Luke 21:29

Green's Literal Translation

And He spoke a parable to them: You see the fig tree and all the trees.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Then Jesus told this story: "Look at all the trees. The fig tree is a good example.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he shewed the a similitude: beholde ye fygge tree and all other trees

Hebrew Names Version
He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees.

International Standard Version
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees.Matthew 24:32; Mark 13:28;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
And He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees:

New Century Version
Then Jesus told this story: "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.

Update Bible Version
And he spoke to them a parable: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees:

Webster's Bible Translation
And he spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees;

Amplified Bible
Then He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

English Standard Version
And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

World English Bible
He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he spake a parable to them, Behold the fig-tree and all the trees.

Weymouth's New Testament
And He spoke a parable to them. "See," He said, "the fig-tree and all the trees.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem a liknesse, Se ye the fige tre, and alle trees,

English Revised Version
And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

Contemporary English Version
Then Jesus told them a story: When you see a fig tree or any other tree

American Standard Version
And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:

Bible in Basic English
And he made a story for them: See the fig-tree, and all the trees;

Complete Jewish Bible
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, Indeed, all the trees.

Darby Translation
And he spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees;

Etheridge Translation
AND he spake to them a parable, Behold the fig-tree and all the trees;

Murdock Translation
And he uttered a similitude to them. Look at the fig-tree, and all the trees.

King James Version (1611)
And he spake to them a parable, Behold the figge tree, and all the trees,

New Living Translation
Then he gave them this illustration: "Notice the fig tree, or any other tree.

New Life Bible
Jesus told them a picture-story. He said, "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.

New Revised Standard
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

Geneva Bible (1587)
And he spake to them a parable, Behold, the figge tree, and all trees,

George Lamsa Translation
And he said to them a parable, Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he spake a parable unto them: See the fig-tree, and all the trees, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke to them a similitude. See the fig tree and all the trees:

Revised Standard Version
And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he shewed them a similitude: Behold the figge tree, & all the trees.

Good News Translation
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Think of the fig tree and all the other trees.

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

King James Version
And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

Lexham English Bible
And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

Young's Literal Translation
And he spake a simile to them: `See the fig-tree, and all the trees,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he tolde them a symilitude: Beholde the fygge tre, and all tre trees,

Mace New Testament (1729)
Then by way of similitude, consider, said he, the fig-tree, and all the other trees;

THE MESSAGE
He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

New English Translation
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.

New King James Version
Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31">[xr] Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Then he said, "All you have to do is see that a cow bags up and

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then He told them a parable: "Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

Legacy Standard Bible
Then He told them a parable: "Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

Contextual Overview

²⁹ And He spoke a parable to them: You see the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ Now when they sprout leaves, seeing it , you will know from yourselves that now the summer is near. ³¹ So also when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I say to you, In no way will this generation pass away until all these things shall occur. ³³ The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away, never! ³⁴ But take heed to yourselves that your hearts not be loaded down with headaches, and drinking, and anxieties of life, and that day come suddenly upon you ³⁵ as a snare, for it will come in on all those sitting on the face of all the earth. Isa. 24:17 ³⁶ Then be watchful at every time, begging that you be counted worthy to escape all these things, the things being about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man. ³⁷ And in the days, He was teaching in the temple. And going out in the nights, He lodged in the Mount of Olives. ³⁸ And all the people came early to Him in the temple, to hear Him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Behold: Matthew 24:32-35, Mark 13:28-30

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 44:29 - a sign

Cross-References

Genesis 33:8
And he said, Whose is all this camp which I met? And he said, To find favor in the eyes of my lord.

Exodus 12:26
And it shall be, when your sons say to you, What is this service to you?

1 Samuel 15:14
And Samuel said, What then is this bleating of the flock in my ears, and the sound of the herd that I hear?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he spake to them a parable,.... That is, to his disciples:

behold the fig tree, and all the trees; that, or any other tree;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Matthew 24:0. All that will be necessary here will be an explanation of a few words that did not occur in that chapter.

Luke 21:9

Commotions - Insurrections. Subjects rising against their rulers.

Luke 21:11

Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7.

Luke 21:12, Luke 21:13

Synagogues, and into prisons - See the notes at Mark 13:9-10.

Luke 21:14

Settle it, therefore, in your hearts - Fix it firmly in your minds - so firmly as to become a settled principle - that you are always to depend on God for aid in all your trials. See Mark 13:11.

