John 15:2
What does John 15:2 mean?
A plain-English look at John 15:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 15:2 means
The Father, as the vinedresser, carefully manages the branches. Any branch "in me" that does not bear fruit is removed. This speaks to a superficial connection that yields no spiritual life. Conversely, branches that do bear fruit are "cleansed" or pruned, not as punishment, but to enhance their fruitfulness. This highlights God's active role in both judging unfruitful religious profession and sanctifying true believers, removing hindrances so they can produce more of the character and works of Christ.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Every 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He takes away every branch in me which has no fruit, and every branch which has fruit he makes clean, so that it may have more fruit.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862every branch in me not bearing fruit, He doth take it away, and every one bearing fruit, He doth cleanse by pruning it, that it may bear more fruit;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he will take away: and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[As to] every branch in me not bearing fruit, he takes it away; and [as to] every one bearing fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.
Context
Building on the initial declaration of Jesus as the vine, this verse immediately introduces the Father's role in tending the branches. It sets up the crucial distinction between barrenness and fruitfulness, preparing for Jesus' direct command to "abide" in the vine, which is the key to life and productivity. It begins to unpack the implications of the vine metaphor.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 15:16
Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
- Matthew 13:33
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.
- Job 17:9
Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.
- Hosea 6:3
And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.
- 1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
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