Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard,

Spoken to:

audience

After saying that those the suffer tragedies are not worse "sinners" than others, that we are all the same, none owing more than another. And he began this analogy about the unproductive fig tree.

KJV:

Luke 13:7 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?

NIV :

Luke 13:7 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?’

LISTENERS HEARD:

He, said however, to the vine dresser, "Look, three years I show up by it, desiring fruit on this fig tree here and I don't find it. Cut it down! Because this sort just leaves the earth unemployed.

MY TAKE:

The idle are a waste of air or, maybe dirt.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page):

GREEK ORDER:

εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀμπελουργόν Ἰδοὺ τρία ἔτη ἀφ᾽ οὗ ἔρχομαι
He, said however, to the vine dresser, "Look, three years by it, I show up

ζητῶν καρπὸν ἐν τῇ   συκῇ    ταύτῃ καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκω: ἔκκοψον αὐτήν:
desiring fruit      on this fig tree here and don't I find    . Cut down it !
ἵνα          τί    καὶ τὴν γῆν καταργεῖ;
Because this sort just the earth leaves unemployed.

LOST IN TRANSLATION:

There are several Greek words that are not translated, some because they don't fit in the English sentence as it is constructed but what is missing is the humor in the punchline. The final verb, translate as "cumber" and "use up," means "to leave unemployed" and "to be idle." The line after "cut it down," is "Because this sort just leaves the earth unemployed. "This sort" is the idle. The verb is unique for Jesus are included. This is one of the many verses where Jesus makes it clear that productivity is critically important.

As we saw in the previous verse (Luke 13:6) beginning this parable, there are many references to the male and feminine roles in being productive. Again, the "fig tree" here seems to represent the barren religion that is being practiced.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES:

Then(WW) said he unto the dresser [of his vineyard]IP3 Behold, these(IW) three years (from it)OS2 come seeking fruit on this (MWthe) fig tree, and find none(CW): cut it down; (MWbecause) why (MWjust) cumbereth it the ground?

WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "then" should be something more like "but."
IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "of his vineyard" doesn't exist in the source. This is counted as 3 translation issues, not 1
IW - Inserted Word-- The "these" doesn't exist in the source.
OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek missing word "from it" after "years" is in the source we use today. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "fig" is not shown in the English translation
.CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "none."
MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" after "down" is not shown in the English translation.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "just" after "why" is not shown in the English translation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES:

So (WW)he said to the man(WW) [who took care of the vineyard](IP6) For(IW) three years [from it](IP2) now(IW) I’ve(WT) been coming to look(WF) for fruit on this (MWthe) fig tree and have(WT) n’t found any. Cut it down! (MWbecause) Why should(IW) it (MWjust) use up the soil?’

WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "man" should be something more like "vine-dresser."
IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "who took care of the vineyard" doesn't exist in the source. This is counted as 3 translation issues, not 1.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "look" after "vineyard" is not shown in the English translation.
IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
IW - Inserted Word-- The "now" doesn't exist in the source.
missing "from it" -- -- -- (MP) The words here aren't translated with their correct meanings and forms. MP - Missing Phrase - The phrase "from it" after "years" is in the source. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.
WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something the present.
WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "looking for."
WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something the present.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" after "down" is not shown in the English translation.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "just" after "why" is not shown in the English translation.
IW - Inserted Word-- The "should " doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV :

Then -- (WW) This word doesn't mean "then." The Greek word translated as "then" means "but," "yet," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.

said - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak." It is one of the two most common words translated "speak," "say" and "tell," but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

unto -- The word translated as "unto" has a meaning that depends on the form of it object and its verb types. Generally, it means "towards," "by reason of," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.

dresser -- The word translated as "vinedresser" means "vine-dresser", a combination of the word for "vine" and "worker". It is a word Jesus uses nowhere else. Other references to vine workers use another word.

of his vineyard, -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

Behold, -- "Behold" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.

these -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

three - "Three" is the Greek word that means the number three.

years -- "Years" is from a Greek word that means "year", "yearly", and "annually". It is also an uncommon word, used primarily by Luke.

missing "from it" -- -- -- (OS) The untranslated word OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek missing word "from it" after "years" is in the source we use today. This is counted as 2 translation issues, not 1.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Technically, it is in the middle voice meaning the subject acts on himself. In English, this is assumed in our words "come" and "go." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

seeking -- The Greek verb translated as "seeking" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. It also means to "search," "inquire into," "investigate, "require," "demand," and "examine." It is translated correctly as a participle.

