Ezekiel 15:4

4 So now it is thrown in the fire as fuel, the fire consumes both ends of it, and the middle of it is singed is it useful now for making something?

Ezekiel 15:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 15:4

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel,
That is; a vine tree when cut down, or a branch when cut off, it is good for nothing else; and that is the use it is generally put to; see ( John 15:6 ) ; and this, it is suggested, would be the end of the Jewish nation; who were become by their sins like a wild vine, and were fit fuel for the fire of divine wrath: the fire devoureth both the ends of it;
the branch cast into it, and so is quickly consumed. Kimchi explains this by ( Isaiah 9:12 ) ; "the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind, and they devour Israel with open mouth"; and Abendana of the ten tribes; but it seems only to design how soon the fire takes it; and how inevitable the consumption is when it is fired at both ends: and the midst of it is burnt:
presently; it being dried, and reduced to a brand by the heat of the fire at both ends: this Kimchi interprets of the city of Jerusalem, which was in the midst of the land: is it meet for [any] work?
no; for if it was not fit for any work when cut down, or cut off, much less when burnt in the fire.

Ezekiel 15:4 In-Context

2 "Human being, why should wood from a grapevine be better than some other kind of wood, than some branch that one might find among the trees of the forest?
3 Its wood can't be used to make anything, not even a pin on which to hang a pot.
4 So now it is thrown in the fire as fuel, the fire consumes both ends of it, and the middle of it is singed is it useful now for making something?
5 When it was whole, it was good for nothing; so how much less, when the fire has consumed it, and it is singed, will it be useful for making something!
6 "So Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'Like wood from the vine among the trees of the forest, which I consign to the fire as fuel, so I give those living in Yerushalayim.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.