12On the following day, when they came out of Bethany, he was hungry. [11:13] And seeing a fig tree in the distance having leaves, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the opportune time for figs. [11:14] He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again — for all time." And his disciples were listening.
MRK 11:12-14
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, fig trees were a common and vital agricultural resource in Judea, providing both food and shade. The fig tree’s growth cycle was well understood: leaves typically appeared before fruit, signaling the tree’s readiness to bear. For Jesus to approach a leafy fig tree expecting fruit was not unreasonable, as the presence of leaves often indicated the tree’s productivity. However, the text notes it was not the (the appointed or opportune time) for figs, suggesting the tree was out of sync with its natural cycle. Jesus’ curse, declaring that no one would eat fruit from it 'to the age' , uses language that evokes permanence and finality. In a culture where agricultural fertility symbolized divine blessing and covenantal faithfulness, this act would have been striking. The disciples, familiar with prophetic imagery linking trees and spiritual fruitfulness, likely saw this as a symbolic gesture, though its full meaning would unfold later.
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How other translations render this
MRK 11:12
- KJV
- And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
- BSB
- The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
- Koinōnos
- On the following day, when they came out of Bethany, he was hungry.
MRK 11:13
- KJV
- And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
- BSB
- Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs.
- Koinōnos
- And seeing a fig tree in the distance having leaves, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the opportune time for figs.
MRK 11:14
- KJV
- And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
- BSB
- Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.
- Koinōnos
- He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again — for all time." And his disciples were listening.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 11:13
- season:The word translated 'season' here refers to the opportune or appointed time for something, not just a general period of the year. It implies a specific, fitting moment.
MRK 11:14
- to:The word translated 'to' in this phrase, 'never again eat fruit from you,' carries the sense of 'for all time' or 'forever.' It emphasizes the permanence of the curse.
- you:The word translated 'fruit' can refer to literal produce from a plant, but it also broadly encompasses the results or outcomes of actions, whether good or bad.