Paragraph 21:29–31

21:29a

Then Jesus told them a parable: This clause begins a new paragraph. In this paragraph Jesus gave an illustration to help his disciples understand more clearly what he had been teaching them. In Greek the paragraph begins with a conjunction. Some ways to translate the clause are:

Then Jesus told them this parable: (Good News Translation)
-or-
Then he gave them this illustration (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Then Jesus compared what he meant ⌊to a fig tree⌋:
-or-
He further advised/instructed them, saying

a parable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parable refers to a comparison or illustration. A parable teaches people a truth or lesson by showing how it is like something that they already know about.

In this parable Jesus compared the signs of his coming to new leaves growing on trees. Just as new leaves show that summer is near, so the signs will show that Jesus’ return is near.

Use an appropriate word in your language for an illustration like this. If the word that you normally use to translate parable refers to a different type of illustration or story, you may need to use a different word here. Some ways to translate parable here are:

comparison
-or-
illustration

See also parable, Type 2, in the Glossary.

21:29b

Look at the fig tree: Here the clause Look at the fig tree indicates that Jesus wanted his disciples to notice or remember what happens to fig trees. He may not have been pointing to a particular fig tree at that time. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Think about ⌊what happens to⌋ a fig tree.
-or-
When you see a fig tree… (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Notice the fig tree… (New Living Translation (2004))

the fig tree: A fig tree is a type of fruit tree that is common in Israel. It was mentioned in 13:6. Its branches are bare in winter. Then in the spring it sprouts buds and leaves. Fig trees normally produce small, edible fruit called figs.

Figs, fig leaves, and fig trees are mentioned frequently in the Bible. Some examples are Genesis 3:7, Psalm 105:33, Isaiah 34:4, and Matthew 21:19. Often the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. For this reason you may want to keep fig tree here in your translation.

and all the trees: What happens to fig trees happens to many trees. When the winter ends, they begin to grow new leaves. Since no one can look at all the trees at once, in some languages it may be more natural to use a singular form. For example:

or at any other tree (Revised English Bible)

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