Luke 17:6
What does Luke 17:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 17:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 17:6 means
Jesus replies that even faith as small as a mustard seed is sufficient for astonishing works, such as commanding a deeply rooted tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea. His point is not to promote spectacle but to reorient the disciples: the efficacy of faith lies not in its size but in its object—God’s power and promise. Genuine, living trust accomplishes what human strength cannot. This assurance encourages obedience in hard tasks like forgiving repeatedly and resisting temptation. When we act on Christ’s word, even small faith lays hold of a great God. The image challenges both unbelief and pride, calling for simple, active reliance on the Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the Lord said, If your faith was only as great as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this tree, Be rooted up and planted in the sea; and it would be done.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the Lord said, `If ye had faith as a grain of mustard, ye would have said to this sycamine, Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea, and it would have obeyed you.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree: Be thou rooted up and be thou transplanted into the sea. And it would obey you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But the Lord said, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard [seed], ye had said to this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea, and it would have obeyed you.
Context
This answer follows the apostles’ request for increased faith (verse 5) and reframes their need: quality and direction of faith matter more than quantity. Immediately after, Jesus teaches about the posture of servants (verses 7–10), preventing any thought that such faith entitles us to status or thanks. The arrangement keeps faith tethered to obedience and humility. Faith is not for self-exaltation but for doing difficult, often hidden duties in God’s strength, which then prepares the reader for the narrative of mercy shown to the ten lepers (verses 11–19).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 17:20
And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
- Mark 9:23
And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.
- Luke 13:19
It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.
- Luke 19:4
And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
- Matthew 13:31
Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
- Mark 11:22
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
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