If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
If people came to pick grapes from your vineyard, wouldn't they at least leave a few behind? If thieves broke into your house at night, they'd only take what they wanted and leave the rest.
Even grape pickers and thieves leave something behind, but your destruction will be total.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah was prophesying during the 6th century BC, a time when Babylon was conquering nations, and this verse is part of God's oracle against Edom, a nation descended from Esau that had often opposed Israel. The imagery draws from ancient agricultural practices in the Middle East, where grape gatherers would leave some grapes for the poor as a cultural norm, and thieves would take only what they needed. This highlights that God's judgment on Edom would be more complete and devastating than even the most thorough human plunder.
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