^13:7So¹⁵ he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘For¹⁶ three years¹⁷ now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it¹⁸ I find none. Cut¹⁹ it down! Why²⁰ should it continue to deplete²¹ the soil?’

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Footnotes

15 Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the man’s response as a result of the lack of figs in the preceding clause.
16 Grk “Behold, for.”
17 The elapsed time could be six years total since planting, since often a fig was given three years before one even started to look for fruit. The point in any case is that enough time had been given to expect fruit.
18 The phrase “each time I inspect it” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied to indicate the customary nature of the man’s search for fruit.
19 Several witnesses (𝔓75 A L Θ Ψ 070 f13 33 579 892 lat co) have “therefore” (οὖν, oun) here. This conjunction has the effect of strengthening the logical connection with the preceding statement but also of reducing the rhetorical power and urgency of the imperative. In light of the slightly greater internal probability of adding a conjunction to an otherwise asyndetic sentence, as well as significant external support for the omission (א B D W f1 𝔐), the shorter reading appears to be more likely as the original wording here. puts the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.
20 Grk “Why indeed.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
21 Such fig trees would deplete the soil, robbing it of nutrients needed by other trees and plants.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’

NIVNew International Version (2011)

So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

CSBChristian Standard Bible

He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’

NLTNew Living Translation

Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So he said to the gardener, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and did not find any. Cut it down! Why should it even exhaust the soil?’

KJV 1900King James Version

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

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