Ezekiel 15 3

Ezekiel 15:3 kjv

Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

Ezekiel 15:3 nkjv

Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on?

Ezekiel 15:3 niv

Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?

Ezekiel 15:3 esv

Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it?

Ezekiel 15:3 nlt

Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and pans?

Ezekiel 15 verses

Ezekiel 15 3 Meaning

Ezekiel 15:3 employs a pair of rhetorical questions, powerfully asserting the intrinsic worthlessness of vine wood for any practical construction or supportive purpose. The questions imply a definitive negative response: vine wood cannot be used to craft useful objects or fashioned into a sturdy peg for hanging items. Its physical properties—softness, brittleness, and tendency to decay quickly—render it unsuitable for any enduring or constructive human endeavor. This establishes the premise that if the vine wood fails in its primary purpose of bearing fruit, it has no alternative value and is essentially fit only for burning. The verse thus sets the allegorical foundation for describing the unusefulness of unfaithful Judah to God.

Ezekiel 15 3 Context

Ezekiel chapter 15 introduces one of three powerful allegories (chapters 15, 16, 17) used by God to explain and justify His impending judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah. Preceding chapters vividly describe Jerusalem's deep-seated idolatry and the inevitability of divine punishment. Against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile and the siege of Jerusalem, the people of Judah held onto the belief that, as God's chosen "vine," they possessed inherent worth and a guaranteed place in His plan, regardless of their unfaithfulness. Ezekiel directly challenges this dangerous self-perception. The allegory of the vine wood highlights that Israel's value was never inherent in its "wood" (its status as a chosen nation) but rather in its "fruit" (its righteousness, justice, and faithfulness). Having failed catastrophically in producing good fruit, this passage argues that their status alone made them no more useful to God than unproductive, brittle vine branches destined only for fire.

Ezekiel 15 3 Word analysis

• Is wood (הַיִּקַּח Hāyyiqqach עֵץ ‘ēṣ):
  • Hāyyiqqach functions as an interrogative prefix + the verb "to take" (yikkach), directly posing a question about utility.
  • ‘ēṣ (etz) translates to "wood" or "tree." In the context of the vine, it specifically refers to the material itself, devoid of its fruit-bearing capacity. Unlike other woods used for durable purposes (e.g., cedar for temple construction), vine wood's intrinsic weakness is its defining characteristic.
• taken from it (מִמֶּנָּה mimmennāh):
  • This phrase refers back to "the vine tree" (עֵץ הַגֶּפֶן ‘etz haggefen) of Ezekiel 15:2. It emphasizes that the inherent properties of the vine itself are being questioned, not some other source of wood.
• to make (לַעֲשׂוֹת l‘ăśôṯ):
  • An infinitive verb indicating an action or purpose. It points to human intention in crafting or shaping.
• anything useful (בּוֹ מְלָאכָה bô məlā’ḵâ):
  • מְלָאכָה (melakah) means "work," "business," or "craft." The phrase implies the creation of something of lasting value, something structurally sound, or something that serves a significant, constructive function in society. Vine wood's softness and proneness to decay prohibit its use in such endeavors.
• Or can men take (אִם יִקְחוּ ’im yiqqăḥû):
  • ’im (im) introduces a second, parallel rhetorical question, providing a specific, tangible example to reinforce the general point of uselessness. yiqqăḥû (they take) reflects general human practice or an attempt to use.
• a peg (יָתֵד yāṯēḏ):
  • A yāṯēḏ (yathed) is a "peg," "tent-peg," or "nail." These objects are critical for support, stability, and holding things securely, whether securing a tent (Judg. 4:21) or hanging household items. It demands strength and resilience. The ironic use here underscores vine wood's utter failure to provide any reliable support. This sharply contrasts with positive portrayals of pegs as sources of stability (e.g., Isa. 22:23).
• from it (מִמֶּנּוּ mimmennû):
  • Again, directly specifying the vine wood as the inadequate source material.
• to hang (לִתְלוֹת liṯlôṯ):
  • The verb implies suspension, suggesting the peg would bear weight.
• any vessel (כָּל-כְּלִי kol-kəli):
  • כְּלִי (keli) refers to a "vessel," "utensil," "implement," or "article." The term "any vessel" broadens the scope, indicating that the wood cannot even support a simple, everyday household item, regardless of its size or weight. This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of its unsuitability.
• on it (עָלָיו ‘ālāyw):
  • Specifies the surface or point of attachment (the peg).

Words-group analysis

• "Is wood taken from it to make anything useful?": This fundamental question probes the inherent material value and practical utility of vine wood. It serves as a direct challenge to Judah's presumptions of inherent worth based merely on their status as God's chosen. Without fulfilling its primary purpose of fruit-bearing, the vine wood, like unfaithful Judah, possesses no secondary constructive value to God.
• "Or can men take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it?": This follow-up rhetorical question solidifies the initial premise by providing a vivid, relatable example of the wood's uselessness. The inadequacy of vine wood for a "peg" highlights its complete lack of structural integrity and stability. This implicitly criticizes Judah's inability to provide spiritual support, strength, or faithfulness, which were their divinely ordained roles as a witness to the nations.

Ezekiel 15 3 Bonus section

The allegory of the vine wood draws its power from an everyday observation for ancient Near Eastern people. Unlike woods like cedar or oak, which possess inherent structural integrity for building even when they don't produce fruit, vine wood is notably weak, crooked, and porous. Farmers commonly removed dead or unproductive vine branches and burned them, as they were unsuitable for any other purpose. This immediate and final disposal underlines the irreversible nature of Judah's judgment once their spiritual barrenness was fully manifest. This perspective acts as a divine dismissal of false pride or presumption of lasting favor, reinforcing that function and obedience—not merely election—were paramount in God's eyes.

Ezekiel 15 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 15:3 is the pivotal question within the vine allegory, establishing the physical limitations and resulting worthlessness of vine wood, a truth directly transferable to unfaithful Jerusalem. The prophet systematically disassembles the idea of any inherent value in the vine wood once it ceases to bear fruit. Its inherent composition makes it unsuitable for creating useful implements or for providing stable support as a peg—critical elements of practical life. This direct material assessment serves as a stark metaphor for Judah: without its spiritual fruit—righteousness, justice, and faithfulness—its special covenant status bestowed by God offers no inherent secondary value or utility. Having forfeited its primary purpose through apostasy and rebellion, Jerusalem, like discarded vine branches, has rendered itself purposeless and fit only for destructive judgment by fire, rather than for restoration or repurposing into something beneficial.