1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
4Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?
5Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
8And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.
Understand This
Ezekiel 15, explained
What Ezekiel 15 is saying
God compares Jerusalem to a vine branch—useless for building anything, and once charred by fire, even more worthless. Because Jerusalem has been unfaithful, it will be consumed like wood that serves no purpose other than burning.
The background behind it
The vine was a traditional symbol of Israel (cf. Psalm 80, Isaiah 5, Hosea 10:1). Ezekiel subverts the positive imagery: a vine that bears no fruit is inferior to any forest tree, useful only as fuel.
Themes running underneath
Election without faithfulness confers no immunity from judgment. Israel's identity as God's vine means nothing if it fails to fulfill its purpose. Privilege without fruitfulness leads to a more severe reckoning, not less.
Why it still matters
Identity and heritage alone do not sustain spiritual life. This short parable challenges anyone who relies on religious background rather than active, fruitful faithfulness.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.