Ezekiel 15:5
New International Version
If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?

New Living Translation
Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!

English Standard Version
Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!

Berean Standard Bible
Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

New American Standard Bible
Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!

NASB 1995
“Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!

NASB 1977
“Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!

Amplified Bible
Notice this, even when it was complete, it was not useful and was not made into anything. How much less, after the fire has burned [part of] it and [the remainder of] it is charred, can it still be made into anything?

Christian Standard Bible
Even when it was whole it could not be made into a useful object. How much less can it ever be made into anything useful when the fire has devoured it and it is charred! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Even when it was whole it could not be made into a useful object. How much less can it ever be made into anything useful when the fire has devoured it and it is charred!”

American Standard Version
Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work!

Contemporary English Version
The wood is useless before it is burned, and afterwards, it is completely worthless.

English Revised Version
Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn't be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?

Good News Translation
It was useless even before it was burned. Now that the fire has burned it and charred it, it is even more useless."

International Standard Version
If it was useless before it was burned, now that it's been burned and charred through, it's even more useless!

Majority Standard Bible
Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

NET Bible
Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred?

New Heart English Bible
Look, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, when it was whole, it was fit for no work: how much less then shall it be fit for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

World English Bible
Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it has been burned, will it yet be suitable for any work?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, in its being perfect it is not used for work, "" How much less when fire has eaten of it, "" And it is scorched, "" Has it been used yet for work?”

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, in its being perfect it is not used for work, How much less, when fire hath eaten of it, And it is scorched, Hath it been used yet for work?

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, in its being whole, it will not do for work: but if the fire consumed it, and it was burnt, did it yet do for work?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Even when it was whole it was not fit for work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured and consumed it, shall any work be made of it?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Even when it was whole, it was unsuitable for a work. How much more so, when fire has devoured it and burned it up, will nothing of it be useful?

New American Bible
Even when it is whole it cannot be used for anything; So when fire has devoured and charred it, how useful can it be?

New Revised Standard Version
When it was whole it was used for nothing; how much less—when the fire has consumed it, and it is charred— can it ever be used for anything!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, when it was whole, it was not useful for implements; how much less shall it be useful when the fire has devoured it and it is destroyed?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when it was without defect, it was not going to serve, now that the fire has consumed it and laid it waste, what use is it going to serve?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work; how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is singed, shall it yet be meet for any work?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Not even while it is yet whole will it be useful for any work: if the fire shall have utterly consumed it, will it still be fit for work?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jerusalem the Useless Vine
4No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything? 5Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it! 6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘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.…

Cross References
John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...

Luke 13:6-9
Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ...

Romans 11:17-24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

Jeremiah 2:21
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?

Psalm 80:8-16
You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ...

Hosea 10:1
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.

Isaiah 27:11
When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

Matthew 3:10
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

Hebrews 6:7-8
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. / But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

Isaiah 44:14-15
He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow. / It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread. He also fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.

Jeremiah 11:16-17
The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree, beautiful with well-formed fruit. But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire, and its branches will be consumed. / The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.”

2 Kings 19:24
I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”


Treasury of Scripture

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 has devoured it, and it is burned?

meet [heb] made fit

Jump to Previous
Burned Charred Consumed Cut Devoured Eaten Fire Fit Intact Less Meet Perfect Scorched Singed Something Used Useful Whole Work
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Burned Charred Consumed Cut Devoured Eaten Fire Fit Intact Less Meet Perfect Scorched Singed Something Used Useful Whole Work
Ezekiel 15
1. By the unfitness of the vine branch for any work
6. is shown the rejection of Jerusalem














Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful.
This phrase refers to the wood of the vine, which is a metaphor for the people of Jerusalem. In ancient Israel, the vine was a common symbol for the nation (Psalm 80:8-16; Isaiah 5:1-7). Unlike other trees, the wood of a vine is not suitable for construction or crafting; its primary purpose is to bear fruit. This imagery highlights the spiritual barrenness of Israel, as they failed to fulfill their covenantal role to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6). The vine's inability to be useful when whole underscores the idea that Israel, even at its best, was not fulfilling its intended purpose.

How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!
The fire represents God's judgment, which had already begun to fall upon Jerusalem due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience (Ezekiel 14:12-23). The charring of the vine signifies the destruction and devastation that comes as a result of this judgment. In the context of Ezekiel's prophecies, this serves as a warning of the impending Babylonian exile. The rhetorical question emphasizes the hopelessness of the situation; if the vine was useless before, it is even more so after being burned. This can be seen as a call to repentance, urging the people to recognize their spiritual state and turn back to God. The imagery also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and purification that will come through Christ, who is the true vine (John 15:1-5), offering redemption and restoration to those who abide in Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites.

2. Israel
Represented metaphorically as a vine in this passage, Israel is being judged for its unfaithfulness and lack of fruitfulness.

3. Babylonian Exile
The historical context of Ezekiel's prophecies, where the Israelites were taken captive due to their disobedience to God.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Fruitfulness
Just as a vine is expected to produce fruit, believers are called to bear spiritual fruit. Without fruit, our faith is ineffective and subject to judgment.

The Consequences of Unfaithfulness
Israel's failure to live up to its calling resulted in severe consequences. This serves as a warning to remain faithful and obedient to God's commands.

The Role of Trials
The imagery of fire consuming the vine can be seen as a metaphor for trials and judgment. These experiences can refine and purify, but they also reveal the true nature of our faith.

Dependence on God
Just as a vine cannot thrive without proper care, believers must remain connected to God through prayer, scripture, and community to grow and bear fruit.

Restoration and Hope
Despite judgment, God offers hope and restoration. Believers can find encouragement in God's promises of renewal and redemption.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Even
הִנֵּה֙ (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

when it was
בִּֽהְיוֹת֣וֹ (bih·yō·w·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

whole,
תָמִ֔ים (ṯā·mîm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

it could not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be made
יֵֽעָשֶׂ֖ה (yê·‘ā·śeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

useful.
לִמְלָאכָ֑ה (lim·lā·ḵāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

How much less
אַ֣ף (’ap̄)
Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

can it ever
ע֖וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

be
וְנַעֲשָׂ֥ה (wə·na·‘ă·śāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

useful
לִמְלָאכָֽה׃ (lim·lā·ḵāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

when
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the fire
אֵ֤שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

has consumed
אֲכָלַ֙תְהוּ֙ (’ă·ḵā·laṯ·hū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

and charred it!
וַיֵּחָ֔ר (way·yê·ḥār)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2787: To be hot or scorched, to burn


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 15:5 Behold when it was whole it was (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 15:4
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