Luke 13:8

8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.

Luke 13:8 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.
The Message Bible (MSG)
8 "The gardener said, 'Let's give it another year. I'll dig around it and fertilize,
American Standard Version (ASV)
8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
8 "The gardener replied, 'Sir, let it stand for one more year. I'll dig around it and fertilize it.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
8 "But he replied to him, 'Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
8 " 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and feed it.

Luke 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 13:8

And he answering, said unto him, Lord
Which, if understood of God the Father, may intend the intercession of Christ with him, who not only intercedes for his elect, for those that are unconverted, that they may be converted; and for converted ones, for the carrying on of the work of sanctification; for fresh discoveries of pardoning grace; for consolation and support under trouble; for their final perseverance, and eternal glorification: but also for his enemies, for profane sinners, and for formal professors; for the sake of his own people among them, and for their preservation, and for the averting of divine judgments from them, at least as yet: and so the Jewish nation was spared for some time after this, though now deserving of immediate destruction. But rather, the intercession of the ministers of Christ, and other good men, may be here meant; who, as Abraham interceded for Sodom, and Moses and Aaron for Israel, so do they for a sinful nation, a barren and unfruitful church and people, and particular persons, that they may be spared, at least a little longer, as here:

let it alone this year also;
have patience one year more, or a little while longer. The Ethiopic version renders it, "until the winter", that being a time for digging about, and dunging of trees, as follows,

till I shall dig about it, and dung it;
these same phrases are used in the "Misna" F11,

``(Nyrdemw Nylbzm) , "they dung and dig" in gardens of cucumbers, and gourds, until the beginning of the year:''

upon which their commentators say F12, that they carry dung into their gardens to moisten the earth, and dig about the roots of the trees, and lay them bare, and cover them again, and prune them, and smoke them to kill the worms. And by these phrases may be signified the various means Christ made use of by his own ministry, and by the ministry of his apostles, to make the Jews a fruitful people; and rather the means Christ's ministers make use of, as did the apostles with the Jews, to reach the cases of barren professors; as by "digging", striking at, and exposing some secret sin or sins, which are the root and source of their barrenness; showing them, that they have no root in Christ, nor the root of the matter in them; and declaring to them the insufficiency of a mere profession of religion to save them: and "dunging", which as it supposes want of heat, or coldness, which is the cause of barrenness, and signifies, that such professors are without spiritual life, and without spiritual heat, or real warmth of love to Christ, his truths, ordinances, and people, and discharge their duty in a cold and lifeless manner; so it may design the means they make use of to warm and fire them with zeal for God, and true religion; by preaching the soul quickening doctrines of the Gospel, and by laying before them the agreeableness of a becoming zeal, and the disagreeableness of a lukewarm spirit and disposition, an indolence and unconcern for the glory of God, and interest of Christ.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Sheviith, c. 2. sect. 2.
F12 Jarchi, Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.

Luke 13:8 In-Context

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.
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?’
8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
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