fruit -- The word translated as "fruit" primary meaning is "fruit," "seed," or "offspring," but its secondary meaning is "returns," specifically, "profit," as we would say "fruit of our labors."

on -- The word translated as "on" means "in," "on," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. About time, it means "during the time," "in the time," "within," and "in." With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."

this -- -- The "this" is an adjective that can mean "this" or "that," "here," or "there," the nearer or the further depending on usage. When the noun already has an article, it meaning is "here." As an adverb it means "in this way," "therefore," and "that is why." It is the same form as the fem sg dat form of the "this" is a pronoun.

missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.

fig tree, - - The word for "fig tree" means "fig tree." In ancient times, figs were a symbol for abundance.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis.

find -- The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic," meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover."

none: --(CW) The Greek word translated as "none" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. This is not the word usually translated as "none."

cut -- The word translated as "cut...down" means various forms of being "cut off," an idea that has a range of meanings similar to those in English from being hindered to being chopped down or ended. What makes it interesting is, though it is translated as something that happens to the tree in English (the passive voice), in Greek it is the "middle voice" indicating something that the tree does to itself. In dice, it means "to win."

it -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context.

down - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" "when," or "because."As an adverb it is translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."

why -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine and feminine, so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," "which," or even "why."

missing "just" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also lso used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

cumbereth -- "Cumbereth it" is another unique word for Jesus that means "leave unemployed", "cause to be idle", "have no effect", "lie idle", and "to have missed opportunities". When applied to the feminine earth, the earth mother, the sense is that she is left barren.

it -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

ground? -- The word translated as "ground" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.

EACH WORD of NIV :

So -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "so" means "but," "yet," "however," and "on the other hand." It can also be an explanation of an indirect cause ("so")

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

to -- The word translated as "to" has a meaning that depends on the form of it object and its verb types. Generally, it means "towards," "by reason of," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before."

man -- (WW)The word translated as "man" means "vine-dresser", a combination of the word for "vine" and "worker". It is a word Jesus uses nowhere else. Other references to vine workers use another word. This word doesn't mean "man."

who took care of the vineyard, -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.

missing "look!" -- (MW) The untranslated word" See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.

For -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

three - "Three" is the Greek word that means the number three.

years -- "Years" is from a Greek word that means "year", "yearly", and "annually". It is also an uncommon word, used primarily by Luke.

now -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

’ve -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

been -- This helping verb "be" couuld meen that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

coming -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Jesus usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Technically, it is in the middle voice meaning the subject acts on himself. In English, this is assumed in our words "come" and "go." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.

look for -- (WF) The Greek verb translated as "seeking" has a variety of meanings around the idea of "searching" and "desiring." It has a sense of seeking with a specific aim. It also means to "search," "inquire into," "investigate, "require," "demand," and "examine." This is not an infinitive but a participle, a verbal adjective, "word."

fruit -- The word translated as "fruit" primary meaning is "fruit," "seed," or "offspring," but its secondary meaning is "returns," specifically, "profit," as we would say "fruit of our labors."

fig tree, - - The word for "fig tree" means "fig tree." In ancient times, figs were a symbol for abundance.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis.

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

n’t The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

found -- The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic," meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover."

any. -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

Cut it down!

Cut -- The word translated as "cut...down" means various forms of being "cut off," an idea that has a range of meanings similar to those in English from being hindered to being chopped down or ended. What makes it interesting is, though it is translated as something that happens to the tree in English (the passive voice), in Greek it is the "middle voice" indicating something that the tree does to itself. In dice, it means "to win."

down - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.

Why -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." The same forms are used both for the masculine and feminine, so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "everyone," "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," "which," or even "why."

missing "just" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also lso used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

should -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

use up -- "Use upit" is another unique word for Jesus that means "leave unemployed", "cause to be idle", "have no effect", "lie idle", and "to have missed opportunities". When applied to the feminine earth, the earth mother, the sense is that she is left barren.

soil? -- The word translated as "soil" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV :

εἶπεν [162 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "He said" is eipon, which means "to speak," "to say," "to recite," "to address," "to mention," "to name," "to proclaim," "to plead," "to promise," and "to offer." This is the second most common word Jesus uses for this idea. The other word is used more for discussion. Perhaps translating it consistently as "tell" would work.

