The word “vine” is used to talk about a plant with long stems that grow along the ground. They can also grow up and around things like trees and buildings. In the Bible, the word “vine” was usually used to talk about grapevines.
A vineyard was a large garden area where farmers grew grapevines and harvested grapes. A grape is a small, round fruit that grows in clusters or groups on vines. The Israelites made wine from the juice of grapes. Sometimes they dried grapes to stop them from rotting. Dried grapes were called “raisins” (see: 1 Samuel 25:18). The climate and soil of Israel were good for growing grapes.
Writers of the Bible wrote many times about vines and vineyards. The prophet Ezekiel was thinking about God keeping his people safe from enemies when he wrote that the Israelites will have a vineyard (see: Ezekiel 28:26). The prophet Isaiah was thinking about God’s judgment when he wrote that the people of Israel were like a vineyard of wild grapes (see: Isaiah 5:1-7).
Jesus used the word “vineyard” as a metaphor and in his parables (see: Matthew 20:1-16; Mark 12:1-12). Jesus called himself the “true vine.” Jesus called those who believe in him “branches” (see: John 15:1-9). In the same way that the vine causes its branches to produce fruit, Jesus causes those who believe in him to do things that honor God.
Paul wrote about a farmer eating fruit from the same vineyard that he planted. Paul wrote this because he wanted the Christians to give physical things like food and money to their Christian leaders (see: 1 Corinthians 9:7-11).
John wrote about an angel harvesting “the grapevine of the earth.” John used these words to write about God’s judgment in the last days (see: Revelation 14:17-20).
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