New International Version
Matthew 21:19
19Seeing 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.
Context of Matthew 21:19
17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. 18Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 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. 20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
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 I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?
- 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.”
- Luke 13:6Then 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.
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 3:5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
- Mark 11:14Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
- Luke 19:42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
- Hebrews 6:7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.
- 2 Peter 2:20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
- Revelation 22:11Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
- Jude 1:12These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
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
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