Ezekiel 15
What Happens in This Chapter
God gives Ezekiel a short picture about a grapevine. Vine wood is not good for building anything, and once it is burned it is even less use. God says the people of Jerusalem are like that wood: he will hand them over, turn against them, and leave their land empty, because they were not faithful to him.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1A message from God came to me. God said:
2Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
2"Son of man, is the wood of a grapevine any better than other wood? Is it better than a branch from a tree in the forest?"
"Son of man" is what God calls Ezekiel all through this book. It simply means a human being.
3Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
3"Can anyone take its wood and build something useful? Can you even make a peg from it to hang a pot on?"
A "pin" in old English is a peg, like a hook on a wall. A "vessel" is a pot or a bowl.
4Behold, 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?
4"No. It gets thrown into the fire to burn. The fire eats up both ends. The middle turns black. Is it good for anything now?"
"Is it meet" is old English for "is it useful" or "is it good for the job."
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?
5"Even when the wood was whole, it was no use at all. So it is much less use now. The fire has eaten it and burned it black."
6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
6"So this is what the Lord GOD says. Vine wood among the forest trees is only good for burning. I have handed it over to the fire. I will hand over the people of Jerusalem the same way."
7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
7"I will turn against them. Some may get away from one fire. But another fire will burn them up. When I turn against them, you will know that I am the LORD."
8And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.
8"I will make the land empty and bare. They broke their promises to me, says the Lord GOD."
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