Chapter
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Verse
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John 15:5
ESV I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
NIV "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
NASB I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
CSB I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
NLT Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
KJV 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.
NKJV “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

What does John 15:5 mean?

Among Jesus' more famous analogies is that of the vine and branches. In this passage, Jesus has compared the abundant life He offers (John 10:10) to that relationship. Some branches are "in the vine," only in the sense that they're intertwined or touching the other branches. Yet, they are not truly part of the life of the plant. In this context, these are the people Jesus refers to as "in me" but barren (John 15:2). Those "branches" merely associate with Christian faith, identify with believers, or attend a church. But only branches truly connected to the source of life will produce fruit—just as only truly born-again Christians will produce spiritual fruit (John 15:4).

This is the end of a progression which began in verse 2. The process of growing from spiritual barrenness, to spiritual productivity, to spiritual abundance, is possible only through Christ. In the context of this analogy, Jesus distinguishes between branches which are "in" the vine from those which truly "abide in" the vine. The discarded branches Christ speaks about here are those who were never saved in the first place. True salvation cannot be lost, but those who have only an appearance of faith will be judged accordingly (Matthew 7:21–23).

Verses 1 and 5 of this chapter are the seventh of seven times (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7–9, 11; 11:25; 14:6) where Jesus uses this specific "I Am" terminology in the gospel of John. This echoes the way God identified Himself to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14).
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