3By the unfitness of the vine branch for any work 6is shewed the utter rejection of Jerusalem.
1AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, What is the vine 1tree 2more than any tree, 3or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
1 Namely, after it is cut down. Other, wood.
2 That is, better, of more value, more suitable. He wants to say: Not a whit, but is rather worse, both in form, which is crooked, knotty and ugly, and of the material itself, this would be unsuitable to make any wooden vessel or any piece of work from it.
3 Other, or the vine-branch more than what is among the wood of a forest?
3Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men 4take 5a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
4 Hebr. do they take a pin of it, that is, shall a man be able to take of it suitable stuff to make only a wooden pin on which he would hang some piece of household stuff or working tool?
5 That is, a wooden peg.
4Behold, it is cast into the fire 6for fuel; the fire devoureth 7both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. 8Is it meet for any work?
6 Other, for consumption, or, for food. Also verse 6.
7 Some understand by the ends all the borders of the land which were wasted round about, and by the midst Jerusalem.
8 This question implies a strong rejection. For, since the vine-wood, without being shaped, is very unfit to make anything of it, as such it is much more unfit when it is spoiled or damaged by the fire.
5Behold, 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?
6¶Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As 9the vine tree among 10the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
9 The Jews and those of Jerusalem are compared to this; whom God Himself had set apart for His own people, in order that they would bring forth good fruits. See Isa. 5:1, 2, etc.; John 15:1, 2, etc.
10 Understand the heathen and nations, who were unbelievers, and consequently unfruitful to all good works. Now by these words the Jews are joined in a similar judgment, because by their willful unthankfulness they made void the privilege which by God’s grace they had above them.
7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from 11one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
11 Namely, of miseries and plagues. See Job 15 on verse 34. The meaning is, that they would no sooner have escaped one plague, but they would fall into another, as from the famine into the pestilence, or from the sword into captivity. Compare Isa. 24:18; Jer. 48:43.
8And I will make the land desolate, because they have 12committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.
12 Hebr. have transgressed transgression. Compare Ezek. 14:13.