Jeremiah Chapter 6 · Verse 9
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֤ה
H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 14
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָֹ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֹ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֔וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֔וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
4 of 14
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
יְעוֹלְל֥וּ
They shall throughly
H5953
יְעוֹלְל֥וּ
They shall throughly
Strong's:
H5953
Word #:
5 of 14
to effect thoroughly; by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, i.e., maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also literal)
יְעוֹלְל֥וּ
They shall throughly
H5953
יְעוֹלְל֥וּ
They shall throughly
Strong's:
H5953
Word #:
6 of 14
to effect thoroughly; by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, i.e., maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also literal)
שְׁאֵרִ֣ית
the remnant
H7611
שְׁאֵרִ֣ית
the remnant
Strong's:
H7611
Word #:
8 of 14
a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
9 of 14
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
הָשֵׁב֙
turn back
H7725
הָשֵׁב֙
turn back
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
10 of 14
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
יָדְךָ֔
thine hand
H3027
יָדְךָ֔
thine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 14
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר
as a grapegatherer
H1219
כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר
as a grapegatherer
Strong's:
H1219
Word #:
12 of 14
to gather grapes; also to be isolated (i.e., inaccessible by height or fortification)
Cross References
Jeremiah 16:16Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.Jeremiah 49:9If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
Historical Context
After the initial Babylonian deportation (597 BC), a remnant remained in Judah. However, continued rebellion led to further deportations, leaving the land nearly desolate by 586 BC.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the remnant theology in Scripture encourage believers during times of widespread apostasy?
- What does God's thoroughness in this gleaning process teach about His attention to detail in both judgment and salvation?
- How should the concept of the remnant shape our expectations for the church in difficult times?
Analysis & Commentary
The LORD commands thorough gleaning of Israel's remnant like grapes left after harvest. The phrase 'turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets' suggests multiple passes to ensure nothing is missed. This can be understood in two ways: either as thoroughgoing judgment leaving nothing, or as God's careful gathering of a faithful remnant. Reformed theology emphasizes God's sovereignty in preserving a remnant (Romans 11:5). The gleaning metaphor appears elsewhere in Scripture both for judgment (stripping bare) and mercy (careful gathering of what remains).