Devine Scripture

Luke 13:8

What does Luke 13:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 13:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 13:8 means

The vinedresser responds by pleading with the owner for one more year of grace. He proposes to invest extra effort in cultivating the tree, promising to dig around it and fertilize it thoroughly. This intercession demonstrates a desire to give the tree every possible chance to bear fruit, highlighting persistent hope and a willingness to work for its restoration before an ultimate judgment. It represents an act of mercy and extended opportunity.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, Lord, let it be for this year, and I will have the earth turned up round it, and put animal waste on it, to make it fertile:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And he answering saith to him, Sir, suffer it also this year, till that I may dig about it, and cast in dung;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he answering, said to him: Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it and dung it.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But he answering says to him, Sir, let it alone for this year also, until I shall dig about it and put dung,

Context

Following the owner's decision to cut down the barren fig tree in verse 7, the vinedresser's intercession introduces a moment of grace and extended opportunity. This plea for more time and effort on the tree's behalf directly parallels God's patience with humanity's need for repentance, offering a reprieve before final judgment. It suggests a divine intercessor at work, providing a chance for change when judgment seems imminent.

v.7And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?

v.8This passage

v.9and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Joshua 7:7

    And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and dwelt beyond the Jordan!

  • Psalms 106:23

    Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroythem.

  • Jeremiah 14:13

    Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

  • Joel 2:17

    Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

  • Exodus 32:30

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto Jehovah; peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin.

  • Numbers 14:11

    And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them?

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