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Ezekiel 15

BSB·8 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Then the wordדְבַר־ḏə·ḇar- — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → cameוַיְהִ֥יway·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → to meאֵלַ֥י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃lê·mōr — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, 2Sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of manאָדָ֕ם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →, howמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → doesיִּֽהְיֶ֥הyih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → the woodעֵץ־‘êṣ- — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → of the vineהַגֶּ֖פֶןhag·ge·p̄en — grapevine; vine plantH1612 — Full Word Study → surpassמִכָּל־mik·kāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → any other branchהַזְּמוֹרָ֕הhaz·zə·mō·w·rāh — A branch or shoot of a vineH2156 — Full Word Study → among the treesבַּעֲצֵ֥יba·‘ă·ṣê — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → in the forestהַיָּֽעַר׃hay·yā·‘ar — Forest; woodland; honeycombH3293 — Full Word Study →? 3Can woodעֵ֔ץ‘êṣ — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → be takenהֲיֻקַּ֤חhă·yuq·qaḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → from itמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙mim·men·nū — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → to makeלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯ — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → something usefulלִמְלָאכָ֑הlim·lā·ḵāh — Work, labor, occupation; manufactured goods or craftH4399 — Full Word Study →? Orאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → can one makeיִקְח֤וּyiq·ḥū — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → from itמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙mim·men·nū — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → a pegיָתֵ֔דyā·ṯêḏ — Tent peg or stakeH3489 — Full Word Study → on whichעָלָ֖יו‘ā·lāw — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → to hangלִתְל֥וֹתliṯ·lō·wṯ — to hang, suspend, or hang upH8518 — Full Word Study → utensilsכֶּֽלִי׃ke·lî — vessel, instrument, or article of useH3627 — Full Word Study →? 4Noהִנֵּ֥הhin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study →, it is castנִתַּ֣ןnit·tan — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → into the fireלָאֵ֖שׁlā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → for fuelלְאָכְלָ֑הlə·’āḵ·lāh — Food, nourishment, provision for eatingH402 — Full Word Study →. The fireהָאֵשׁ֙hā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → devoursאָכְלָ֤ה’ā·ḵə·lāh — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → bothשְׁנֵ֨יšə·nê — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → endsקְצוֹתָ֜יוqə·ṣō·w·ṯāw — edge, border, or extremity of a placeH7098 — Full Word Study →, and the middleוְתוֹכ֣וֹwə·ṯō·w·ḵōw — midst, among, between, throughH8432 — Full Word Study → is charredנָחָ֔רnā·ḥār — to burn with anger; to scorch or kindleH2787 — Full Word Study →. Can it be usefulהֲיִצְלַ֖חhă·yiṣ·laḥ — To prosper, succeed, push forwardH6743 — Full Word Study → for anythingלִמְלָאכָֽה׃lim·lā·ḵāh — Work, labor, occupation; manufactured goods or craftH4399 — Full Word Study →? 5Evenהִנֵּה֙hin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → when it wasבִּֽהְיוֹת֣וֹbih·yō·w·ṯōw — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → wholeתָמִ֔יםṯā·mîm — Unblemished, whole, complete, perfectH8549 — Full Word Study →, it could notלֹ֥אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be madeיֵֽעָשֶׂ֖הyê·‘ā·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → usefulלִמְלָאכָ֑הlim·lā·ḵāh — Work, labor, occupation; manufactured goods or craftH4399 — Full Word Study →. How much lessאַ֣ף’ap̄ — Also, moreover, even, indeedH637 — Full Word Study → can it everע֖וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study → beוְנַעֲשָׂ֥הwə·na·‘ă·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → usefulלִמְלָאכָֽה׃סlim·lā·ḵāh — Work, labor, occupation; manufactured goods or craftH4399 — Full Word Study → whenכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the fireאֵ֤שׁ’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → has consumed itאֲכָלַ֙תְהוּ֙’ă·ḵā·laṯ·hū — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → and charred itוַיֵּחָ֔רway·yê·ḥār — to burn with anger; to scorch or kindleH2787 — Full Word Study →! 6Thereforeלָכֵ֗ןlā·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → this is whatכֹּ֤הkōh — thus, so, in this mannerH3541 — Full Word Study → the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study → GODיְהוִ֔הYah·weh — The LORD, the covenant God of IsraelH3069 — Full Word Study → saysאָמַר֙’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →: ‘Likeכַּאֲשֶׁ֤רka·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → the woodעֵץ־‘êṣ- — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → of the vineהַגֶּ֙פֶן֙hag·ge·p̄en — grapevine; vine plantH1612 — Full Word Study → among the treesבְּעֵ֣ץbə·‘êṣ — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → of the forestהַיַּ֔עַרhay·ya·‘ar — Forest; woodland; honeycombH3293 — Full Word Study →, whichאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → I have givenנְתַתִּ֥יוnə·ṯat·tîw — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → to the fireלָאֵ֖שׁlā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → for fuelלְאָכְלָ֑הlə·’āḵ·lāh — Food, nourishment, provision for eatingH402 — Full Word Study →, soכֵּ֣ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → I will give upנָתַ֔תִּיnā·ṯat·tî — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the peopleיֹשְׁבֵ֖יyō·šə·ḇê — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃yə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. 7And I will setוְנָתַתִּ֤יwə·nā·ṯat·tî — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → My faceפָּנַי֙pā·nay — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → against them. Though they may have escapedיָצָ֔אוּyā·ṣā·’ū — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → the fireמֵהָאֵ֣שׁmê·hā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study →, yet another fireוְהָאֵ֖שׁwə·hā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → will consume themתֹּֽאכְלֵ֑םtō·ḵə·lêm — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study →. And when I setבְּשׂוּמִ֥יbə·śū·mî — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → My faceפָּנַ֖יpā·nay — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → against them, you will knowוִֽידַעְתֶּם֙wî·ḏa‘·tem — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I am the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. 8Thus I will makeוְנָתַתִּ֥יwə·nā·ṯat·tî — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the landהָאָ֖רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → desolateשְׁמָמָ֑הšə·mā·māh — desolation, devastation, ruin, astonishmentH8077 — Full Word Study →, becauseיַ֚עַןya·‘an — Because; on account of; for the reason thatH3282 — Full Word Study → they have acted unfaithfullyמָ֣עֲלוּmā·‘ă·lū — to act treacherously; betray trust through unfaithfulnessH4603 — Full Word Study →,’ declaresנְאֻ֖םnə·’um — A solemn declaration; utterance of GodH5002 — Full Word Study → the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study → GODיְהוִֽה׃פYah·weh — The LORD, the covenant God of IsraelH3069 — Full Word Study →.”
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Chapter Commentary — Ezekiel 15
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Ezekiel 15 presents a powerful parable of judgment using the image of a useless vine. God asks the prophet to consider what value a grapevine has if it cannot produce fruit—its only worthwhile purpose. Unlike other trees that provide timber for building or crafting, a vine stripped of its fruit is fit for nothing but burning. Through this vivid metaphor, the Lord announces that Jerusalem and its inhabitants, who have failed in their calling to bear spiritual fruit and reflect His character, will face severe judgment. This chapter, written during the Babylonian siege, calls God's people to account for their unfaithfulness and warns that rejection of God's purposes leads inevitably to destruction.

