Isaiah 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.

When thus it shall be in the midst {H7130} of the land {H776} among {H8432} the people {H5971}, there shall be as the shaking {H5363} of an olive tree {H2132}, and as the gleaning grapes {H5955} when the vintage {H1210} is done {H3615}.

Around the earth, among the peoples, it will be as when beating an olive tree, as when gleaning the grapes at the end of the harvest.

So will it be on the earth and among the nations, like a harvested olive tree, like a gleaning after a grape harvest.

For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive-tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

Commentary

Isaiah 24:13, nestled within a significant prophetic chapter often called the "Little Apocalypse," vividly portrays the severe and widespread judgment God will bring upon the earth. This verse uses powerful agricultural metaphors to describe the drastically reduced population and the state of desolation that will follow this divine intervention.

Context

Chapter 24 of Isaiah describes a global judgment, a time when the earth will be emptied and laid waste because its inhabitants have transgressed God's laws, violated His statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. The preceding verses detail the devastation, the silencing of joy, and the mourning that will engulf the land. Verse 13 specifically illustrates the outcome of this judgment: only a small fraction of the population will remain, likened to the meager leftovers after a thorough harvest.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: The verse emphasizes the completeness of God's judgment, which will leave the world desolate and its population severely diminished. This is not a partial judgment but one of universal scope.
  • The Remnant: Despite the widespread destruction, the imagery hints at a small, surviving group. While the primary focus is on scarcity, it implicitly acknowledges that not all will perish. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of the faithful remnant preserved by God's grace.
  • God's Sovereignty: The meticulous nature of the "shaking" and "gleaning" implies a deliberate, controlled process by God, demonstrating His ultimate authority over nations and their destiny.
  • Consequences of Sin: The severity of the judgment underscores the gravity of humanity's rebellion against God's divine order and moral law.

Linguistic Insights

The imagery in this verse is crucial for understanding its depth:

  • "as the shaking of an olive tree": After the main olive harvest, the tree would be shaken vigorously, and only a few, often bruised or overlooked, olives would fall. This signifies a thorough clearing, leaving very little behind.
  • "as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done": Similarly, after the primary grape harvest (the "vintage"), vintners would go through the vineyard to collect any remaining clusters or individual grapes. These "gleanings" were minimal compared to the main harvest. Both metaphors powerfully convey extreme scarcity and a populace reduced to a mere fraction of its former size.

Cross-References & Connections

  • This imagery of a drastic reduction due to judgment is echoed elsewhere, such as in Amos 5:16-17, which describes widespread mourning.
  • The concept of a worldwide judgment that leaves few survivors is a recurring prophetic theme, often associated with the Day of the Lord, as seen in Zephaniah 1:2-3.
  • The idea of a remnant surviving judgment is a significant theme throughout Isaiah (e.g., Isaiah 1:9) and is later picked up by Paul in Romans 9:27-29.

Practical Application

Isaiah 24:13 serves as a sobering reminder of God's justice and the inevitable consequences of widespread rebellion against Him. It calls humanity to:

  • Humility and Repentance: Acknowledge God's sovereignty and turn from sin before judgment falls.
  • Hope for the Faithful: Though the judgment is severe, the presence of "gleanings" implies that God preserves a remnant. This offers hope for those who remain faithful to Him.
  • Understanding God's Nature: It highlights both God's holiness, which necessitates judgment against sin, and His mercy, which ensures a degree of preservation.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 1:9

    Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

  • Ezekiel 9:4

    And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

  • Ezekiel 9:6

    Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house.

  • Revelation 11:2

    But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

  • Revelation 11:3

    ¶ And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

  • Matthew 24:22

    And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

  • Ezekiel 14:22

    Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, [both] sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that I have brought upon it.
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