What does to be pruned mean in the Bible?

Answer 1

The short answer is pruning is an allegory for the intimate union of believers with Jesus. The disciple's very life depends on this union. As branches, believers either bear fruit and are pruned to bear more fruit or do not bear fruit and are thrown away and burned.

Prune defined:

1.To cut or lop off (twigs, branches, or roots).

2. To cut or lop superfluous or undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; trim.

Pruning is a vital part of plant and tree care. It is utilized by gardeners to control growth, remove dead or diseased wood or stimulate growth (the formation of flowers and fruit buds)

A keyword search for pruned in the NKJV translation revealed three verses that cite pruned, Prunes or associated syntax:

Isaiah 5:

It shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it."

Romans 11:17

17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree

John 15:1-5

1 "I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the Vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "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.

Accordingly, Pruning is an allegory to maintaining a healthy Church. As Christians, we are branches inherently linked to the Vine (Jesus). As such, each branch aids the Vine to foster healthy fruit. If one branch is diseased it potentially contaminates the entire Vine. Thus, it must be pruned to remain fruitful. Cross pollination exist as another concern. If one branch is grafted with undesirable shoots, it changes the genetic makeup for the Vine precluding wholesome fruit production. Again we are required to prune the branch. Those not abiding are discarded as a branch, gathered, cast into the fire, and burned

The Vine is the underpinning to which branches adapt. Conversely, if the branches dictate the foundation, the Vine becomes irregular ---it is akin to the cart leading the horse or the Burger King paradigm; "have it my way". ________________________________________________________________________________

1. Scripture quotations taken from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2. pruned. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved January 18, 2011, from Dictionary.com