Luke 13:6 kjv

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luke 13:6 nkjv

He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

Luke 13:6 niv

Then 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.

Luke 13:6 esv

And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

Luke 13:6 nlt

Then Jesus told this story: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 6 Meaning

Luke 13:6 introduces the parable of the barren fig tree, a powerful illustration of God's expectations and patience concerning spiritual fruit. The "certain man" represents God, and the "fig tree planted in his vineyard" symbolizes Israel, and by extension, all who profess to be God's people. The act of the owner coming and "seeking fruit thereon" signifies God's consistent inspection and expectation of righteousness, repentance, and obedience from those He has nurtured and privileged. The stark conclusion, "and found none," highlights the profound spiritual unfruitfulness and failure of the tree to fulfill its intended purpose, despite receiving careful cultivation. This parable serves as a serious warning, urging genuine repentance and the production of spiritual fruit before judgment.

Luke 13 6 Context

Luke chapter 13 begins with Jesus addressing contemporary tragedies—the Galileans massacred by Pilate and the eighteen crushed by a falling tower in Siloam. He strongly counters the popular belief that those who suffer such calamities are greater sinners, instead emphasizing that these events serve as a universal warning: "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5). The parable of the barren fig tree immediately follows this dire warning, providing an allegorical illustration of divine patience preceding an ultimate judgment if repentance and fruitfulness are absent. Historically and culturally, the fig tree and vineyard were potent symbols for Israel in prophetic literature, often representing its relationship with God and its expected spiritual yield. The parable therefore directly challenges the complacency of those who presumed their Abrahamic lineage guaranteed salvation regardless of their actions, aligning with the earlier warnings of John the Baptist (Matt 3:9).

Luke 13 6 Word Analysis

• He spake (εἶπεν, eīpen): The imperfect tense suggests the introduction of a new, significant teaching, emphasizing Jesus' consistent method of communicating truth.
• also (καὶ, kaí): This conjunction links the parable directly to Jesus' preceding admonition on repentance, indicating it is an extension or illustration of that crucial warning.
• this parable (τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην, tēn parabolēn tautēn): Highlights Jesus' primary teaching method—an earthly story with a profound heavenly meaning, designed to challenge perceptions and call to spiritual understanding.
• A certain man (ἄνθρωπός τις, anthrōpos tis): In parables where a figure of authority is depicted, this often subtly alludes to God, here as the vineyard owner.
• had (εἶχεν, eīchen): Implies continuous possession over time, indicating the tree was the owner's rightful and cherished possession.
• a fig tree (συκήν, sykēn): A deeply significant symbol in Jewish thought, commonly representing the nation of Israel and its spiritual vitality and fruitfulness (or lack thereof).
• planted (πεφυτευμένην, pephyteuménēn): A perfect passive participle, indicating a deliberate, completed act of planting with ongoing results. This signifies God's intentional selection and careful nurturing of Israel (and His people).
• in his vineyard (ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι αὐτοῦ, en tō ampelōni autoú): The vineyard itself is another common symbol for Israel (Isa 5). Planting a fig tree in a vineyard, though somewhat unusual for monoculture, signifies a prime location and intensive care, emphasizing the privilege and resources the tree received.
• and he came (ἦλθεν, ēlthen): An aorist verb, pointing to a specific, past action of the owner. This signifies God's repeated or expected visitations and inspections of His people.
• and sought fruit (ζητῶν καρπὸν, zētōn karpón): The participle implies an earnest, ongoing search. "Fruit" represents the spiritual yield expected by God: genuine repentance, obedience, good works, and lives aligned with His will.
• thereon (ἐν αὐτῇ, en autē): Emphasizes that the fruit was sought directly from the tree, its intrinsic output.
• and found none (καὶ οὐχ εὗρεν, kaí ouch heuren): A stark and absolute negative. This is the tragic culmination, highlighting the complete absence of the expected spiritual fruit despite the care and expectation.

Words-group analysis:

• "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard": This phrase establishes the divine ownership and intentional cultivation. It portrays God's benevolent act of choosing and tending His people within a context of privilege and care.
• "and he came and sought fruit thereon": This expresses God's righteous expectation. He is not seeking something arbitrary but what is naturally and morally due—the outward evidence of a living spiritual reality from His cultivated people.
• "and found none": This concise statement encapsulates the severe indictment. It signifies a profound spiritual emptiness and failure, an unfulfilled purpose, which demands a response from both the owner and, by extension, those listening to the parable.

Luke 13 6 Bonus Section

• Significance of "three years": Although not in verse 6, the subsequent verse mentions the owner's patience over "three years." This period could metaphorically represent the length of Jesus' public ministry, during which He extended invitations for repentance to Israel, or it could simply signify a reasonable, extended period for a fig tree to mature and bear fruit, thereby underscoring the extraordinary patience of God.
• Direct prophetic symbolism: The fig tree's failure to bear fruit strongly foreshadows Jesus' actual cursing of a barren fig tree in Matthew 21 and Mark 11, which symbolized God's impending judgment upon unfruitful Israel for rejecting its Messiah.
• God's ultimate purpose: The existence of a tree, especially one under such careful cultivation, implies a singular purpose: to bear fruit. The failure to do so implies a waste of resources and unfulfillment of purpose, making the ultimate removal (implied in the following verse) a just and logical consequence.
• Applicable to all professing believers: While initially directed at Israel, this parable transcends its immediate audience. It is a timeless warning to any individual, church, or nation that claims to belong to God but lacks genuine spiritual fruit. Privilege in faith requires corresponding transformed life and works.

Luke 13 6 Commentary

This opening verse of the parable sets the stage for a critical teaching about spiritual productivity and accountability. God, depicted as the patient owner, has invested significantly in His "fig tree"—Israel, His chosen people, placed in the privileged "vineyard" of His covenant. His repeated visits seeking "fruit" reveal His legitimate expectation for genuine repentance, righteousness, and obedient living. The stark discovery of "none" immediately highlights Israel's failure to meet these divine expectations, echoing prophetic critiques of their barrenness despite their unique relationship with God. This verse, therefore, delivers a sobering truth: divine favor and privilege demand a corresponding spiritual response, and the absence of such fruit incurs eventual, yet justly delayed, judgment. The implication for every hearer then, and now, is a profound call to self-examination concerning one's spiritual fruitfulness.