Luke 21:15

A mouth - Eloquence, ability to speak as the case may demand. Compare Exodus 4:11.

Gainsay - Speak against. They will not be able to “reply” to it, or to “resist” the force of what you shall say.

Luke 21:18

A hair of your head perish - This is a proverbial expression, denoting that they should not suffer any essential injury. This was strikingly fulfilled in the fact that in the calamities of Jerusalem there is reason to believe that no Christian suffered. Before those calamities came on the city they had fled to “Pella,” a city on the east of the Jordan. See the notes at Matthew 24:18.

Luke 21:19

In your patience - Rather by your perseverance. The word “patience” here means constancy or perseverance in sustaining afflictions.

Possess ye your souls - Some read here the “future” instead of the “present” of the verb rendered “possess.” The word “possess” means here to “preserve” or keep, and the word “souls” means “lives.” This passage may be thus translated: By persevering in bearing these trials you “will” save your lives, or you will be safe; or, by persevering “preserve” your lives; that is, do not yield to these calamities, but bear up under them, for he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Compare Matthew 24:13.

Luke 21:22

All things which are written may be fulfilled - Judgment had been threatened by almost all the prophets against that wicked city. They had spoken of its crimes and threatened its ruin. Once God had destroyed Jerusalem and carried the people to Babylon; but their crimes had been repeated when they returned, and God had again threatened their ruin. Particularly was this very destruction foretold by Daniel, Daniel 9:26-27; “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” See the notes at that passage.

Luke 21:24

Shall fall ... - No less than one million one hundred thousand perished in the siege of Jerusalem.

Shall be led away captive - More than 90,000 were led into captivity. See the notes at Matthew 24:0.

Shall be trodden down by the Gentiles - Shall be in possession of the Gentiles, or be subject to them. The expression also implies that it would be an “oppressive” subjection, as when a captive in war is trodden down under the feet of the conqueror. Anciently conquerors “trod on” the necks of those who were subdued by them, Jos 10:24; 2 Samuel 22:41; Ezekiel 21:29. The bondage of Jerusalem has been long and very oppressive. It was for a long time under the dominion of the Romans, then of the Saracens, and is now of the Turks, and is aptly represented by a captive stretched on the ground whose neck is “trodden” by the foot of the conqueror.

Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled - This passage has been understood very differently by different expositors. Some refer it to the time which the Romans who conquered it had dominion over it, as signifying that “they” should keep possession of it until a part of the pagans should be converged, when it should be rebuilt. Thus it was rebuilt by the Emperor Adrian. Others suppose that it refers to the end of the world, when all the Gentiles shall be converted, and they shall “cease” to be Gentiles by becoming Christians, meaning that it should “always” be desolate. Others, that Christ meant to say that in the times of the millennium, when the gospel should spread universally, he would reign personally on the earth, and that the “Jews” would return and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. This is the opinion of the Jews and of many Christians. The meaning of the passage clearly is,

1. That Jerusalem would be completely destroyed.
2. That this would be done by Gentiles - that is, by the Roman armies.
3. That this desolation would continue as long as God should judge it proper in a fit manner to express his abhorrence of the crimes of the nation - that is, until the times allotted to “them” by God for this desolation should be accomplished, without specifying how long that would be, or what would occur to the city after that.

It “may” be rebuilt, and inhabited by converted Jews. Such a thing is “possible,” and the Jews naturally seek that as their home; but whether this be so or not, the time when the “Gentiles,” as such, shall have dominion over the city is limited. Like all other cities on the earth, it will yet be brought under the influence of the gospel, and will be inhabited by the true friends of God. Pagan, infidel, anti-Christian dominion shall cease there, and it will be again a place where God will be worshipped in sincerity - a place “even then” of special interest from the recollection of the events which have occurred there. “How long” it is to be before this occurs is known only to Him “who hath put the times and seasons in his own power,” Acts 1:7.

Luke 21:25

See the notes at Matthew 24:29.

Upon the earth distress of nations - Some have proposed to render the word “earth” by “land,” confining it to Judea. It often has this meaning, and there seems some propriety in so using it here. The word translated “distress” denotes anxiety of mind - such an anxiety as people have when they do not know what to do to free themselves from calamities; and it means here that the calamities would be so great and overwhelming that they would not know what to do to escape. There would be a want of counsel, and deep anxiety at the impending evils.

