The Meaning of Ezekiel 15:4 Explained

Ezekiel 15:4

KJV: Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

YLT: Lo, to the fire it hath been given for fuel, Its two ends hath the fire eaten, And its midst hath been scorched! Is it profitable for work?

Darby: Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel: the fire consumeth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned; is it fit for any work?

ASV: Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned: is it profitable for any work?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, it is cast  into the fire  for fuel;  the fire  devoureth  both  the ends  of it, and the midst  of it is burned.  Is it meet  for [any] work? 

What does Ezekiel 15:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 15

1  By the unfitness of the vine branch for any work
6  is shown the rejection of Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 15:4 mean?

Instead into the fire it is thrown for fuel - the two of its ends devours the fire and its middle is burned Is it useful for [any] work
הִנֵּ֥ה לָאֵ֖שׁ נִתַּ֣ן לְאָכְלָ֑ה אֵת֩ שְׁנֵ֨י קְצוֹתָ֜יו אָכְלָ֤ה הָאֵשׁ֙ וְתוֹכ֣וֹ נָחָ֔ר הֲיִצְלַ֖ח ؟ לִמְלָאכָֽה

הִנֵּ֥ה  Instead 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
לָאֵ֖שׁ  into  the  fire 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
נִתַּ֣ן  it  is  thrown 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְאָכְלָ֑ה  for  fuel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָכְלָה  
Sense: food.
אֵת֩  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שְׁנֵ֨י  the  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
קְצוֹתָ֜יו  of  its  ends 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָצָה 
Sense: end, extremity.
אָכְלָ֤ה  devours 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הָאֵשׁ֙  the  fire 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
וְתוֹכ֣וֹ  and  its  middle 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
נָחָ֔ר  is  burned 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָוַר 
Sense: to burn, be hot, be scorched, be charred.
הֲיִצְלַ֖ח  Is  it  useful 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָלַח 
Sense: (Qal) to rush.
؟ לִמְלָאכָֽה  for  [any]  work 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.