Verses 1–5: The Parable of the Worthless Vine

The passage opens with God directing Ezekiel's attention to a simple but profound question: what distinguishes a vine from any other tree? In verse 2, the Lord asks whether a vine tree has any advantage or special utility compared to the trees of the forest. The answer becomes clear in verses 3–5: absolutely none, if we judge it by timber value alone.

Unlike oak or cedar, which yield strong, usable wood for construction and craftsmanship, a vine's wood is weak and crooked. Verse 3 points out that you cannot take timber from it to make useful items or even a simple peg to hang a vessel. Its sole purpose is to bear fruit. When that fruitfulness ends, the vine becomes worthless—fit only for the fire (verse 4). Even when the vine was whole and undamaged, it had no value as wood. Once it is burned and charred, its uselessness is complete (verse 5).

Application: This raises a searching question for believers: what is our purpose? Like the vine, we are not saved by God to accumulate earthly achievements or earthly success, but to bear fruit—fruit of righteousness, love, service, and witness to Christ. If we fail at this central calling, we become spiritually worthless, no matter how intact we appear outwardly.

Verses 6–8: The Application to Jerusalem

The parable now becomes prophecy. In verse 6, God makes the application explicit: just as the worthless vine is consigned to the fire, so will the inhabitants of Jerusalem be given to the fire. The people of Jerusalem are likened to a vine that has produced no fruit, failed in covenant faithfulness, and forfeited any claim to divine protection.

Verse 7 intensifies the judgment: God will set His face against them—an expression denoting His active opposition and withdrawal of favor. The phrase "they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them" describes the relentless, inescapable nature of coming judgment. First the Babylonian armies will strike; those who flee will find no refuge. The repeated burning symbolizes judgment upon judgment, with no escape. The repeated statement "ye shall know that I am the LORD" (verse 7) emphasizes that God's judgment itself becomes a revelation of His holiness and power.

Verse 8 concludes with the reason for desolation: trespass—a deliberate violation of covenant and law. The land itself will become desolate because its people have broken faith with the God who called them.

Application: God takes seriously the failure to bear spiritual fruit. Covenant unfaithfulness brings inevitable consequences. Yet even in judgment, God reveals Himself and His character.

Application for Today

Believers today must ask themselves honestly: Am I bearing fruit for Christ? Fruitlessness in the Christian life is not a minor issue—it strikes at the heart of our purpose. God has called us to bear fruit that remains (John 15:16). When we become spiritually unproductive through disobedience, compromise, or neglect of our relationship with Christ, we invite God's discipline. The good news is that repentance and return to Christ always remain possible. The vine's only hope was restoration to its fruitful purpose. Ours is the same: renewed devotion to Christ and obedience to His Word.

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