Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)

Jesus the True Vine

(Isaiah 27:1–13)

15 ^<1>“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. ^<2>He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. ^<3>You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ^<4>Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

^<5>I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. ^<6>If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. ^<7>If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ^<8>This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*

‘I am the true vine’

^<1>‘Long ago my Father chose the people of Israel to be his own people. He planted them to be like a vine. He wanted them to produce good fruit for him, but they failed to produce that fruit. Because Israel failed to be “the vine” the Father wanted, I am the true vine, who always produces the fruit the Father wants. My Father is the gardener. He looks after the vine so that it produces good fruit. ^<2>He cuts off every dry and withered branch that doesn’t bear any fruit. He also tidies up the branches that are fruitful by pruning them to make them even more fruitful. Such pruning is painful but necessary. ^<3>You are already clean because you’ve received and trusted the teaching I have given you.

‘Stay as close as possible to me’

^<4>‘Depend on me constantly. Don’t let anything come between you and me. Stay as close as possible to me, just as I stay as close as possible to you. Keep the intimate bond between me and you. I am the source of your life. It’s impossible for a branch to bear any fruit on its own; it must remain part of the vine. You have no spiritual resources of your own. You cannot bear fruit unless you stay as close as possible to me. The fruit of your lives will be doing good, advancing the kingdom and growing in Christian character.

‘My resources will flow into your lives’

^<5>‘I am the vine and you are the branches. If you stay as close as possible to me and I stay as close as possible to you, then my resources will flow into your lives and you will be very fruitful. I want your lives to blossom and bear fruit. You can’t do anything useful for me if you are separate from me. ^<6>If you don’t stay as close as possible to me, then you’re like a branch that doesn’t bear any fruit. It is dead wood and will be thrown away and dry up because it is no longer attached to the vine. Such dead branches are picked up, thrown onto the fire and burnt. ^<7>Stay as close as possible to me and let my words remain deeply rooted in you. Then you can ask for anything you want that is true to my teaching and it will be done for you. My words are the force for change. Because we haven’t lost contact but have stayed in close touch, my words will inspire you, direct you and spur you into action. As you believe in them and act in line with them, they will feed your prayers, which will then be answered. ^<8>When you bear much fruit, my Father is honoured and you show the world you really are my followers.