Luke 13:9 kjv

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 13:9 nkjv

And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.' "

Luke 13:9 niv

If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'?"

Luke 13:9 esv

Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Luke 13:9 nlt

If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.'"

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 9 Meaning

Luke 13:9 concludes the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, presenting a final offer of grace and a clear warning of impending judgment. It signifies that God's patience, while vast, is not without limits. He provides every opportunity and sufficient time, coupled with intense spiritual cultivation (represented by digging and fertilizing), for individuals or groups to produce the desired "fruit" of repentance and righteous living. If, after extended grace and intercession, fruit remains absent, the consequence is removal or judgment.

Luke 13 9 Context

Luke chapter 13 begins with Jesus addressing tragic events (the slaughter of Galileans by Pilate, and those killed by the collapse of the tower in Siloam). He uses these events not as divine punishment for specific sins, but as a warning for all to repent, lest they too perish. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) immediately follows these warnings, serving as a powerful illustration and amplification of the call to repentance.

The parable itself depicts an owner (God) expecting fruit from his fig tree (Israel, or by extension, any individual). After three years of unfruitfulness, the owner instructs his gardener (Jesus Christ, the intercessor) to cut it down. However, the gardener pleads for one more year, offering to meticulously cultivate the tree (dig around it, fertilize it). Verse 9 is the conditional conclusion of this appeal: if it then bears fruit, good; if not, it will be cut down. The context underscores God's persistent grace and longsuffering, His active work through Christ to bring about repentance, and the ultimate, inescapable consequence of continued barrenness—judgment and removal. This passage was a direct warning to Israel of their limited time before the Temple's destruction in A.D. 70, yet it remains a timeless message for all.

Luke 13 9 Word Analysis

• And if (κἀν, kan): A contraction of kai ean meaning "and if" or "even if." It introduces a final condition or possibility for a change in outcome. This "if" carries the weight of a last chance being offered.
• it bears fruit (ποιῇ καρπόν, poiei karpon):
  • ποιῇ (poiei): "may make," "should produce," "to do." Implies an active effort and desired outcome.
  • καρπόν (karpon): "fruit," "produce." Biblically, "fruit" often symbolizes actions, conduct, and results stemming from one's spiritual state. In this context, it primarily refers to repentance (as emphasized by Lk 3:8) and good works that reflect a transformed heart (e.g., Gal 5:22-23 - fruit of the Spirit).
• next year (εἰς τὸ μέλλον, eis to mellon): Literally "unto the coming," referring to "the future" or "next year." This phrase specifies the limited, extended period of grace requested by the gardener. It highlights the definite boundary of this period of grace.
• well and good (implied in the Greek ellipsis): The original Greek text simply uses a comma and the subsequent phrase ei de mē, indicating an assumed positive outcome if the condition is met. The meaning "well and good" or "that will be sufficient" is universally understood by scholars and translators. It conveys the divine satisfaction with fruitfulness and the averting of judgment.
• but if not (εἰ δὲ μή, ei de mē): "But if otherwise" or "if indeed not." This strong conditional phrase presents the alternative—the failure to produce fruit after the given extension and special cultivation. It highlights the non-negotiable nature of the expectation.
• you can cut it down (ἐκκόψεις αὐτό, ekkopseis auto):
  • ἐκκόψεις (ekkopseis): "you shall cut out," "you will cut off," "you will chop down." This verb implies a decisive and permanent removal. It's the same word used by John the Baptist for the axe laid to the root (Lk 3:9), signifying divine judgment. The gardener is no longer interceding but carrying out the owner's original will for unproductive trees.
  • αὐτό (auto): "it" (the fig tree).
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • And if it bears fruit next year, well and good: This clause represents the opportunity provided by grace and intercession. The owner's primary desire is fruitfulness, not destruction. The "next year" (a definitive timeframe) underlines the preciousness and finality of this extended chance for spiritual transformation.
  • but if not, you can cut it down: This solemn concluding phrase states the undeniable consequence of persistent unfruitfulness. It reveals God's righteousness and justice; His patience, though profound, is not infinite. It signals judgment for those who have consistently rejected opportunities for repentance and life.

Luke 13 9 Bonus section

The imagery of the "three years" followed by an "extra year" subtly hints at biblical timelines, particularly concerning the nation of Israel. Some scholars connect the initial three years to Christ's public ministry (seeking fruit), and the "one more year" to the period between His resurrection/ascension and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, when the opportunity for repentance for the nation formally ended with devastating judgment. While a warning to Israel, the parable holds universal applicability: God’s dealings with Israel often foreshadow His dealings with individuals or the Church. The gardener, universally understood as Jesus Christ, not only intercedes but also promises active work to foster fruitfulness. His intervention is a desperate plea for another chance, yet His readiness to execute the judgment (to "cut it down") if fruit does not appear signifies that He is not merely an advocate but also a righteous judge upholding the Father’s standards. The ultimate purpose of God’s planting is fruit, not mere existence.

Luke 13 9 Commentary

Luke 13:9 brings the parable to its sharp, unequivocal climax. The verse encapsulates the heart of the Christian message: immense grace offered through Christ (the gardener's intercession and extra cultivation), alongside a sobering truth about divine justice. God grants sufficient time and means for repentance and spiritual growth. The "one more year" is not indefinite, nor is it a guarantee of fruit; it is a period for the deep spiritual work of transformation (the "digging" and "fertilizing"). If, despite such an extraordinary intervention and extended grace, the expected "fruit" (genuine repentance and a life reflecting it) is not borne, then the cutting down—judgment and removal from God's plan—becomes an inevitable outcome. This serves as both a profound reassurance of God's patience and a serious warning that opportunities, though generously given, have an ultimate end.

• Practical Usage Example:
  • A Christian consistently living in disobedience, receiving warnings and encouragement, is being given that "one more year" to repent before spiritual consequences manifest.
  • A local church, having opportunities to evangelize and grow, yet remaining spiritually barren and inwardly focused, is on probation, needing to bear fruit before its lampstand is removed (Rev 2:5).