For Son of man (International Children’s Bible “Human being”),

How does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?: Almost all translations have this comparison between the wood of the grapevine and other wood. Most ask how the vine wood is “better” than the wood of other trees (so New International Version, New Century Version, NJKV, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but this does not fit well in the context. Others draw a general comparison, based on how useful the wood is; for example, New Living Translation says “how does a grapevine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a tree?” Good News Translation is similar with “how does a vine compare with a tree? What good is a branch of a grapevine compared with the trees of the forest?” This comparison fits the context better in the light of verse 3, which mentions the usefulness of the different types of wood. But the Hebrew can be read another way since it is literally “what will the wood of the vine become from every wood [or, tree], the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?” Contemporary English Version accurately reflects the Hebrew by saying “what happens to the wood of a grapevine after the grapes have been picked. It isn’t like other trees in the forest.” This interpretation focuses attention at the very beginning of the prophecy on the fate of the vine wood, that is, what will happen to it in the end. This focus fits the parable and the application to Jerusalem far better than either of the other interpretations.

Many translations assume that the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest refers to the branches of the other trees; for example, New International Version says “a branch on any of the trees in the forest” (similarly New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Although this seems to be an easier translation, such a meaning is unacceptable. Grammatically the clause which is among the trees of the forest cannot go with the vine branch. It goes either with the wood of the vine or, more probably, any wood. This shows that the vine wood is being singled out and compared with the wood of all the trees in the bush. The vine branch refers to the prunings that have been cut from the vine. Normally these prunings are thin tendrils and small branches, less than a year old, that the gardener cuts off to encourage the vine to produce more fruit. This pruning occurs “after the grapes have been picked” (Contemporary English Version). However, it is not necessary to be this specific, and translators may say simply “the small branches that are cut off” or “the small branches the farmer cuts off.”

In the Bible the vine and the vineyard are important metaphors for Israel. In cultures where the grapevine is unknown, it may be necessary to replace the picture of the grapevine here with a local vine or creeper. This is acceptable because the usual significance of the metaphor is not strong in this passage. Translators who do so will have to choose a vine that is not useful for building or making things.

A model for this verse is:

• “Mortal man, there are many different sorts of trees, but think about the grapevine. What happens to the wood of the grapevine? What happens to the vine prunings [or, the small branches that are cut off]?

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .