God’s Word Translation
Matthew 21:19
19When he saw a fig tree by the road, he went up to the tree and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, “May fruit never grow on you again!” At once the fig tree dried up.
Matthew 21:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
- New International Version (NIV)Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
Context of Matthew 21:19
17He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there. 18In the morning, as Jesus returned to the city, he became hungry. When he saw a fig tree by the road, he went up to the tree and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, “May fruit never grow on you again!” At once the fig tree dried up. 20The disciples were surprised to see this. They asked, “How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?” 21Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.
Read all of Matthew 21Matthew 21:19 word by word
καὶ ἰδὼν συκῆν μίαν ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἦλθεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν καὶ οὐδὲν εὗρεν ἐν αὐτῇ εἰ μὴ φύλλα μόνον καὶ λέγει αὐτῇ· μηκέτι ἐκ σοῦ καρπὸς γένηται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. καὶ ἐξηράνθη παραχρῆμα ἡ συκῆ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- when he sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- aεἷςheis · oneG1520
- fig treeσυκῆsukē · fig treeG4808
- inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the wayὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
- he cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- thereonἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- butεἰei · if: notG1487
- butμήmē · notG3361
- leavesφύλλονphullon · leafG5444
- onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Letγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- noμηκέτιmēketi · never againG3371
- fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
- onἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- theeσύsu · youG4771
- henceforward forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- everαἰώνaiōn · an age: eternityG165
- presentlyπαραχρῆμαparachrēma · instantlyG3916
- withered awayξηραίνωxērainō · to dryG3583
Cross-references for Matthew 21:19
- Isaiah 5:4What more could have been done for my vineyard than what I have already done for it? When I waited for it to produce good grapes, why did it produce only sour, wild grapes?
- Luke 3:9The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.”
- Luke 13:6Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn’t find any.
- John 15:2He removes every one of my branches that doesn’t produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.
- 2 Timothy 3:5They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people.
- Mark 11:14Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this.
- Luke 19:42He said, “If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden, so you cannot see it.
- Hebrews 6:7God blesses the earth. So rain often falls on it, and it produces useful crops for farmers.
- 2 Peter 2:20People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before.
- Revelation 22:11Let those who don’t have God’s approval go without it, and let filthy people continue to be filthy. Let those who have God’s approval continue to have it, and let holy people continue to be holy.”
- Jude 1:12These people are a disgrace at the special meals you share with other believers. They eat with you and don’t feel ashamed. They are shepherds who care ⌞only⌟ for themselves. They are dry clouds blown around by the winds. They are withered, uprooted trees without any fruit. As a result, they have died twice.
Commentaries on Matthew 21:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19He saw a fig tree in the way - , By the road side. As this fig tree was by the way side, it was no private property; and on this account our Lord, or any other traveler, had a right to take of its fruit. For a full explanation of this difficult passage, relative to this emblematic fig tree, see on Mark 11:13; (note), etc. Let no fruit grow on thee - Can a professor, who affords Christ nothing but barren words and wishes, expect any thing but his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 This paragraph contains the account of the barren fig-tree, and of the cleansing of the temple. See also Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48. Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God - From Mark 11:11-15, it is probable that this cleansing of the temple did not take place on the day that he entered Jerusalem in triumph, but on the day following. He came and looked round upon all things, Mark says, and went out to Bethany with the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-22Verses 18-22 This cursing of the barren fig-tree represents the state of hypocrites in general, and so teaches us that Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the savour of it from those that have the show of it. His just expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed; he comes to many, seeking fruit, and finds leaves only. A false profession commonly withers in this world, and it is the effect of Christ's…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19Nothing on it except leaves: Mark notes that "it was not the season for figs" (see Mark 11:13). It was spring, just before Passover. Figs start growing in spring but ripen in fall. immediately the tree withered: Matthew seems to have shortened the story (compare Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:13–14, 20–23). The cursing of the fig tree symbolizes God's judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah (see Matt 3:9; 8:11–12). The Israelites are like a fig tree that…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 21:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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