Ezekiel Chapter 15

“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying.] The destruction of Jerusalem had been represented under various types and similes before, as of a siege, and a sharp razor; and here of a fruitless and useless vine, only fit for the fire; which was delivered out by a spirit of prophecy. The Targum calls it the word of prophecy, as usual.”

“THE WORTHLESSNESS OF THE VINE AS WOOD ESPECIALLY WHEN BURNT, IS THE IMAGE OF THE WORTHLESSNESS AND GUILT OF THE JEWS, WHO SHALL PASS FROM ONE FIRE TO ANOTHER. (Eze 15:1-8) What has the vine-wood to make it pre-eminent above other forest-wood? Nothing. Nay, the reverse. Other trees yield useful timber, but vine-wood is soft, brittle, crooked, and seldom large; not so much as a "pin" (the large wooden peg used inside houses in the East to hang household articles on, Isa 22:23-25) can be made of it. Its sole excellency is that it should bear fruit; when it does not bear fruit, it is not only not better, but inferior…”

“The vine ... - The image is grounded on a well-known figure Psalms 80:8; Isaiah 5:0. The comparison is not between the vine and other trees, but between the wood of the vine and the wood of other trees. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The vine - tree - Israel is here compared to a vine, which, when fruitless, is utterly unprofitable. This the prophet minds them of to humble them, and awaken them to fruitfulness. A branch - One branch of a tree in the forest is of more use than the whole vine - tree is, except for its fruit. Ezekiel 15:3”

“15:1–24:14 This section contains a series of eight metaphors, each reiterating from a different angle the certainty of Jerusalem’s forthcoming judgment. The images are of a worthless vine (ch 15); a faithless wife (ch 16); a vine and two eagles (ch 17); sour grapes (ch 18); a lion and her cubs (ch 19); a sword (ch 21); two degenerate sisters (ch 23); and a cooking pot (ch 24). 15:1-5 The wood of a tree can be used to make all kinds of useful objects, pegs being the simplest and most basic. A vine’s wood, however, has no strength, size, or beauty, so it is useless for pegs and it is not even good as fuel because…”

“What: The vine is only noble and useful while producing fruit: for, when cut down, its wood is fit only for fuel. So Israel, having ceased to be fruitful, they are good for nothing, but, like a withered branch of a vine, to be burnt. Deu 32:32, Deu 32:33; Psa 80:8-16; Sol 2:13, Sol 2:15, Sol 6:11, Sol 7:12, Sol 8:11, Sol 8:12; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; Hos 10:1; Mat 21:33-41; Mar 12:1-9; Luk 20:9-16; Joh 15:1-6 among: Isa 44:23; Mic 3:12; Zac 11:2 Ezekiel 15:3”

“And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Eze 15:2. Son of man, what advantage has the wood of the vine over every wood, the vine-branch, which was among the trees of the forest? Eze 15:3. Is wood taken from it to use for any work? or do men take a peg from it to hang all kinds of vessels upon? Eze 15:4. Behold, it is given to the fire to consume. If the fire has consumed its two ends, and the middle of it is scorched, will it then be fit for any work? Eze 15:5. Behold, when it is uninjured, it is not used for any work: how much less when the fire has consumed it and scorched it can it be still used for work?…”