3:10
Verse 3:10 is a metaphor. Its literal meaning is that someone has aimed his axe at trees that do not produce good fruit. He is ready to cut down these trees and burn them.
John the Baptist was comparing the Pharisees and Sadducees to these trees. He compared their behavior to the fruit of the trees. He compared God to the man who is ready to chop down the trees that had not produced good fruit. John was warning them that just as trees that do not produce good fruit will be chopped down and burned, so they will be severely punished by God if they do not show good works.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Translate it literally. For example:
There is an axe already at the base of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
-or-
The axe is already at the base of the trees. If a tree does not produce good fruit, it will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
If you translate the metaphor literally, you may wish to explain the meaning in a footnote. A sample footnote is:
John was saying that just as a man is ready to chop down any tree that does not produce good fruit, so God was ready to punish people who do not do good deeds that show that they have repented.
• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:
⌊God is like⌋ a man holding his axe at a tree trunk. ⌊If you do not show good works, you will be punished. This is like⌋ a tree that does not bear good fruit. He will cut it down and throw it into the fire.
-or-
⌊Just as⌋ ⌊a man⌋ is holding his axe ready to chop down a tree that does not bear fruit and throw it into the fire, ⌊in the same way God is ready to punish you if you do not do good things/deeds⌋.
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
You will soon be punished eternally ⌊by God⌋ if you do not do good deeds
-or-
God is ready to judge/punish you who fail to do good deeds that show that you have repented
3:10a
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees: This clause indicates that an axe is ready to cut down trees. It is implied that someone is holding the axe. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
⌊someone has his⌋ axe pointed/aimed at the trunk of trees ⌊ready to cut them down⌋
-or-
⌊a man is⌋ holding an axe at the base/trunk of trees. ⌊He is ready to cut them down⌋
-or-
the trees will soon be cut by a man with an axe
These words are a metaphor. For advice on translating this metaphor, see the examples above.
The axe lies ready: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ready emphasizes that the danger is immediate. The axe is right there, ready to strike. The tree is about to fall.
Here is another way to translate this word:
The ax is already (New International Version)
-or-
Even now the axe is laid (English Standard Version)
at the root of the trees: The phrase at the root of the trees refers to the part of the tree that is just above the ground, where an axe could cut it. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the base/trunk of the trees
-or-
at the bottom/foot of the trees
In some languages, it is not necessary to specify where the tree is cut down. For example:
to cut down the trees (New Century Version)
the trees: John did not name a specific type of trees, but it is clear from the context that he was referring to fruit trees such as fig trees.
3:10b
The metaphor continues here in 3:10b. People who do not do good works are compared to trees that do not produce good fruit. God will punish these people. They are compared to trees that are cut down.
For translation advice, see the examples above in 3:10.
and every tree: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as and introduces what happens as a result of the situation in 3:10a.
Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:
so then
-or-
as a result
-or-
the result will be that
that does not produce good fruit: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as produce…fruit also occurred in 3:8. You should translate these words here as you did there.
will be cut down: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be cut down is passive.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
• As a passive verb. For example:
is cut down (Revised Standard Version)
• As an active verb. For example:
⌊he⌋ will cut it down
3:10c
The metaphor continues by describing how the tree is burned and so destroyed. This refers to being punished by God.
thrown into the fire: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as thrown is passive.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
• As a passive verb. For example:
thrown into the fire (Revised Standard Version)
• As an active verb. For example:
and will throw it into a fire
-or-
then ⌊he⌋ will throw it on a fire ⌊and burn it⌋.
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