King James Version
Ezekiel 15
8 verses with commentary
Jerusalem, A Useless Vine
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
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KJV Study Commentary
This prophetic formula introduces a parable about Israel as a vine, a common Old Testament metaphor (Psalm 80:8-16, Isaiah 5:1-7). The vine imagery emphasizes Israel's covenant relationship with God and her dependency on Him for fruitfulness. Unlike the parables of Jesus, Ezekiel's parables often carry judgment themes, revealing God's holiness and Israel's unfaithfulness.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. ye--**(See on Jr 40:1). His address is directed to the Jews as well as to Jeremiah. God makes the very heathen testify for Him against them (De 29:24, 25).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
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KJV Study Commentary
The rhetorical question highlights that vine wood is useless for construction or tools—its sole value lies in bearing fruit. This illustrates that Israel's purpose was to glorify God and bless the nations (Genesis 12:3), not to be valued for inherent national greatness. When covenant people fail their calling, they become worthless like unfruitful vine wood.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4. look well unto thee--**the very words of Nebuchadnezzar's charge (Jr 39:12).
**all the land is before thee ... seemeth good--**(Ge 20:15, Margin). Jeremiah alone had the option given him of staying where he pleased, when all the rest were either carried off or forced to remain there.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
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KJV Study Commentary
The uselessness of vine wood for even basic tasks like making pegs emphasizes total worthlessness apart from fruit-bearing. This parallels Jesus' teaching in John 15:5-6 that branches severed from the vine are fit only for burning. The rhetorical question demands acknowledgment of Israel's complete dependence on covenant relationship for any value.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**5. while he was not yet gone back--**parenthetical. When Jeremiah hesitated whether it would be best for him to go, Nebuzara-dan proceeded to say, "Go, then, to Gedaliah," (not as English Version, "Go back, also"), if thou preferrest (as Nebuzara-dan inferred from Jeremiah's hesitancy) to stop here rather than go with me.
**victuals--**(Is 33:16).
**reward--**rather, "a present." This must h...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →Behold, 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? Is it: Heb. Will it prosper?
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KJV Study Commentary
Fire judgment imagery appears throughout Ezekiel (chapters 5, 16, 19, 21). The partially burned vine wood is even more useless—judgment has already begun but not completed. This refers to the deportations under Jehoiachin (597 BC) which Jerusalem survived but failed to repent from, making final destruction inevitable.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**6. Mizpah--**in Benjamin, northwest of Jerusalem (Jr 41:5, 6, 9). Not the Mizpah in Gilead, beyond Jordan (Jud 10:17). Jeremiah showed his patriotism and piety in remaining in his country amidst afflictions and notwithstanding the ingratitude of the Jews, rather than go to enjoy honors and pleasures in a heathen court (He 11:24-26). This vindicates his purity of motive in his withdrawal (Jr 37:1...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →Behold, 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? meet: Heb. made fit
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KJV Study Commentary
The logical progression is devastating: if vine wood was worthless when whole, partial destruction makes it completely useless. This refutes any hope that Jerusalem's partial judgment would leave her viable. The argument moves from less to greater, a common prophetic technique (qal wahomer in Hebrew logic).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**7. captains ... in the fields--**The leaders of the Jewish army had been "scattered" throughout the country on the capture of Zedekiah (Jr 52:8), in order to escape the notice of the Chaldeans.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →Therefore 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
God directly applies the parable: Jerusalem's inhabitants are the fruitless vine destined for fire. The phrase 'set my face against them' appears throughout Ezekiel (14:8, 15:7) signifying irreversible judgment. This doesn't contradict God's mercy but reveals that persistent rebellion exhausts patience, especially for those with covenant privileges (Amos 3:2).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**8. Netophathite--**from Netophah, a town in Judah (2Sa 23:28).
**Maachathite--**from Maachathi, at the foot of Mount Hermon (De 3:14).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →And 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
The phrase 'they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them' indicates that escaping the first judgment (597 BC deportation) wouldn't save them from final destruction (586 BC). Each judgment is meant to reveal the LORD's character and sovereignty. The covenant formula 'ye shall know that I am the LORD' appears over 60 times in Ezekiel.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9. Fear not--**They were afraid that they should not obtain pardon from the Chaldeans for their acts. He therefore assured them of safety by an oath.
**serve--**literally, "to stand before" (Jr 40:10; Jr 52:12), that is, to be at hand ready to execute the commands of the king of Babylon.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD. committed: Heb. trespassed a trespass
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KJV Study Commentary
The land's desolation reflects covenant curses (Leviticus 26:31-35, Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The Hebrew word 'ma'al' (trespassed/acted unfaithfully) is a technical term for covenant violation, emphasizing that judgment stems from broken relationship, not arbitrary divine wrath. This reveals God's righteousness in judgment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**10. Mizpah--**lying on the way between Babylon and Judah, and so convenient for transacting business between the two countries.
**As for me ... but ye--**He artfully, in order to conciliate them, represents the burden of the service to the Chaldeans as falling on him, while they may freely gather their wine, fruits, and oil. He does not now add that these very fruits were to constitute the chi...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 15
Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total negl...
Read full commentary →