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Ezekiel 15:1-5 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559

2 Son H1121 of man, H120 What is the vine H1612 tree H6086 more than any tree, H6086 or than a branch H2156 which is among the trees H6086 of the forest? H3293

3 Shall wood H6086 be taken H3947 thereof to do H6213 any work? H4399 or will men take H3947 a pin H3489 of it to hang H8518 any vessel H3627 thereon?

4 Behold, it is cast H5414 into the fire H784 for fuel; H402 the fire H784 devoureth H398 both H8147 the ends H7098 of it, and the midst H8432 of it is burned. H2787 Is it meet H6743 for any work? H4399

5 Behold, when it was whole, H8549 it was meet H6213 for no work: H4399 how much less shall it be meet H6213 yet for any work, H4399 when the fire H784 hath devoured H398 it, and it is burned? H2787

Commentary on Ezekiel 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 15

Eze 15:1-8. 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.

This chapter represents, in the way of a brief introduction, what the sixteenth chapter details minutely.

2, 3. 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 to other trees: so if God's people lose their distinctive excellency by not bearing fruits of righteousness, they are more unprofitable than the worldly (De 32:32), for they are the vine; the sole end of their being is to bear fruit to His glory (Ps 80:8, 9; Isa 5:1, &c.; Jer 2:21; Ho 10:1; Mt 21:33). In all respects, except in their being planted by God, the Jews were inferior to other nations, as Egypt, Babylon, &c., for example, in antiquity, extent of territory, resources, military power, attainments in arts and sciences.

or than a branch—rather, in apposition with "the vine tree." Omit "or than." What superiority has the vine if it be but a branch among the trees of the forest, that is, if, as having no fruit, it lies cut down among other woods of trees?

4. cast into … fire—(Joh 15:6).

both the ends—the north kingdom having been already overturned by Assyria under Tiglath-pileser; the south being pressed on by Egypt (2Ki 23:29-35).

midst of it is burned—rather, "is on flame"; namely, Jerusalem, which had now caught the flame by the attack of Nebuchadnezzar.

Is it meet for any work—"it," that is, the scorched part still remaining.

5. If useless before, much more so when almost wholly burnt.

6. So will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as being utterly unprofitable (Mt 21:33-41; 25:30; Mr 11:12-14; Lu 13:6-9) in answering God's design that they should be witnesses for Jehovah before the heathen (Mt 3:10; 5:13).

7. And I will set my face against them—(See on Le 17:10).

from one fire … another—(Compare Isa 24:18). "Fire" means here every kind of calamity (Ps 66:12). The Jewish fugitives shall escape from the ruin of Jerusalem, only to fall into some other calamity.

8. trespass—rather, "they have perversely fallen into perverse rebellion." The Jews were not merely sinners as the other nations, but revolters and apostates. It is one thing to neglect what we know not, but quite another thing to despise what we profess to worship [Jerome], as the Jews did towards God and the law.