Ezekiel 15:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 15:1-8

The worthless vineyard. The prophet was inspired to point the reproach of the Hebrew people, by reference to their ingratitude, their unfaithfulness, and their failure to fulfil the special purpose for which they were exalted to a position of peculiar privilege. In this passage, as in a similar passage in the fifth chapter of Isaiah's prophecies, the similitude of the vine is employed to set forth, on the one hand, Divine care, culture, and forbearance; and, on the other hand, national... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 15:1-8

Useless, if fruitless. The nation of the Hebrews is often represented under the image of a vine. This, with the olive, was its staple production. It may be that ever since the visit of the spies, who brought back the gigantic cluster of grapes from Eshcol, the vine had served as a standing emblem of the empire. In the Psalms of David, and in the poetical utterances of Isaiah, frequent mention is made of Israel under the symbol of a vine. And amid the ruins of ancient buildings in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 15:1-8

The true object of the life of man. "And the word of the Lord came irate me, saying, Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree?" etc. Israel is here compared to a vine. The figure is frequently applied to her (cf Psalms 80:8-16 ; Isaiah 5:1-7 ). If a vine be fruitful, it is very highly valued. Its fruit is said to make "glad the heart of man," and to "cheer God and man." But if it be not fruitful, of what use is it? It is of no use as timber. If other trees fail to bring... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 15:2

What is the vine tree, etc.? The prophet's mind had apparently been dwelling, after the close of his previous utterance, on the imagery of earlier writers, in which Israel had appeared as the vine of Jehovah ( Genesis 49:22 ; Psalms 80:9 ; Hosea 10:1 ; Isaiah 5:1-30 .; Deuteronomy 32:32 ; Jeremiah 2:21 ), and to which he himself refers again in Ezekiel 19:10 . He saw how men might pervert that image to their own destruction. And he expands the parable, as our Lord does in ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 15:3

Shall wood be taken thereof, etc.? As a timber tree, then, the vine was confessedly valueless. No carpenter would use it, even for the peg upon which men hang their cups, and which had become, as in Isaiah 22:23 , the symbol of political stability (comp. also Zechariah 10:4 ). For the unfruitful vine branch these remained the doom of being cast into the fire ( John 15:6 ). What was its worth when it was half burned at either end and in the middle? What would Israel be fit for when it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 15:2

The vine ... - The image is grounded on a well-known figure Psalms 80:8; Isaiah 5:0. The comparison is not between the vine and other trees, but between the wood of the vine and the wood of other trees. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 15:4

Behold, it is cast into the fire - The wood is in itself useless for any purpose; but what if it have been cast into the fire, and half burned, what of it then? read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 15:1-5

Ezekiel 15:1-5. What is the vine more than any tree? The house of Israel is often compared to a vine, which when fruitful is very profitable and valuable, but when barren is very worthless and contemptible. Of this the prophet reminds the Jews to humble them, and awaken them to a sense of the importance of bringing forth the fruits of righteousness. Or, than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? One single branch of a tree in the forest is of more use and value than the whole... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 15:1-8

The useless vine (15:1-8)Judah was one nation among many, like a vine among the trees of the forest. The question is asked: Is the timber of the vine better than the timber of other trees? The answer: No; as timber it is useless, not even fit to make a peg from which to hang a cooking pot. It is still more useless if it has been half burnt in a fire (15:1-5).The nation Judah was useless and was already half destroyed through Babylon’s attacks. Like the half-burnt vine thrown back on the fire,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezekiel 15:1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . read more

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