Isaiah 24:13

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 24:13, a pivotal verse within the prophetic "Little Apocalypse," vividly illustrates the profound and pervasive judgment God will unleash upon the earth. Through powerful agricultural metaphors, it depicts a world drastically reduced in population and left in a state of desolation, akin to the meager remnants after a thorough and exhaustive harvest. This imagery underscores the completeness of divine judgment while subtly hinting at a preserved, albeit small, surviving remnant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 24 introduces a sweeping prophecy of global judgment, often termed the "Little Apocalypse" due to its cosmic scope and eschatological implications, anticipating themes found in later apocalyptic literature like Revelation. The preceding verses ([Isaiah 24:1-12](/isaiah/24-1 "Isaiah 24:1-12 - The Earth Laid Waste")) detail the emptying and laying waste of the earth, describing widespread mourning, the silencing of joy, and the breaking of the everlasting covenant by its inhabitants. This sets the stage for the desolation described in verse 13, which serves as a stark illustration of the outcome: the earth's population will be severely diminished, leaving only a fraction, much like the sparse leftovers after an intense harvest. The subsequent verses ([Isaiah 24:14-16](/isaiah/24-14 "Isaiah 24:14-16 - A Remnant Praises God")) then pivot to describe a remnant that will praise the Lord from the ends of the earth, highlighting a contrast between widespread destruction and a preserved few.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah prophesied during a tumultuous period for Judah (8th century BCE), facing threats from Assyria and internal moral decay. While the immediate context often addresses specific national judgments, chapter 24 expands to a universal, eschatological judgment, transcending a single historical event. The agricultural metaphors—olive harvesting and grape gleaning—were deeply familiar to an agrarian society like ancient Israel. Olive trees were a staple crop, providing oil for food, light, and anointing, while vineyards were central to their economy and cultural life. The practice of "gleaning" (leaving some produce for the poor, as commanded in [Deuteronomy 24:19-21](/deuteronomy/24-19 "Deuteronomy 24:19-21 - Laws Concerning Gleaning")) was a well-understood concept, making the imagery of scarcity after gleaning particularly potent. The "land" (`H776 'erets`) in this context refers not just to Israel but to the entire earth, emphasizing the global scale of the impending divine intervention.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 24:13 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and biblical prophecy. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Judgment and Desolation**, portraying God's righteous wrath against sin on a global scale, leading to widespread emptiness and sorrow (cf. [Isaiah 13:9-13](/isaiah/13-9 "Isaiah 13:9-13 - The Day of the Lord's Wrath")). Secondly, it introduces, or at least strongly implies, the theme of **The Remnant**. Despite the overwhelming destruction, the agricultural imagery of "shaking" and "gleaning" suggests that a small portion will remain, a concept central to Isaiah's message of God's faithfulness to a chosen few even amidst judgment (e.g., [Isaiah 1:9](/isaiah/1-9 "Isaiah 1:9 - The Remnant of Israel") and [Isaiah 10:21-22](/isaiah/10-21 "Isaiah 10:21-22 - A Remnant Shall Return")). Thirdly, the verse underscores **God's Sovereignty and Control**, as the judgment is not random but a deliberate and thorough process orchestrated by God, demonstrating His ultimate authority over all creation and its inhabitants. Finally, it highlights the severe **Consequences of Transgression**, linking humanity's rebellion against God's laws to the cataclysmic events described (cf. [Isaiah 24:5](/isaiah/24-5 "Isaiah 24:5 - The Earth Defiled")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **shaking (Hebrew, _nôqeph'_):** From the root `nâqaph`, meaning to strike or beat. In this context, `nôqeph` (H5363) specifically refers to the "threshing of olives" or the vigorous shaking of an olive tree to dislodge its fruit. This is not a gentle tremor but a forceful, deliberate action designed to extract nearly everything, leaving only a minimal amount behind. It conveys the thoroughness of the judgment.
* **olive tree (Hebrew, _zayith'_):** The `zayith` (H2132) is the olive tree, a symbol of prosperity, fruitfulness, and often, of Israel itself. The imagery of shaking an olive tree after the main harvest implies that the vast majority of its valuable produce has already been removed, and only the most stubborn or overlooked olives remain. This powerfully illustrates a drastic reduction, a near-total depletion of the population.
* **gleaning grapes (Hebrew, _ʻôlêlâh'_):** The term `ʻôlêlâh` (H5955) refers to the "gleanings" – the few grapes left behind after the primary vintage has been completed. This was a practice where the poor were allowed to collect what remained. The imagery emphasizes extreme scarcity and the meager survival of a very small, often overlooked, portion of the population. It reinforces the idea of a comprehensive judgment that leaves little untouched.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people,"**: This opening clause establishes the setting and scope of the prophecy. "In the midst of the land" (`H7130 qereb` and `H776 'erets`) and "among the people" (`H5971 'am`) clearly indicate a widespread, pervasive event affecting the entire inhabited world, not just a specific nation or region. It signals that the conditions described are universal and will impact humanity broadly.
* **"[there shall be] as the shaking of an olive tree,"**: This introduces the first powerful agricultural metaphor. The "shaking of an olive tree" (`H5363 nôqeph` of `H2132 zayith`) refers to the practice of beating or shaking an olive tree after the main harvest to dislodge the remaining few olives. This action is thorough and leaves very little behind, signifying a drastic reduction in the population, a near-total removal of its inhabitants.
* **"[and] as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."**: This second metaphor reinforces and amplifies the first. "Gleaning grapes" (`H5955 'ôlêlâh`) refers to the sparse clusters or individual grapes left in the vineyard after the primary "vintage" (`H1210 bâtsîyr`) has been completed (`H3615 kâlâh`). Just as only a few, often inferior, grapes remain after the main harvest, so too will only a tiny fraction of humanity survive the coming judgment. Both images convey extreme scarcity and desolation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 24:13 is rich in **Imagery** and **Metaphor**. The prophet employs two distinct agricultural metaphors—the shaking of an olive tree and the gleaning of grapes—to vividly portray the severity and completeness of God's judgment. These images, drawn from the common experience of an agrarian society, immediately convey the idea of scarcity and reduction. The **Simile** "as the shaking of an olive tree" and "as the gleaning grapes" directly compares the state of the earth's population to these post-harvest scenes. The cumulative effect of these metaphors is one of profound desolation and near-total depopulation, emphasizing that only a tiny **Remnant** will survive the divine purging. The use of such familiar, concrete images makes the abstract concept of widespread judgment tangible and impactful for the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 24:13 serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and His righteous judgment against a rebellious world. While the verse primarily emphasizes the devastating scope of divine wrath, the very imagery of "gleaning" implicitly suggests that not all will perish. This points to the enduring biblical theme of a faithful remnant, preserved by God's grace even amidst widespread destruction. The severity of the judgment underscores the gravity of human sin and the necessity of divine intervention to restore cosmic order, yet God's character also includes a redemptive purpose for a chosen few.

