Luke 13:9

King James Version

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

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”

King James Version (1611)
And if it beare fruit, Well: and if not, then after that, thou shalt cut it downe.

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

New American Standard Bible
and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'"

New Century Version
If the tree produces fruit next year, good. But if not, you can cut it down.'"

Amplified Bible
and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.'"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'"

Legacy Standard Bible
and if it bears fruit next year, fine, but if not, cut it down.'"

Berean Standard Bible
If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.'"

Contemporary English Version
Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down."

Complete Jewish Bible
If it bears fruit next year, well and good; if not, you will have it cut down then.'"

Darby Translation
and if it shall bear fruit—but if not, after that thou shalt cut it down.

Easy-to-Read Version
Maybe the tree will have fruit on it next year. If it still does not produce, then you can cut it down.'"

Geneva Bible (1587)
And if it beare fruite, well: if not, then after thou shalt cut it downe.

George Lamsa Translation
It might bear fruit; and if not, then you can cut it down.

Good News Translation
Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.'"

Lexham English Bible
And if indeed it produces fruit in the coming year, so much the better, but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Literal Translation
and see if it indeed makes fruit. But if not, in the future you may cut it down.

American Standard Version
and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

Bible in Basic English
And if, after that, it has fruit, it is well; if not, let it be cut down.

Hebrew Names Version
If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'"

International Standard Version
Maybe next year it'll bear fruit. If not, then cut it down.'"

Etheridge Translation
and if it produce fruits, (well): but if not, then afterwards I will cut it down.

Murdock Translation
9 And if it bear fruits, [fn] and if not, thou wilt cut it down: why should it live?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And yf it beare fruite [thou mayest] let it alone: and yf it beare not then, after that shalt thou cut it downe.

English Revised Version
and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

World English Bible
If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Perhaps it may bear fruit: but if not, after that thou shalt cut it down.

Weymouth's New Testament
If after that it bears fruit, well and good; if it does not, then you shall cut it down.'"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
if it schal make fruyt, if nay, in tyme comynge thou schalt kitte it doun.

Update Bible Version
and if it bears fruit from then on, [very well]; but if not, you shall cut it down.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if it shall bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down.

New English Translation
Then if it bears fruit next year, very well, but if not, you can cut it down.'"

New King James Version
And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that [fn] you can cut it down.' "

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

New Life Bible
It may be that it will give fruit next year. If it does not, then cut it down.'"

New Revised Standard
If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and if it may bear fruit for the future; …but, otherwise, certainly, thou shalt cut it down.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if happily it bear fruit: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Revised Standard Version
And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
whether it will beare frute: and if it beare not then after yt cut it doune

Young's Literal Translation
and if indeed it may bear fruit --; and if not so, thereafter thou shalt cut it off.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yf it wyl brynge forth frute: Yf no, then cut it downe afterwarde.

Mace New Testament (1729)
perhaps it may bear fruit: if not, you may after that hew it down.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Maybe next year she will calve. Don't give up on her yet, but if she still hasn't calved by next year, we will sell her off.'"

Contextual Overview

⁶ 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. ⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: ⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if not: Ezra 9:14, Ezra 9:15, Psalms 69:22-28, Daniel 9:5-8, John 15:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 6:8, Revelation 15:3, Revelation 15:4, Revelation 16:5-7

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 12:3 - it may Daniel 3:15 - well Matthew 13:23 - beareth Luke 3:9 - General Galatians 5:22 - the fruit

Cross-References

Genesis 13:8
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Genesis 13:12
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

Genesis 13:18
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord .

Genesis 20:15
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

Genesis 34:10
And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

Psalms 120:7
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

1 Corinthians 6:7
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if it bear fruit, well,.... If hereby barren professors, as the Jews, become fruitful, it is well, a good thing is done; it is well for themselves, they shall eat the fruit of their doings; it is well for the churches where they are, for good works are profitable to men; and it is well for the owner of the vineyard, and the dresser of it too, for when Christ has his fruit from his churches, his ministers have theirs also:

and if not, then

after that; "for the time to come", as the Vulgate Latin; or "year following", as the Persic version renders it:

thou shall cut it down; do with it as thou pleasest, nothing more will be said or pleaded in its behalf; full consent shall be given, and no more intercession used: any trees might not be cut down, only barren ones; there is a law in Deuteronomy 20:19 about cutting down trees, and which the Jews explain thus m;

"they may not cut down trees for meat without the city, nor withhold from them the course of water, that so they may become dry; as it is said, "thou shall not destroy the trees"; and whoever cuts any down is to be beaten, and not in a siege only, but in any place: whoever cuts down a tree for meat, by way of destroying it, is to be beaten; but they may cut it down if it hurts other trees, or because it hurts in the field others, or because its price is dear; the law does not forbid, but by way of destroying. Every barren tree it is lawful to cut down, even though a man hath no need of it; and so a tree for meat, which does hurt, and does not produce but little fruit, and it is not worth while to labour about it, it is lawful to cut it down: and how much may an olive tree produce, and it may not be cut down? the fourth part of a "Kab" of olives; and a palm tree which yields a "Kab" of dates, may not be cut down.''

Much such a parable as this is formed by the Jews, upon Moses's intercession for the people of Israel n

"Says R. Abin, in the name of R. Simeon ben Josedech, a parable, to what is it like? to a king that hath an uncultivated field; he says to his gardener, go and manure it, and make it a vineyard: the gardener went and manured that field, and planted it a vineyard; the vineyard grew, and produced wine, and it turned to vinegar; when the king saw that the wine turned to vinegar, he said to the gardener, go, וקוץ אותה, "and cut it down", why should I seek after a vineyard that brings forth that which is sour? the gardener replied, my lord, the king, what expense hast thou been at with this vineyard before it was raised? and now thou seekest to cut it down; and shouldst thou say because its wine turns sour; the reason is, because it is young, therefore its wine turns sour, and it does not produce good wine: so when Israel did that work (of the golden calf), the holy blessed God sought to consume them; said Moses, Lord of the world, hast thou not brought them out of Egypt from a place of idolatry, and now they are young, or children, as it is said, Hosea 11:1 wait a little for them, and go with them, and they will do good works in thy presence.''

m Maimon. Hilch. Melacim, c. 6. sect. 8, 9. n Shemot Rabba, sect. 43. fol. 141. 2.