New International Version
Luke 13:7
7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
Luke 13:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’
- New Living Translation (NLT)Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
Context of Luke 13:7
5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
Read all of Luke 13Luke 13:7 word by word
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀμπελουργόν· ἰδοὺ τρία ἔτη ἀφ᾽ οὗ ἔρχομαι ζητῶν καρπὸν ἐν τῇ συκῇ ταύτῃ καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκω· ἔκκοψον οὖν αὐτήν· ἱνατί καὶ τὴν γῆν καταργεῖ;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- said heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the dresser of his vineyardὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the dresser of his vineyardἀμπελουργόςampelourgos · a vine-workerG289
- Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- these threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
- yearsἔτοςetos · yearG2094
- I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- seekingζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
- onἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- fig treeσυκῆsukē · fig treeG4808
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- noneοὐou · noG3756
- cutἐκκόπτωekkoptō · to preventG1581
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- cumberethκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673
- the groundγῆgē · earth: soilG1093
Cross-references for Luke 13:7
- Leviticus 19:23“ ‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.
- Leviticus 25:21I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years.
- Romans 2:4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
- Luke 3:9The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
- Exodus 32:10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
- Daniel 4:14He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
- Matthew 3:10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Matthew 7:19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- John 15:2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
- Matthew 3:9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Commentaries on Luke 13:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Behold these three years - From this circumstance in the parable, it may be reasonably concluded that Jesus had been, at the time of saying this, exercising his ministry for three years past; and, from what is said in Luke 13:8, of letting it alone this year also, it may be concluded likewise that this parable was spoken about a year before Christ's crucifixion; and, if both these conclusions are reasonable, we may thence infer that this parable was not…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7The dresser of his vineyard - The man whose duty it was to trim the vines and take care of his vineyard. These three years - These words are not to be referred to the time which Christ had been preaching the gospel, as if he meant to specify the exact period. They mean, as applicable to the vineyard, that the owner had been “a long time” expecting fruit on the tree. For three successive years he had been disappointed. In his view it was long enough to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 This parable of the barren fig-tree is intended to enforce the warning given just before: the barren tree, except it brings forth fruit, will be cut down. This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the means of grace, and the privileges of the visible church. When God has borne long, we may hope that he will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-9The parable of the barren fig tree (a story about a tree that does not produce fruit) shows the ministry of Jesus to Israel. If the nation did not produce the fruit of repentance (turning away from sin), it would face judgment. The story does not give a final ending, which shows that Israel still had a chance to respond. Compare with Matthew 21:18–19 and the similar passage in Mark 11:12–14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-96-9. fig tree--Israel, as the visible witness of God in the world, but generally all within the pale of the visible Church of God; a familiar figure (compare Is 5:1-7; Joh 15:1-8, &c.). vineyard--a spot selected for its fertility, separated from the surrounding fields, and cultivated with special care, with a view solely to fruit. came and sought fruit--a heart turned to God; the fruits of righteousness; compare Mt 21:33, 34, and Is 5:2, "He looked that…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 13:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 13
- 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
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