Ezekiel 15 4

Ezekiel 15:4 kjv

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

Ezekiel 15:4 nkjv

Instead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work?

Ezekiel 15:4 niv

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?

Ezekiel 15:4 esv

Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?

Ezekiel 15:4 nlt

No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly.

Ezekiel 15 verses

Ezekiel 15 4 Meaning

Ezekiel 15:4 illustrates the complete degradation and utter uselessness of the vine wood, symbolizing the nation of Jerusalem/Judah. Despite its initial election as God's chosen "vine," its pervasive unfaithfulness and spiritual corruption have rendered it valueless. The verse highlights that this vine wood, already poor for any practical purpose, is fit only for the fire as fuel. Even then, the fire's consumption leaves it even more broken and charred, affirming its irreversible state of worthlessness and inability to serve any constructive end after undergoing divine judgment. It emphasizes a state beyond salvage.

Ezekiel 15 4 Context

Ezekiel 15:4 is part of a series of judgments pronounced against Jerusalem and Judah during the prophet Ezekiel's exile following the first deportation. Chapter 15 itself presents a vivid and somewhat unsettling allegory. God, speaking through Ezekiel, compares Jerusalem to the wood of a vine. Unlike earlier vine parables (e.g., Isa 5) which lamented Israel's lack of good fruit, Ezekiel's parable goes deeper, questioning the intrinsic value of the vine wood itself. Verses 2-3 establish that vine wood, by its very nature, is of inferior quality compared to other tree woods; it is not strong enough for construction or crafting. It possesses little inherent usefulness. This immediate context sets the stage for verse 4, which then describes the only apparent utility for such wood—as fuel for fire—and reveals that even this purpose results in a state of enhanced uselessness. The historical context reflects a time when Jerusalem, God's chosen city, had deeply corrupted itself through idolatry and injustice, departing from its covenant responsibilities. The "vine wood" imagery signifies the once-chosen people, now devoid of spiritual vitality and integrity, thus prepared for divine purification and judgment.

Ezekiel 15 4 Word analysis

• Behold (Heb. הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection designed to capture immediate attention and introduce a crucial, often dramatic, declaration. Here, it signals the stark reality of the vine's fate.
• it is cast (Heb. נָתוּן - natun from נָתַן - nathan, 'to give,' 'to put,' 'to place,' here in passive, implying action from an external agent): Denotes a decisive and deliberate action taken against the vine, not an accidental occurrence. This highlights God's sovereignty and active role in its destiny.
• into the fire (Heb. לָאֵשׁ - la'esh): Designates the specific agent and place of judgment. Fire throughout scripture represents divine wrath, testing, purification, and destruction.
• for fuel (Heb. לְאָכְלָה - l'okhla, literally "for food" but in the context of fire, it means for consumption, serving as combustible material): This emphasizes its ultimate, most ignoble, and most destructive use. It possesses no higher purpose; it is merely matter to be consumed.
• The fire devoureth (Heb. וַתּאכַל - vat'okhal, from אָכַל - akhal, 'to eat,' 'to consume,' used here metaphorically for fire): Personifies the fire as an active, hungry entity aggressively consuming its object. This underscores the thoroughness of the destruction.
• both the ends of it (Heb. וּקְצֹותָיו - u'qetsotayv, lit. "and its ends"): Refers to the extremities or periphery of the wood. The focus on the ends suggests a comprehensive assault, starting from the outer limits.
• and the midst of it (Heb. וְתוֹכֹו - v'tokho, lit. "and its inside/middle"): Refers to the core or center of the wood. This emphasizes that the destructive work of the fire reaches every part, ensuring total degradation.
• is burned (Heb. נִחָר - nikhar, from חָרַר - kharar, meaning 'to glow with heat,' 'to be scorched,' 'charred'): This specific verb is crucial. It suggests that the middle is not fully consumed to ash, but rather intensely scorched and charred. This leaves the core damaged beyond repair, in an even more degraded state than simply being consumed. The damage is complete, leaving it utterly useless, perhaps even more so than before it was touched by fire.
• Is it meet (Heb. הֲיִצְלַח - ha-yitslakh, from צָלַח - tsalakh, 'to be suitable,' 'to prosper,' 'to succeed,' here as an interrogative): This is a rhetorical question. The 'Ha-' (הֲ) prefix signals an inquiry, and the expected answer is a resounding "No." It underscores the fundamental unsuitability.
• for any work? (Heb. לִמְלָאכָה - li'mla'kha, lit. "for work," "for service," "for a task"): Refers to any form of practical, constructive, or beneficial employment. The phrase concludes the argument by definitively stating its lack of purpose.

• "Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel": This phrase introduces the immediate consequence of the vine wood's intrinsic worthlessness. It points directly to God's judgment and the only "purpose" the unfruitful people serve: to be consumed in judgment.
• "The fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned": This vividly depicts the intensity and completeness of the divine judgment. The destruction is not superficial; it penetrates to the core. The differentiation between "devoureth" (complete consumption of ends) and "is burned/charred" (degradation of the middle) emphasizes the thoroughness and irreversible nature of the damage, leaving no part salvageable.
• "Is it meet for any work?": A powerful rhetorical question that delivers the final verdict. Even after being subjected to the consuming fire, the wood becomes even less suitable for any purpose. This highlights the absolute worthlessness of those upon whom God's judgment has fallen; their usefulness is negated, their purpose unfulfilled.

Ezekiel 15 4 Bonus section

The parable in Ezekiel 15 specifically focuses on the wood of the vine, contrasting with other prophetic images that lament the vine's lack of fruit. This distinction is significant: it suggests that Jerusalem, Israel's spiritual state, was not merely unproductive but had, through its persistent rebellion, lost even its inherent quality or potential. Unlike a noble tree that provides timber even if it doesn't fruit, the vine's wood holds little intrinsic value. By portraying Jerusalem as such wood, Ezekiel underscores that their identity as the chosen people was less about their innate worth and more about God's sovereign choice. When they rejected that choice and defiled it, their chosenness, rather than protecting them, amplified the severity of their uselessness. The emphasis on the "charred" middle (נִחָר - nikhar) suggests that the destruction wasn't simply consumption to ashes, which could perhaps represent a complete end. Instead, it was left in a state of grotesque ruin—damaged, disfigured, but not fully gone, rendering it even more lamentably useless and beyond recovery. This intensified state of brokenness serves as a potent image of the exiles' perceived state following the Babylonian destruction.

Ezekiel 15 4 Commentary

Ezekiel 15:4 is a powerful declaration of God's righteous judgment against Jerusalem, metaphorically depicted as the worthless wood of a vine. Having been specially chosen by God to bear fruit and reveal His glory (His "vine"), Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and spiritual corruption rendered them spiritually barren and intrinsically useless. This verse signifies that the only remaining purpose for such a nation is to become fuel for divine wrath. The description of fire consuming the ends and charring the middle is crucial: it shows a comprehensive and severe judgment that does not fully annihilate but rather degrades to an even greater state of uselessness. Even after this consuming judgment, what remains is not fit for any constructive purpose, solidifying the message of irreversible rejection due to deep-seated unfaithfulness. The passage serves as a sobering reminder that a privileged status, when squandered through disobedience, leads to profound and ultimate destruction.For example, consider a once-fine musical instrument (like Jerusalem chosen by God) that through neglect and misuse, warps and cracks (unfaithfulness). Even if parts of it are then forcefully 'cleaned' or partially burned (judgment), it will never be playable again, its former purpose entirely lost.