Jeremiah 6:9 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 6:9 mean?

Jeremiah 6:9 says that God, through His prophet, is announcing a thorough judgment on the remaining people of Israel, comparing it to how a vine is carefully stripped of every last grape by a gatherer. The verse uses the image of a grape picker going back over the vine to make sure nothing is left, showing that the coming judgment will be complete and nothing will be overlooked.

In this verse, the LORD of hosts (God as commander of heavenly armies) is speaking through Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah. The situation is one of looming disaster because the people have not listened to God’s warnings. The picture of gleaning a vine emphasizes that even those who think they might escape—“the remnant”—will not be spared from the consequences of their actions.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 6:9

• "Throughly glean" (עָלַל, `alam) is a word for picking over a vine again and again, not just a quick harvest. This shows the judgment will be persistent and leave nothing behind.
• "Remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית, she'erit) means those left over after disaster. Here, even this small group will be subject to the same searching judgment.
• "Grapegatherer" (בָּצַר, batsar) is the person who collects grapes, and the image is of someone making sure every grape is taken, not leaving any behind.
• "Baskets" (סַל, sal) are the containers used for gathering grapes, making the image vivid and practical—nothing is left on the vine.

Why Jeremiah 6:9 matters

• Jeremiah 6:9 clears up the idea that some people might escape judgment just by being overlooked; the verse stresses that God’s searching justice will reach everyone.
• The verse connects to the wider chapter, where Jeremiah is warning of coming destruction because the people have ignored God’s calls to turn back.
• The image of the grape gatherer returning to the vine highlights how thorough and intentional God’s actions are, not random or careless.