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Isaiah 17:5

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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.

And it shall be as when the harvestman {H7105} gathereth {H622} the corn {H7054}, and reapeth {H7114} the ears {H7641} with his arm {H2220}; and it shall be as he that gathereth {H3950} ears {H7641} in the valley {H6010} of Rephaim {H7497}.

as when the harvester collects the standing grain, reaping the ears of grain with his arm; yes, as when they glean the grain in the Refa'im Valley.

as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.

And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing grain, and his arm reapeth the ears; yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 17:5 (KJV)

Isaiah 17:5 uses vivid agricultural imagery to describe the severity and comprehensiveness of God's impending judgment, primarily against Damascus (Syria) and Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel). This verse emphasizes a thorough, almost complete, desolation.

Context

Chapter 17 of Isaiah is a prophetic oracle concerning the downfall of Damascus and the subsequent weakening of Israel, particularly Ephraim. The judgment is a direct consequence of their idolatry, their reliance on human alliances rather than God, and their general spiritual apostasy. The preceding verses foretell the destruction of Damascus and the diminishing of Ephraim's strength. Verse 5 deepens this imagery, comparing the coming judgment to a harvest, a process that leaves very little behind.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: The central theme is the thoroughness of God's judgment. Just as a harvestman meticulously gathers the grain, God's judgment will sweep through the land, leaving little behind. This depicts a comprehensive divine judgment, much like the warnings given to Judah and other nations through Jeremiah.
  • The Harvest Metaphor: The act of "gathering the corn" and "reaping the ears with his arm" signifies a complete, painstaking collection. The comparison to gathering ears in the "valley of Rephaim" is significant because this valley was known for its fertility and abundance, often yielding rich harvests. The implication is that even in the most prosperous and fruitful areas, the judgment will be exhaustive, leaving no place untouched.
  • Consequences of Apostasy: This thorough judgment is a consequence of their forgetting the God of their salvation, as highlighted later in the same chapter. It serves as a stark warning about the repercussions of abandoning divine trust for worldly security.

Linguistic Insights

The term "corn" in the King James Version here refers broadly to grain, such as wheat or barley, not specifically maize (which was unknown in the ancient Near East). The phrase "reapeth the ears with his arm" paints a picture of a laborious and exhaustive process of collection, ensuring as much as possible is gathered. The "valley of Rephaim" (Hebrew: עֵמֶק רְפָאִים, Emek Rephaim) was a fertile plain southwest of Jerusalem, a place known for its agricultural yield and sometimes associated with battles. Its mention underscores that even places of abundance would experience significant loss.

Practical Application

Isaiah 17:5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the certainty of His judgment for persistent disobedience. It teaches us that:

  • God's Justice is Thorough: When divine judgment falls, it is not superficial but comprehensive, reaching even into areas of perceived strength or prosperity.
  • Trust in God Alone: The passage implicitly warns against relying on human alliances or material wealth for security, as these cannot avert God's decree. True security is found only in trusting the Creator.
  • Reaping What Is Sown: The harvest imagery also subtly suggests the principle of reaping what one sows. The nations' actions of idolatry and rebellion would yield a harvest of desolation. This principle holds true for individuals and nations today.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Matthew 13:30 (6 votes)

    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  • Joel 3:13 (5 votes)

    Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great.

  • Jeremiah 51:33 (5 votes)

    For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon [is] like a threshingfloor, [it is] time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.

  • Revelation 14:15 (4 votes)

    And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

  • Revelation 14:20 (4 votes)

    And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

  • 2 Samuel 5:18 (4 votes)

    The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

  • Matthew 13:39 (3 votes)

    The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.