John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 15:1-5

"And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereof to make any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned: is it profitable for any work? Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work!" — Ezekiel 15:1-5 (ASV)

The Prophet’s intention is to humble the foolish confidence of the people, who boasted of the gratuitous kindness of God, as if they were naturally excellent. Hence, their obstinacy against His threats was also very great. For when the prophets reproved them sharply, they boasted of the remarkable gifts with which they were divinely adorned, as if God's benefits had armed them to resist His power; for we know they were so blinded.

Since, then, that disease had attacked the people, it is not surprising that the prophets refute such folly in many places. But the Prophet here uses a simile to show the Jews that their excellence was not intrinsic but only incidental, because God had treated them as worthy of remarkable benefits.

Since this is so, their arrogance is easily refuted when they set up their superiority in opposition to God, as if it were unique to them and not God’s special gift. But we must understand the simile Ezekiel uses: What is the vine more than other trees of the woods? It is true that the vine produces very good fruit and is therefore preferred to other trees; the very flower of the vine has a most delicious scent, but the fruit it produces proves its excellence.

For the wood of the vine is without elegance and shapeless; it does not grow to any thickness; it is slender, pliable, and twisted. In looking at a vine, it seems scarcely worth numbering among shrubs. If compared with trees, it clearly has no value, while the excellence of other trees, which surpasses all vines, is easily acknowledged.

For when we cast our eyes upon a branching tree, we are struck with admiration, while the vine lies at our feet. Therefore, if a tree is compared with the wood of the vine, the tree will be praised for its beauty, while the vine will be despised as a low and insignificant wood.

Hence God concludes that the Jews were in no respect more excellent than others, unless because they were planted by Himself, as He says in many places in Isaiah, O my vine, I have planted thee (Isaiah 5). Then in Psalm 80: He brought His vine out of Egypt, and planted and propagated it even to the sea (Psalms 80:9–12; Jeremiah 2:21).

Now we understand the Prophet’s meaning: namely, that the Jews indeed excelled in privileges, but not in nature, nor by themselves, but by the gratuitous kindness of God. And if other nations were compared with them, those other nations had greater dignity than the Jews.

We know that other nations flourished in arts, wealth, population, warlike valor, and in other respects; the profane nations were like lofty trees that grow up and attract all eyes to themselves.

But the Jews were like a vine that, being planted by God’s hand, deserved more praise than the fruitless trees of the wood. Ezekiel now carries on the comparison at greater length: If the vine is torn up, can its wood, he says, be fitted to any use? It will not make beams, tables, or any vessels; it will not make a peg or a hook on which to hang a hat, a cloak, or anything of the kind.

Since, then, the wood of the vine is useless when torn from the soil and is fit only for burning, the Jews are thus made aware of their condition. Their excellence and worthiness depend on the mere good pleasure of God. For, as He planted them, He can also pluck them up in a moment. And when they have been torn up, they will be altogether useless and will be cast into the fire, while the wood of other trees is of some use.

But the Prophet proceeds another step: If a bundle of twigs were cast into the fire, and its two ends were burnt up while the middle was only dried out, that scorched middle part would be even less useful. For since fire penetrates to the very marrow, wood that is half-consumed is reduced to powder by a mere touch. He afterwards applies what He had said about the vine to the city of Jerusalem. Therefore, let us go on to the rest of the context.