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κλῆμα (klēma)

klēma

branch

G2814 · Greek · New Testament · 4 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
4 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The Greek word klēma refers specifically to a vine branch or shoot. Unlike general terms for wood or trees, this noun describes the living, flexible part of the grapevine that bears fruit. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew words for twigs or sprouts, such as in Ezekiel’s metaphors about vines (Ezekiel 15:2). This agricultural specificity grounds its meaning in the daily reality of vineyard cultivation.

In the New Testament, this term appears exclusively in John 15, where Jesus uses it to describe his relationship with believers. He calls himself the "true vine" and identifies his followers as the branches (klēmata) attached to him. The imagery emphasizes dependence: a branch cannot produce fruit on its own but must remain connected to the main stem. This usage highlights organic unity rather than mere association.

The word’s narrow range of meaning—limited to vine shoots—makes its theological weight in John 15 particularly striking. Translators consistently render it as "branch," preserving the concrete image of agricultural life. By focusing on this single, vivid metaphor, the text invites readers to understand spiritual vitality through the lens of natural growth and sustained connection.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word klēma describes a living vine branch, not a cut piece of wood lying on the ground. It is flexible, green, and entirely dependent on the main stem for life. In John 15, Jesus uses this specific image to show that spiritual fruit comes only from staying connected to Him. A branch does not struggle to produce grapes; it simply receives the sap flowing through the vine.

This connection is not about effort but about abiding. When you feel dry or unproductive, the invitation is to return to that source of life. Jesus promises that those who remain in Him will naturally bear fruit, just as a healthy branch does in its season. This relationship offers rest rather than strain, reminding us that our strength comes from union with Christ.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • branch3×
  • branches.1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • κλῆμα3×
  • κλήματα.1×

Key Verses

  • John 15:4
    Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

    This verse clarifies that the branch cannot produce fruit independently, emphasizing total dependence on the vine for spiritual vitality.

  • John 15:5
    I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

    Here Jesus identifies Himself as the vine and believers as the branches, establishing the organic unity required to bear much fruit.

  • John 15:6
    If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

    This occurrence warns of the consequence of disconnecting, showing that a branch removed from the vine withers and loses its purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Greek word klēma mean?

Klēma refers specifically to a living branch or shoot of a grapevine. It is not a general term for wood but describes the part of the plant that grows from the main stem and bears fruit.

Why does Jesus use the image of a branch in John 15?

Jesus uses this agricultural metaphor to illustrate the necessary connection between Himself and believers. Just as a branch cannot live or produce fruit without the vine, Christians depend entirely on Christ for spiritual life and growth.

What happens if a branch does not remain in the vine?

According to John 15:6, a branch that does not remain in the vine is thrown out, withers, and is eventually burned. This imagery highlights the danger of spiritual disconnect and the loss of fruitfulness.

Every Occurrence (4 verses across 1 books)

John 4 verses
John 15:2

Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear…

John 15:4

Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you,…

John 15:5

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do…

John 15:6

If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the…