Bible Strands
Mark 11:20
As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus and the disciples are walking back toward Jerusalem the morning after the previous day's events. Peter addresses Jesus by pointing out the fig tree's condition.
The words — The text records ἐξηραμμένην (exērammenēn), meaning "dried up" or "withered," and ἐκ (ek), meaning "from," to describe the tree's complete desiccation. These terms emphasize the total and sudden nature of the withering rather than a gradual decay.
The thread — This event parallels Matthew 21:19, where Jesus curses the fig tree for having leaves but no fruit. It also connects to Matthew 15:13 regarding plants not planted by the Father being uprooted and Matthew 13:6 about seedlings scorched and withering due to a lack of root.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that outward appearance without genuine vitality results in irreversible judgment. A reader must account for the immediate and complete consequence of fruitlessness when confronted with divine authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Cross-references
- Matthew 15:13 But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.
- Matthew 13:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
- Matthew 21:19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
- Mark 11:14 Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.
- John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
- Isaiah 40:24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.
- Isaiah 5:4 What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?
- Hebrews 6:8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
- Jude 1:12 These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.
- Job 18:16 The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away.