Vine

A plant on which grapes grow, cultivated primarily for making wine. Jesus Christ described himself as the true vine, the source of life and growth for all believers.

The vine as an image of peace and security

1 Kings 4:25 See also 2 Kings 18:31 parallel Isaiah 36:16; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10

Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

Laws relating to the cultivation of vines

Leviticus 25:1–5 See also Leviticus 25:8–12

Then the LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years you may sow your field and prune your vineyard and gather its crops. But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land — a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard. You are not to reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your untended vines. The land must have a year of complete rest.

Wild vines

Jeremiah 2:21 See also 2 Kings 4:38–40

I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?

The destruction of vines as punishment

Jeremiah 8:13 See also Psalm 78:42–47, Psalm 105:27–33, Psalm 80:16; Isaiah 7:23, Isaiah 16:8–9, Isaiah 17:10–11, Isaiah 24:5–7, Isaiah 32:9–13; Jeremiah 5:14–17; Hosea 2:12; Nahum 2:2; Haggai 2:19

I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.”

Blessing on vines

Zechariah 8:12 See also Deuteronomy 8:7–8; Joel 2:22; Malachi 3:11

“For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance.

Vines in dreams and prophecies

Genesis 49:10–12 See also Genesis 40:9–13

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.

Vines in parables

Judges 9:12–13 See also Isaiah 5:1–2; Ezekiel 17:1–10; Jonah 4:5–11

Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’ But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

Metaphorical references to vines

Psalm 128:3 See also Genesis 49:22; Deuteronomy 32:31–33; Job 15:31–34; Song of Solomon 7:8; Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 48:32; Ezekiel 15:1–6; Hosea 14:7

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.

Israel is described as a vine

Hosea 10:1 See also Psalm 80:8–17; Jeremiah 2:21, Jeremiah 6:9

Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.

Jesus Christ is the true vine

John 15:1–8

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.