On the vine there were three branches: these branches grow out of the main stem, which is the vine.

As soon as it budded means as soon as buds appeared on the branches. The buds produce the leaves on the vine, which nourish the vine and enable the fruit to grow.

Its blossoms shot forth: that is, the flowers, which must appear before the fruit can grow, came out suddenly, and the tiny grape clusters that follow the blossoms quickly became ripe grapes. An example of the way this part of the verse may be translated is “This vine had three arms, and when the arms got leaves, immediately the vine flowered and bore fruit that were ripe.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .