For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as the gleanings when the grape harvest is done, establishing that the judgment will leave a remnant—gleanings—even as it overwhelms the majority. The imagery of the beaten olive tree and the remaining gleanings suggests a harvest in which much is destroyed but some remains. The focus on what remains after destruction introduces the theme of the remnant that becomes increasingly important in Isaiah's vision of salvation. This verse offers the first hint in this apocalyptic section that judgment, while comprehensive, does not mean complete annihilation. The remnant motif establishes that judgment and salvation are intertwined in God's purposes.

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