With perplexity - Rather “on account” of their perplexity, or the desperate state of their affairs. The Syriac has it, “perplexity or wringing of hands,” which is a sign of deep distress and horror.

The sea and the waves roaring - This is not to be understood literally, but as an image of great distress. Probably it is designed to denote that these calamities would come upon them like a deluge. As when in a storm the ocean roars, and wave rolls on wave and dashes against the shore, and each succeeding surge is more violent than the one that preceded it, so would the calamities come upon Judea. They would roll over the whole land, and each wave of trouble would be more violent than the one that preceded it, until the whole country would be desolate. The same image is also used in Isaiah 8:7-8, and Revelation 18:15.

Luke 21:26

Men’s hearts failing them - This is an expression denoting the highest terror. The word rendered “failing” commonly denotes to “die,” and here it means that the terror would be so great that people would faint and be ready to die in view of the approaching calamities. And if this was true in respect to the judgments about to come upon Judea, how much more so will it be in the day of judgment, when the wicked will be arraigned before the Son of God, and when they shall have before them the prospect of the awful sufferings of hell - the pains and woes which shall continue forever! It will be no wonder, then, if they call on the rocks and mountains to hide them from the face of God, and if their hearts sink within them at the prospect of eternal suffering.

Luke 21:28

Your redemption draweth nigh - See the notes at Matthew 24:33. This is expressed in Luke 21:31 thus: “the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” - that is, from that time God will signally build up his kingdom. It shall be fully established when the Jewish policy shall come to an end; when the temple shall be destroyed, and the Jews scattered abroad. Then the power of the Jews shall be at an end; they shall no longer be able to persecute you, and you shall be completely delivered from all these trials and calamities in Judea.

Luke 21:34

Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged ... - The meaning of this verse is, “Be continually expecting these things. Do not forget them, and do not be “secure” and satisfied with this life and the good things which it furnishes. Do not suffer yourselves to be drawn into the fashions of the world; to be conformed to its customs; to partake of its feasts and revelry; and so these calamities shall come upon you when you least expect them.” And from this we may learn - what alas! we may from the “lives” of many professing Christians - that there is need of cautioning the disciples of Jesus now that they do not indulge in the festivities of this life, and “forget” that they are to die and come to judgment. How many, alas! who bear the Christian name, have forgotten this caution of the Saviour, and live as if their lives were secure; as if they feared not death; as if there were no heaven and no judgment! Christians should feel that they are soon to die, and that their portion is not in this life; and, feeling this, they should be “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.”

Overcharged - Literally, “be made heavy,” as is the case with those who have eaten and drunken too much.

Surfeiting - Excessive eating and drinking, so as to oppress the body; indulgence in the pleasures of the table. This word does not include “intoxication,” but merely indulgence in food and drink, though the food and drink should be in themselves lawful.

Drunkenness - Intoxication, intemperance in drinking. The ancients were not acquainted with the poison that we chiefly use on which to become drunk. They had no distilled spirits. They became intoxicated on wine, and strong drink made of a mixture of dates, honey, etc. All nations have contrived some way to become intoxicated - to bring in folly, and disease, and poverty, and death, by drunkenness; and in nothing is the depravity of men more manifest than in thus endeavoring to hasten the ravages of crime and death.

Luke 21:35

As a snare - In Matthew and Mark Jesus compares the suddenness with which these calamities would come to the deluge coming in the days of Noah. Here he likens it to a snare. Birds are caught by a snare or net. It is sprung on them quickly, and when they are not expecting it. So, says he, shall these troubles come upon Judea. The figure is often used to denote the suddenness of calamities, Psalms 69:22; Romans 11:9; Psalms 124:7; Isaiah 24:17.

Luke 21:36

To stand before the Son of man - These approaching calamities are represented as the “coming of the Son of man” to judge Jerusalem for its crimes. Its inhabitants were so wicked that they were not worthy to stand before him and would be condemned, and the city would be overthrown. To “stand before him” here denotes approbation, acquittal, favor, and is equivalent to saying that “they” would be free from these calamities, while they should come upon others. See Romans 14:4; Psalms 1:5; Psalms 130:3; Revelation 6:17. Perhaps, also, there is a reference here to the day of judgment. See the notes at Matthew 24:0.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. He spake to them a parable — Illustrated all these predicted facts by the simile of a fig tree. See this explained, Clarke "Matthew 24:32".