Even if a tenth, a remnant, survives, the judgment would continue until almost all are destroyed. Isaiah often spoke about near destruction or decimation (almost complete destruction; Isaiah 9:18–21; 10:20; 22:4; 48:19; 51:18). But Isaiah also kept hope alive. A remnant would survive and begin again (7:21–22; 29:23; 37:31; 44:26; 49:19; 54:1).
the holy seed will be a stump in the land: The stump is like the base of a tree that remains after it is cut down. It represents a remnant of holy people (see Isaiah 4:2–3). From this small beginning, a new leader would come who pleased the Lord (11:1).