Ezekiel 15:4-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 15:1-8

The prophet, we may suppose, was thinking what a glorious city Jerusalem was, above any city in the world; it was the crown and joy of the whole earth; and therefore what a pity it was that it should be destroyed; it was a noble structure, the city of God, and the city of Israel's solemnities. But, if these were the thoughts of his heart, God here returns an answer to them by comparing Jerusalem to a vine. 1. It is true, if a vine be fruitful, it is a most valuable tree, none more so; it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 15:4

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel , That is; a vine tree when cut down, or a branch when cut off, it is good for nothing else; and that is the use it is generally put to; see John 15:6 ; and this, it is suggested, would be the end of the Jewish nation; who were become by their sins like a wild vine, and were fit fuel for the fire of divine wrath: the fire devoureth both the ends of it ; the branch cast into it, and so is quickly consumed. Kimchi explains this by Isaiah 9:12 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 15:5

Behold, when it was whole it was meet for no work ,.... Before it was cut into pieces, and east into the fire, it was not fit to make so much as a pin of to hang anything on; so Israel, when all together, before the ten tribes were carried captive, or the Jews before the captivity of Jeconiah, were useless and unfruitful, and to every good work reprobate: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned ? as its wood is good for nothing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 15:4

The fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned - Judea is like a vine branch thrown into the fire, which seizes on both the ends, and scorches the middle: so both the extremities of the land is wasted; and the middle, Jerusalem, is now threatened with a siege, and by and by will be totally destroyed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 15:1-8

The worthless vine. The vine represents Israel, and in its degenerate state it stands for the fallen, corrupt nation. Our Lord has taken up the image already familiar to us from Psalms 80:1-19 and Isaiah 5:1-30 , as well as from this passage in Ezekiel, so that his Church, now regarded as the spiritual Israel, may be typified in the old analogies of the vine ( John 15:1-27 ). I. WHEREIN THE WORTH OF THE VINE CONSISTS . "What is the vine tree more than any tree?" It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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

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