Ezekiel 15:6

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.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; As the vine {H1612} tree {H6086} among the trees {H6086} of the forest {H3293}, which I have given {H5414} to the fire {H784} for fuel {H402}, so will I give {H5414} the inhabitants {H3427} of Jerusalem {H3389}.

"So Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'Like wood from the vine among the trees of the forest, which I consign to the fire as fuel, so I give those living in Yerushalayim.

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: โ€˜Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem.

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: 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.

Commentary

Ezekiel 15:6 delivers a stark and sobering message from the Lord GOD, comparing the inhabitants of Jerusalem to a vine tree that is utterly worthless for anything but fuel. This powerful analogy underscores God's severe judgment on His chosen people due to their profound unfruitfulness and rebellion.

Context

This verse is part of a short, impactful prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 15, delivered to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. The chapter serves as a parable, questioning the inherent value of a vine. Unlike other trees, a vine's wood is not suitable for construction or crafting; its sole purpose is to bear fruit. If it fails in this purpose, it is deemed useless and fit only for burning. Here, God applies this metaphor directly to Jerusalem, indicating that despite its privileged status as God's "vine" (as seen in Isaiah 5:1-7), it has become barren and ripe for judgment, just like a fruitless vine consigned to the fire.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The primary message is God's impending and severe judgment upon Jerusalem. The phrase "so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem" highlights God's sovereign hand in their destiny.
  • Unfruitfulness and Worthlessness: The core of the parable is the vine's lack of fruit. Jerusalem, representing God's people, had failed to produce the spiritual fruit of righteousness, justice, and obedience, rendering them worthless in God's eyes for their intended purpose.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The "fire for fuel" symbolizes the destructive consequences of their persistent rebellion and spiritual barrenness. It signifies purification through severe trials and ultimate destruction for those who refuse to repent.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "vine tree" is gephen (ื’ึผึถืคึถืŸ), a common biblical symbol for Israel or Judah, often representing their special relationship with God and their responsibility to bear fruit for Him. The imagery of "fire for fuel" is potent, indicating complete consumption and destruction. It suggests that Jerusalem, having failed its divine purpose, would be utterly consumed by God's judgment, leaving nothing of value behind.

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 15:6 serves as a powerful warning against spiritual complacency and unfruitfulness. For ancient Israel, it was a stark declaration of their impending doom, specifically the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Babylon. For believers today, this passage carries timeless relevance:

  • Purpose of Life: Just as a vine is meant to bear fruit, believers are called to produce spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) that honors God and blesses others. This fruit includes righteousness, good works, and faithfulness.
  • Consequences of Unfruitfulness: The passage reminds us that God takes our spiritual productivity seriously. While salvation is by grace through faith, a life devoid of fruit indicates a disconnect from the "true vine," Jesus Christ, and invites divine discipline or judgment.
  • God's Justice: It underscores God's unwavering justice. He is not merely a God of love but also a God who judges sin and rebellion, even among those He has chosen, when they persistently reject His ways. The severity of the judgment reflects the gravity of their unfaithfulness.

This verse challenges us to examine our lives: are we bearing fruit for God's glory, or have we become like the unfruitful vine, destined for a different purpose?

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 17:3

    And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

  • Ezekiel 17:10

    Yea, behold, [being] planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.

  • Jeremiah 25:18

    [To wit], Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as [it is] this day;

  • Jeremiah 4:7

    The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

  • Jeremiah 44:21

    The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it [not] into his mind?

  • Jeremiah 44:27

    Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that [are] in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

  • Jeremiah 24:8

    And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
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