True Vine

The True Vine, or the Vine and Branches, is a very powerful allegory by Jesus as described in the Gospel of John at John 15:1-17 , including this wisdom by Jesus:

“

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.

”

The full text is as follows:

“

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I 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. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

”

"he it is" - grammar?

The ESV uses the questionable grammatical construction in verse 5: "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Metaphor?

Sometimes this is also referred to as a metaphor, but it is an allegory.