Isaiah 17:5

Valley of Rephaim

³ The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

⁴ And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

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.

⁶ 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.

⁷ At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
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.
WEB: It will be like when the harvester gathers the wheat, and his arm reaps the grain. Yes, it will be like when one gleans grain in the valley of Rephaim.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And it shall be as when the reaper gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; yea, it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.
BLB: and it will be as the gathering of the harvester of the standing grain, when his arm harvests the ears; and it will be as the gathering of the ears in the Valley of Rephaim;

ÅB: Det skal gå som når en griper om det stående korn, og hans arm skjærer aksene, og det skal gå som når en sanker aks i Refa'im-dalen.
OTB: Det skal være som når høstmannen samler den stående kornet, og hans arm høster aksene, eller som når man sanker aks i Refa'im-dalen.
B1930: Det skal gå som når en griper om det stående korn, og hans arm skjærer aksene, og det skal gå som når en sanker aks i Refa'im-dalen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 13:30
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.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:33
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.
Read in context
Joel 3:13
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.
Read in context
2 Samuel 5:18
The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
Read in context
Revelation 14:15–20
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.
Read in context
2 Samuel 5:22
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
Read in context
Matthew 13:39–42
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Read in context
Hosea 6:11
Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
Read in context