Isaiah 17:6

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.

5 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.

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.

8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

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
Yet gleanings will remain, like an olive tree that has been beaten— two or three berries atop the tree, four or five on its fruitful branches,” declares the LORD, the God of Israel.
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.
WEB
Yet gleanings will be left there, like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outermost branches of a fruitful tree,” says the LORD, the God of Israel.
ASV
Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, as the shaking of an olive-tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost branches of a fruitful tree, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel.
DARBY
And a gleaning shall be left in it, as at the shaking of an olive-tree: two, three berries above, in the tree-top; four, five in its fruitful boughs, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel.
BLB
and there will be left over in it gleanings, like the shaking of an olive tree, two [or] three berries at the top of the bough, four [or] five bearing fruit in its branches.” A declaration of YHWH God of Israel.
ÅB
Bare en etterhøst skal bli tilovers der, som når de slår ned oliven; to, tre bær øverst i toppen, fire, fem på greinene av frukttreet, sier Herren, Israels Gud.
OTB
Likevel skal det bli igjen etterhøst, som når et oliventre blir ristet, og det blir igjen to eller tre oliven på de øverste grenene, fire eller fem på de fruktbare grenene," erklærer Herren, Israels Gud.
B1930
Bare en efterhøst skal bli tilovers der, som når de slår ned oliven; to, tre bær øverst i toppen, fire, fem på grenene av frukttreet, sier Herren, Israels Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 4:27

    And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

    Read in context
  • Obadiah 1:5

    If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:4–6

    But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:27

    Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

    Read in context
  • Judges 8:2

    And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 36:8–15

    But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context