Luke 23:31
What does Luke 23:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 23:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 23:31 means
Jesus concludes with a proverb: if such things are done in the green tree, what will be done in the dry? If the innocent, fruitful One is treated with such cruelty, what should the guilty, fruitless nation expect when judgment comes? The contrast warns of a greater severity awaiting those already ripe for punishment. His words invite sober self-examination. They also highlight His uniqueness: He is the green tree—full of life—yet suffers now. This suffering is not because of His guilt but because He bears the path of redemption, even as a barren people hasten toward ruin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
KJV
King James Version · 1611For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will they do when it is dry?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for, if in the green tree they do these things--in the dry what may happen?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for if these things are done in the green tree, what shall take place in the dry?
Context
This proverbial statement wraps up Jesus’ address to the women. It ties His present suffering to the future devastation awaiting Jerusalem. Immediately after, Luke moves back to the execution narrative: two malefactors are led with Jesus to be put to death, and they all arrive at The skull. The transition signals that the time for prophecy has ended and the time for fulfillment—in Jesus’ death—has come. The crucifixion scene now unfolds with multiple witnesses and responses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?
- Ezekiel 20:47
and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
- Ezekiel 15:2
Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest?
- John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
- Ezekiel 21:3
and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
- Proverbs 11:31
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!
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