A common misinterpretation treats this verse as a general proverb about human theft or harvesting practices, detached from its prophetic context against Edom's treachery, leading to applications like excusing incomplete justice in personal or societal matters; others might spiritualize it overly to personal sins without recognizing its national judgment focus, or twist it to promote vengeance rather than trusting God's perfect retribution, ignoring the book's call to humility and the ultimate hope of restoration for the faithful.
Obadiah 1:5
King James Version (1769)
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?
Obadiah 1:5 uses vivid imagery of thieves and grape gatherers to underscore the totality of God's impending judgment on Edom, contrasting their partial plundering—which leaves some remainder—with divine retribution that will strip the nation bare, leaving nothing behind, as a consequence of Edom's pride, violence against Jacob, and failure to aid their brother Israel during distress, highlighting God's sovereign justice that ensures complete accountability for sin without loopholes or leftovers.