Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood planted by the water: her fruit and her branches have grown out of many waters.
אִמְּךָ֥ כַגֶּ֛פֶן בְּדָמְךָ֖ עַל־מַ֣יִם שְׁתוּלָ֑ה פֹּֽרִיָּה֙ וַֽעֲנֵפָ֔ה הָיְתָ֖ה מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Your mother resembles a vine nurtured by her own blood, sustained by the waters; her fruit and branches spring forth from the abundance of many waters. The Prophet refers to Jerusalem as the mother, stained with the blood of its people; its branches, meaning its children, thrived on the waters of prophetic instruction.
Your mother resembles a vine in your lineage, nurtured by water; its fruit and branches have flourished due to the abundant streams. Her shoots were robust enough for the scepters of rulers, and her height became notable among her many branches. She observed her elevation among the multitude of her offshoots but was uprooted in divine anger and tossed to the ground, where the scorching wind withered her fruit. Her strong shoots faded, consumed by fire. Now she is replanted in a barrenness, an unyielding and thirsty land. Fire has emerged from the stems of her branches, devouring her fruit, leaving no strong shoot remaining for the dignitaries. She is grieved now and shall continue to be mourned in the future. The imagery expresses a lamentation and serves as an allegory for sorrow.
Just as we find Jerusalem compared to a lovely woman or a lioness nurturing her young, it is now likened to a splendid vineyard or vine set by plentiful waters. Its branches, saturated with moisture, have grown so robust that one branch, deemed a strong shoot by Scripture, was suited for the scepters of leaders. The vine's beauty is mirrored in the bloom's color, akin to that of a pomegranate, which signifies blood. For God opposes the proud but offers grace to the humble, as seen in James 4:6. Thus, the vine that was lifted up and made straight was uprooted in the Lord’s fury and cast down, retaining its image of beauty despite the destruction that befell Jerusalem. While the vine may be lovely and its branches extensive, when it is propped up and then connects back to the earth, it can wither from the heat, particularly when a fierce wind dries up its fruit, leaving it withered as if consumed by fire.
Regarding the translation from the Seventy, the term "were chastised" in place of "withered" leaves me unsure of its relevance. However, how did such a rich and beautiful vine get transplanted into the wilderness, in a place barren and thirsty? This points towards Babylon, into which they were taken, or perhaps Egypt, to which they fled, or even to the land of Judah, where only the destitute remained. Gedaliah, who was chief over the remnant, sought to gather the people, but Ishmael, of royal descent and from the vine's lineage, rose against him, killing him at Mizpah and consuming all the fruit of the vine. Consequently, no strong shoot or scepter remains in that vine. There were no kings left to govern; they fled with Jehanan, son of Kareah, into Egypt. This results in a lamentation, a parable of lamentation, for the royal lineage that has ended in Judah until the one to whom it is set aside shall arrive, the one to whom the gathering of nations belongs, as referred to in Genesis 49:10.
Thus, it is evident that both the previous phrases, speaking of the lioness resting among the lions and the vine planted beside the waters, refer to Jerusalem, which has lost both its rulers and its branches, leaving it devoid of a lineage or scepters. The text begins and ends with lamentation. It begins with a cry of sorrow from the leaders of Israel, representing the mourning of the royal lineage, and this theme recurs throughout. Others also mystically allude to the heavenly Jerusalem, indicating that many have fallen into a desolate state and lost their kingship; this once-beautiful vineyard has been scorched by the fierce winds, leaving no trace of greenery, a plight that Jeremiah mourns while depicting a city. We can interpret this in relation to the Church in the final days, during an era of escalating wickedness, where the love of many grows cold. Even the elect may face trials, and her leaders could be ensnared by the adversary, who aims not just to catch a single king but seeks to ensnare many, as recorded, "The food of his elect." Likewise, the branches of the Church, once vibrant and red like flowers, will wither under the wind’s harshness. This similar message resonates in the Gospel, portraying how that which sprouted withered away when scorched by the sun (Mark 4), resulting in scarce viable stems for worthy leaders among the people. Amos articulates this reality, stating that he will bring plague and thirst upon the land—not a scarcity of bread or water but a famine for hearing the word of God (Amos 8:11). Thus, we are called to grieve for the princes of Israel, for their pride and failures have led to the devastation of Judah and the fall of Jerusalem.
Your mother, the vine, is akin to the flower of thorns planted by the waters, drawing nourishment from many sources. He was granted a staff of strength over the assembly of elders and ascended in His glory among the vines; He beheld His grandeur amidst the abundance of His vines. In this imagery, your mother is compared to both a vine and a pomegranate tree, rooted on the banks near the water, flourishing with greenery, adorned with blossoms, and yielding plentiful fruit. It is important to note, however, that the Prophet refrained from declaring the fruit as good. The water symbolizes the diverse gifts from God, while the staff of strength represents royalty itself, as the staff provides guidance.
The Prophet adds that this power is exercised over the tribe of the elders, signifying that Jerusalem held authority only over the tribe of Judah, not all of Israel. The statement regarding His majesty in the multitude of His vine indicates the city’s pride, fueled by its prosperity. This is why the Prophet adds:
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS