John 15:2

The function of the vinedresser is at once described: πᾶν κλῆμα … φέρῃ. κλῆμα, or more fully as in Xen., Oecon., xix. 8, κλῆμα ἀμπέλου, is the shoot of the vine which is annually put forth. It is from κλάω, “I break,” as also is κλάδος, but Wetstein quotes Pollux to show that κλάδος was appropriated to the shoots of the olive, while κλῆμα signified a vine-shoot. Of these shoots there are two kinds, the fruitless, which the vine-dresser αἴρει : “Inutilesque falce ramos amputans,” Hor. Epod., ii. 13; the fruitful, which He καθαίρει [“suavis rhythmus,” Bengel]. The full meaning of αἴρει is described in John 15:6 : καθαίρει here denotes especially the pruning requisite for concentrating the vigour of the tree on the one object, ἵνα πλείονα καρπὸν φέρῃ, that it may continually surpass itself, and yield richer and richer results. The vine-dresser spares no pains and no material on his plants, but all for the sake of fruit. [Cf. Cicero, De Senec., xv. 53.] The use of καθαίρει was probably determined by the καθαροί of John 15:3.