Parable of the Productive and Unproductive Vine

Ezekiel 15:1-8

judgmentfruitfulnesspurpose

Biblical Text

The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?

And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? 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?

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord."

— Ezekiel 15:1-7 (NIV)

Context

Ezekiel delivered this parable during the Babylonian exile to illustrate Jerusalem's uselessness when failing its divine purpose. The vine represents Israel, traditionally God's chosen vineyard, now failing to produce fruit.

Theological Interpretation

This parable illustrates the importance of fulfilling divine purpose. Unlike other trees valued for their wood, a vine's only value is in its fruit. When God's people fail their purpose of bearing spiritual fruit, they become worthless like an unproductive vine.