If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’”
Parallel translations
- WEB If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”
- KJV And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
- NKJV And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
- NASB and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ”
- NLT If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If the tree bears fruit it is spared; if not, it will finally be cut down. Mercy delayed is not mercy denied, and judgment remains certain for the unfruitful.
Overview
The parable ends with an unresolved 'if,' leaving the hearers to decide their own response. God's patience has a limit, and continued barrenness after extra grace ends in removal. The call is to genuine repentance that issues in real fruit before the season of opportunity closes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 15:2He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
- Heb 6:8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
- 1 Th 2:15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
- Ps 69:22–28May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.
- Ezra 9:14–15shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?
- Rev 16:5–7And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.
- Dan 9:5–8we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.
- Rev 15:3–4and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 13:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.