δὲ [446 verses](conj) "Then" is de which means "but," "yet," "however," and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of an indirect cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). In an "if" (εἰ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, it means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."

πρὸς (prep) "Unto" is pros, which means "on the side of", "in the direction of", "from (place)", "towards" "before", "in the presence of", "in the eyes of", "in the name of", "by reason of", "before (supplication)", "proceeding from (for effects)", "dependent on", "derivable from", "agreeable,""becoming", "like", "at the point of", "in addition to", "against," and "before." --

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

ἀμπελουργόν [1 verse](noun sg masc acc) "Vinedresser" is from ampelourgos, which means "vine-dresser", a combination of the word for "vine" and "worker". -- The word translated as "vinedresser" means "vine-dresser", a combination of the word for "vine" and "worker". It is a word Jesus uses nowhere else. Other references to vine workers use another word.

Ἰδοὺ [52 verses](adv, verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid) "Behold" is idou, which means "to behold," "to see," and "to perceive." It acts as an adverbial phrase in this form meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!' It is a form of the verb eido, which means "to see." This Greek word was translated into the Latin ecce, "behold."

τρία (numeral) [5 verses] (numeral pl neut acc) "Three" is from treis, which means the number three.

ἔτη [6 verses] (noun pl neut acc) "Years" is from etos, which means "year", "yearly", and "annually".

ἀφ᾽ [190 verses](prep) "Untranslated" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done. Referring to time, it means "from," and "after." Usually takes the genitive object. As a prefix, means "asunder," "completing," "ceasing," "back again," and "by way of abuse."

οὗ [294 verses](pron sg masc/fem/neut gen ) "Untranslated" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."-- The word translated as "who" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."

ἔρχομαι [198 verses] (verb 1st sg pres ind mp) "I come"is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

ζητῶν [36 verses] (part sg pres act masc nom ) "Seeking" is zeteo, which means "inquire for," "search for," "seek after," "desire," and "feel the want of."

καρπὸν [32 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Fruit" is karpos, which means "fruit," "the fruits of the earth," "seed," "offspring," "returns for profit," and "reward."

ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."

τῇ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

συκῇ [8 verses] (noun sg fem dat) "Fig tree" is syke, which means "fig tree." -

ταύτῃ [16 verses] (adv/adj sg fem dat) "This" is taute, which can be either an adverb or adjective (houtos). As an adverb this it means "in this way," "therefore," and "that is why." As an adjective, it means "this," "that," "there," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage.

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

οὐχ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.

εὑρίσκω: [43 verses] (verb 1st sg pres ind act) "Find" is heurisko, which means "to find," "to find out," "to discover," "to devise," "to invent," "to get," and "to gain."

ἔκκοψον [5 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Cut...down" is ekkopto, which means "to cut out," "to knock off," "to beat off [in battle]," "to hinder," "to break open," "to win [in throwing dice]," "to erase [an inscription]," "to come to a stop," "to stamp a coin," "to pause," or "to cut off." It is also a metaphor for "to make an end of." The root koptô means "to smite," "to pound," "to chop," "to cut off," and "to beat one's breast. The prefix means "from" or "out of."

αὐτὴν [39 verses](adj sg fem acc) "It" is auten, in the form of the singular, object, feminine pronoun "her/it." It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same." As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "so that," "in order that," "when," and "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated. Often is is better to translate it as "so that" instead of "because" to avoid confusion with another conjunction. --

τί [252 verses] (irreg sg neut nom) "Why" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what." Plural, "who are" is τίνες ἐόντες. It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; "to what point?" to "what end? τί ὅτι "why it is that,"

τὴν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.

γῆν [59 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Ground" is ge, which means "the element of earth," "land (country)," "arable land," "the ground," and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth," it means both dirt and the planet.

καταργεῖ; [1 verse](verb 3rd sg pres/imperfect ind act ) "Cumbereth" is katargeo, which means "leave unemployed", "cause to be idle", "have no effect", "lie idle", and "to have missed opportunities". -- "Cumbereth it" is another unique word for Jesus that means "leave unemployed", "cause to be idle", "have no effect", "lie idle", and "to have missed opportunities". When applied to the feminine earth, the earth mother, the sense is that she is left barren.

Front Page Date:

Aug 10 2024