Bible Dictionary
REMNANT
A remnant is a portion left after judgment, destruction, or separation. In prophecy it especially denotes the holy seed of God’s people preserved through judgment and made a blessing.
Definition
A remnant is what remains after destruction, judgment, separation, or removal. In prophetic Scripture the word can denote the holy seed of God’s people preserved through judgment.
Biblical Usage
Isaiah and other prophets use remnant language for the spiritual kernel of the nation that survives judgment, is blessed by God, and becomes a blessing. Paul applies this teaching to those who are saved.
Historical Background
The term translates several Hebrew words meaning what is left, the rest, or residue. The Revised Version sometimes uses related expressions such as rest, residue, or posterity.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>rem'-nant: Remnant is the translation of yether, "what is left over" (De 3:11; 28:54; Jos 12:4, etc.); of she'-ar, "the rest" (Ezr 3:8 the King James Version; Isa 10:20,21,22; 11:16, etc.; Ze 1:4); more frequently of she'-erith, "residue," etc. (2Ki 19:4,31; 2Ch 34:9; Ezr 9:14; Isa 14:30, etc.). As the translation of the last-mentioned two words, "remnant" has a special significance in the prophecies of Isaiah, as denoting "a holy seed," or spiritual kernel, of the nation which should survive impending judgment and become the germ of the people of God, being blessed of God and made a blessing (compare Mic 2:12; 4:7; 5:7,8; 7:18; also Ze 2:7; 3:13; Hag 1:12,14; Zec 8:6; Joe 2:32). Paul, in Ro 9:27, quotes from Isa 10:22 f, "the remnant (kataleimma, "what is left over"] shall be saved"; compare also Ro 11:5 (where the word is leimma) with 2Ki 19:4. Several other Hebrew words are less frequently translated "remnant": 'ahar, "after"; yathar, "to be left over," etc.; in the New Testament (the King James Version) we have also loipos, "left," "remaining" (Mt 22:6; Re 11:13, etc.).</p><p>For "remnant" the Revised Version (British and American) has "overhanging part" (Ex 26:12), "rest" (Le 14:18, etc.); on the other hand gives "remnant" for "posterity" (Ge 45:7), for "rest" (Jos 10:20; 1Ch 4:43; Isa 10:19), for "residue" (Hag 2:2; Zec 8:11), etc.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>