Matthew 21:19

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning 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. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

21 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
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.
WEB
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
ASV
And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.
DARBY
And seeing one fig-tree in the way, he came to it and found on it nothing but leaves only. And he says to it, Let there be never more fruit of thee for ever. And the fig-tree was immediately dried up.
BLB
And having seen one fig tree on the way, He went to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He says to it, “Never let there be [anymore] fruit out of you, to the age!” And the fig tree withered immediately.
ÅB
og da han så et fikentre ved veien gikk han bort til det, men han fant ikke noe annet enn blader på det. Da sa han til det: «Aldri i evighet skal det vokse frukt på deg igjen.» Og straks visnet fikentreet.
OTB
Da han så et fikentre ved veien, gikk han bort til det, men fant ikke annet enn blader. Han sa til det: “Aldri mer skal du bære frukt!” Straks visnet treet.
B1930
og da han så et fikentre ved veien, gikk han bort til det, men fant ikke noget på det uten bare blad. Da sa han til det: Aldri i evighet skal det mere vokse frukt på dig. Og straks visnet fikentreet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Mark 11:14

    Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.

    Read in context
  • John 15:6

    If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

    Read in context
  • Titus 1:16

    They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

    Read in context
  • Luke 13:6–9

    Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.

    Read in context
  • Luke 3:9

    The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

    Read in context
  • John 15:2

    He 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.

    Read in context
  • Jude 1:12

    These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 5:4–5

    What more could I have done for My vineyard than I already did for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?

    Read in context