* [Amos 9:9](/amos/9-9 "Amos 9:9 - Sifting of Israel")
* [Zephaniah 1:2-3](/zephaniah/1-2 "Zephaniah 1:2-3 - Universal Destruction")
* [Romans 9:27-29](/romans/9-27 "Romans 9:27-29 - Paul Quotes Isaiah on the Remnant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 24:13 compels us to confront the reality of God's holiness and His unwavering commitment to justice. In a world often dismissive of divine authority, this verse serves as a sobering warning that rebellion against God's established order has profound and devastating consequences. It calls for a deep introspection into our own lives and societies, urging us to recognize the gravity of sin and the necessity of repentance. Yet, even in this somber portrayal of judgment, there is a glimmer of hope embodied in the "gleanings"—the idea that God, in His mercy, preserves a remnant. This encourages believers to cling to God's faithfulness, trusting that even through trials and tribulations, He will sustain those who remain true to Him. It challenges us to live lives of genuine faith and obedience, aligning ourselves with God's will rather than the fleeting pleasures and rebellious ways of the world, knowing that our ultimate hope lies in His preserving grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "shaking an olive tree" and "gleaning grapes" shape your understanding of the thoroughness of God's judgment?**
* **What does the concept of a "remnant" imply about God's character, even in the midst of severe judgment?**
* **In what ways might our contemporary society be "transgressing God's laws" (as mentioned in the broader context of Isaiah 24), and what lessons can we draw from this prophecy?**
* **How does this verse challenge or affirm your perspective on the future of the world and the role of divine intervention?**

### FAQ
**Does Isaiah 24:13 refer to a specific historical event or a future, global judgment?**

Answer: While Isaiah's prophecies often had immediate historical fulfillments (e.g., the fall of Jerusalem or the Assyrian invasion), chapter 24, including verse 13, is widely interpreted as referring to a future, global, eschatological judgment. Its cosmic scope, the description of the earth being "emptied" and "laid waste" ([Isaiah 24:1](/isaiah/24-1 "Isaiah 24:1 - The Earth Laid Waste")), and the universal nature of the "people" and "land" suggest a judgment far beyond any single historical event in ancient Israel's past. Many scholars refer to this chapter as the "Little Apocalypse" because it foreshadows the themes of universal judgment and the end times found in later apocalyptic literature, like the book of Revelation.

**What is the significance of the agricultural metaphors used in this verse?**

Answer: The metaphors of "the shaking of an olive tree" and "the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done" are highly significant because they convey extreme scarcity and thoroughness. In ancient Israel, both olive and grape harvests were vital for sustenance. After the main harvest, only a very small, often overlooked, quantity of produce would remain, collected through laborious "gleaning." By comparing the earth's population to these meager leftovers, the prophet vividly illustrates that God's judgment will be so comprehensive and devastating that only a tiny fraction of humanity will survive. This imagery emphasizes the severity of the judgment and the drastic reduction of the world's inhabitants, leaving little untouched.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 24:13 primarily speaks of judgment and desolation, its underlying theme of a preserved remnant finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The "shaking" and "gleaning" represent God's righteous judgment against sin, a judgment ultimately borne by Christ on the cross. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the ultimate sacrifice, taking upon Himself the wrath due to humanity, thereby offering a path for a remnant to be saved from utter destruction. The concept of the "gleanings" or survivors points forward to the church, the spiritual Israel, gathered from all nations, who are preserved not by their own merit but by God's grace through faith in Christ. Just as a few olives and grapes remained, so too does God preserve a people for Himself, a new humanity reconciled through the [blood of the new covenant](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in His Blood"). This remnant, the body of Christ, is the fruit of His redemptive work, a people who will ultimately inherit the new heavens and new earth, fulfilling God's promise of a restored creation where righteousness dwells ([2 Peter 3:13](/2_peter/3-13 "2 Peter 3:13 - New Heavens and New Earth")). Thus, the severe judgment foreshadowed in Isaiah 24:13 ultimately highlights the magnitude of Christ's salvation, which delivers His chosen ones from the wrath to come ([1 Thessalonians 1:10](/1_thessalonians/1-10 "1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Deliverance from Wrath")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI 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.