Harvested grapes (recall Revelation 14:19) were thrown into a vat (that is, “winepress”) and then servants (or slaves) trod upon them (with bare feet) till the juice was crushed out of every grape. In this case, however, it is not servants doing the treading but Jesus himself who enters the press to crush the grapes. He, then, is the agent who gives expression to the intense fury of the wrath of God Almighty on the “nations” who aligned themselves with God’s enemies. This is a devastating yet righteous shepherding.
15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.