Assyrian power, which God would use as His instrument of judgment.

Verse 6 specifically focuses on the fate of Ephraim, depicted as facing a similar devastation to Damascus, where its strength and population would be drastically diminished. The "fruitful tree" refers to Israel, whose abundance and vibrancy will be reduced to mere "gleanings." The passage follows verses foretelling the city's ruin and Israel's spiritual decline due to reliance on ungodly alliances and idolatry, rather than trusting the Lord. Yet, even in this judgment, God proclaims a limited survival, introducing the critical biblical theme of the "remnant" – a small portion preserved by divine decree, pointing to both judgment's severity and God's ultimate plan of preservation.

Isaiah 17 6 Word analysis

• Yet (akh - אַךְ): A conjunction introducing a contrast or limitation. It signals that despite the extensive desolation implied in previous verses, something will remain.
• Gleanings ('olelot - עוֹלֵלוֹת): Literally "grapes left after harvest." Here, used metaphorically for olives. It refers to the small, often imperfect, and scattered fruit remaining after the main harvest has been thoroughly completed. Signifies extreme scarcity and a profound loss, emphasizing that what remains is the absolute minimum.
• Will remain (sha'ar - יִשְׁאָר): From the root she'ar, meaning "to be left over," "to remain." This word is central to the biblical "remnant" doctrine. It highlights a divinely orchestrated preservation, where despite extensive judgment, a portion will always survive, underscoring God's sovereignty.
• As when (ka'asher - כַּאֲשֶׁר): A comparative conjunction, introducing a simile to illustrate the scarcity.
• An olive tree (zayit - זַיִת): A common tree in the Middle East, symbolizing fruitfulness, peace, and abundance in various biblical contexts. Here, its productive capacity makes the imagery of its depleted state more poignant.
• Is beaten (noqef - נֹקֵף): From the verb naqaf, meaning "to strike off," "to beat down" (fruit from a tree). This describes a violent, thorough method of harvesting olives, not gentle picking. It emphasizes the force and comprehensiveness of the destructive judgment, leaving very little behind.
• Two or three berries (shenaayim shlosha porot - שְׁנַיִם שְׁלֹשָׁה פֹּרוֹת): Refers to the few, scattered fruits left. Porot are the produce or berries. The specific numbers are not meant to be literal counts but an idiom for extreme scarcity – very few.
• On the topmost bough (bero'sh amir - בְּרֹאשׁ אָמִיר): Bero'sh means "at the head/top," amir means "bough," "treetop," "summit." These are the most difficult to reach olives, high up and out of easy grasp. This implies that those who survive are few, isolated, or in positions less exposed to the initial onslaught, often escaping by divine grace.
• Four or five (arba'ah chamishah - אַרְבָּעָה חֲמִשָּׁה): Again, an idiomatic expression for a small, countable, and highly limited number, reinforcing the notion of extreme fewness of survivors on the more productive branches.
• On the branches (sa'ifim - סָעִפִים): Refers to the main boughs or spread-out branches of the tree, usually laden with more fruit. The scarcity here highlights the thoroughness of the desolation even on the once-fruitful parts.
• Of a fruitful tree (poriyyah - פּוֹרִיָּה): An adjective meaning "fruitful," "productive." This emphasizes that the judgment falls even on that which was once abundant and thriving, making the remaining "four or five" all the more striking.
• Declares the LORD (neum YHWH - נְאֻם יְהוָה): A solemn declaration formula, indicating divine authorship and unquestionable authority. It underscores that this prophecy is God's own word, making its certainty absolute and undeniable.
• The God of Israel (Elohei Yisra'el - אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל): Identifies the specific God behind the prophecy – the covenant God who is sovereign over His people Israel and the nations. This stresses that His judgment is executed by virtue of His relationship with His people and His universal authority.

Words-group analysis:

• "Yet gleanings will remain in it": This phrase establishes the central theme: judgment will be severe, but a small remnant will inevitably be preserved, a core tenet of Isaiah's message.
• "as when an olive tree is beaten": A powerful simile that clearly communicates the nature of the judgment. It is not a gentle harvesting but a violent, exhaustive process, implying widespread destruction and loss.
• "two or three berries... four or five": The repetition of small, approximate numbers across different parts of the tree (topmost bough and fruitful branches) intensely emphasizes the scarcity and rarity of survivors, signifying a deep population cutback.
• "declares the LORD, the God of Israel": This concluding divine declaration asserts the truthfulness and authoritative origin of the prophecy. It roots the judgment and the promise of a remnant firmly in the will and character of the covenant God of Israel.

Isaiah 17 6 Bonus section

The image of an "olive tree beaten" connects directly to the laws given in Deuteronomy 24:20, which specifically instructs the Israelites not to glean the olive tree a second time after it has been beaten, but to leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow. This divine law of compassion now becomes a grim prophetic picture of judgment; God will so thoroughly beat the nation that only such "gleanings," legally mandated for the poor, will represent the surviving population. This turn of the benevolent gleaning law into a symbol of severe judgment deepens the impact, implying that the once prosperous land will be reduced to a state where only a pittance, typically left for the destitute, is all that remains of its former glory.

Furthermore, the "topmost bough" might suggest those of high standing or those strategically positioned to escape the initial destruction, yet even for them, the survival rate is minuscule. Conversely, the phrase "on the branches of a fruitful tree" applies the same severe reduction to the general population, which was once abundant. This selective survival underscores God's meticulousness in judgment – nothing is left to chance. This remnant, however small, holds the seed of future hope and ultimately points to the Messiah, who would emerge from a faithful remnant of Israel to bring salvation to the world.

Isaiah 17 6 Commentary

Isaiah 17:6 is a potent image of divine judgment tempered by sovereign mercy. The prophecy declares that the extensive devastation foretold will not lead to total annihilation. Instead, only a sparse "gleaning" will be left, mirroring the remnants after an olive harvest where the trees are violently shaken or beaten. This agricultural metaphor vividly portrays the depth of the judgment, ensuring that very few survive. The details — "two or three berries on the topmost bough, four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree" — underscore the sheer scarcity of those who escape. These are not exact numbers but an idiom for extreme fewness, signaling a severe depopulation.

This "remnant" concept is crucial throughout Isaiah's prophecy and the entire Bible. It speaks to God's faithfulness even in the midst of chastening His people for their sin, particularly their idolatry and ungodly alliances. It asserts that despite widespread destruction, God maintains control and preserves a portion for His continuing purposes and covenant. This divine reservation ensures that a line of people or a spiritual core will always exist to perpetuate the covenant and eventually see the fulfillment of God's plans through the Messiah. Thus, the verse encapsulates both the gravity of God's righteous wrath and the enduring promise of His preserving grace.