Ezekiel 15:5Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work!
The setting
Babylon, ~593 BC. Prophet Ezekiel, exiled 6 years, receives vision about Jerusalem's coming destruction. Modern-day Iraq.
The emotion here: heartbroken prophet delivering devastating news about his homeland
The original word
ʿāśâ (עָשָׂה) — to make, fashion, work with purpose
Why it matters
Vine wood was notoriously useless for construction—too soft and twisted even for pegs
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ezekiel 15:5
This isn't about individual sin—it's about a nation that became completely useless to God's purposes
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about personal worthlessness, but Ezekiel is explaining why an entire nation had to be destroyed—they served no godly purpose.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ezekiel 15:5
Bible Genome reading
Ezekiel 15:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ezekiel 15:5 comes from the book of Ezekiel, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the teaching genre of biblical literature. Key themes include complete uselessness, divine logic. Notable phrases: when it was whole; how much less. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Ezekiel 15:5 mean to you, today?
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