Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, will it yet be suitable for any work?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Behold, 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?
- BSB Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!
- NKJV Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?
- NASB Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!
- NLT Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If whole vine wood was useless, charred wood is far more so. Judgment leaves Jerusalem fit for nothing.
Overview
God reasons from lesser to greater: even sound vine wood served no purpose, so half-burned wood certainly will not. The argument seals the verdict. Jerusalem cannot appeal to its past, for as a vine it was always valued only for fruit, and now even that pretense is gone.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Jer 3:16It will come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days,” says Yahweh, “they will no longer say, ‘the ark of Yahweh’s covenant!’ It will not come to mind. They won’t remember it. They won’t miss it, nor will another be made.
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Christ at the center
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How Ezekiel 15:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.