People have been misinterpreting this verse for a very long time now.
Branches that are bearing fruit are pruned to bear more fruit.
Branches that are not bearing fruit as it says in the KJV are taken away. but does it mean what most have come to understand it being pulled off the vine?
John 15
King James Version
15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
There is no question about the branches bearing fruit.
There is also no question about the branches that are not attached to the vine.
I wish to propose to you a more biblically and culturally correct understanding of the branches which are attached to the vine but are not bearing fruit.
1. In Jewish culture of Jesus' day there were man vineyards. However they did nt resemble modern vineyards in that there were no grape arbors or poles and strings where grapevines could grow up on. Grapes , like other vine plants (squash, cucumbers et al.) all grew on the ground.
2. the grape vines would get dirty and their pores where the grape clusters would spring from would often get clogged with soil, being on the ground, and thus not be able to sprout the grapes expected.
3. so what does it mean when the vintner would "take away" the branches not bearing fruit?
Jhn 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every
branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
4. taketh away is the Greek Word "airro" and means:
airō (Key)
Pronunciation
ah'-ee-ro
KJV Translation Count — Total: 102x
The KJV translates Strong's G142 in the following manner: take up (32x),
take away (25x),
take (25x),
away with (5x),
lift up (4x),
bear (3x),
- to raise up, elevate, lift up
- to raise from the ground, take up: stones
- to raise upwards, elevate, lift up: the hand
- to draw up: a fish
- to take upon one's self and carry what has been raised up, to bear
It does not mean remove but to lift up! or take away from one place to another! We get our word aero from this Greek word.
5. Vintners would take the branches not bearing fruit, and lift them up! they would place stones under the pores where the fruit would come, brush them off so they could bear fruit. It is the opposite of removing them from the vine. It actually keeps them on the vine and give them help to bear fruit! Just like Jesus does to the weaker brother and sisters who struggle to bear fruit. He lifts them up so they may bear fruit.
