What Does Luke 13:9 Mean in the King James?
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The time before removal is a real opening for fruit, not a promise that barrenness can continue without end.
THE MEANING
Your present life is held in a real interval: fruit may still come, and removal remains possible. The sentence holds both outcomes together; more time does not guarantee that barrenness continues without consequence.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
More time is not an unlimited guarantee: the verse does not promise that a fruitless tree will be left standing indefinitely.
THE ROOT
ποιήσῃ καρπόν
poiēsē karpon
GROWS FROM
ποιέω
poieō
To do, make, or bring about.
The Greek pairs a form of “do” or “make” with “fruit,” where English says “bear fruit.” The verb emphasizes what actually comes forth: the test is produced yield, not simply the tree’s potential.
ALSO GROWS
poiētēs: A doer, one who acts.
ποιητής
This noun belongs to the same do-and-make family; the verse’s fruit is something brought about, not merely claimed.
poiēma: Something made; workmanship.
ποίημα
This names the result of making, echoing the fruit as an actual yield.
καρπόν
karpon
GROWS FROM
καρπός
karpos
Fruit, produce, or yield.
“fruit” in this verse is karpon. The Greek word family names both fruitfulness and its absence, holding yield and barrenness in one vocabulary. Here that contrast leads directly to staying or being cut down.
ALSO GROWS
karpophoreō: To bear fruit; be fruitful.
καρποφορέω
This verb makes the root’s yield explicit, echoing the condition at the center of the verse.
akarpos: Fruitless; unfruitful.
ἄκαρπος
This word names the absence of yield that the verse sets against bearing fruit.
THE PATTERN
Fruit is the visible yield by which living growth is recognized, while fruitlessness carries a consequence.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.THE THREAD
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.Luke 3:9 uses καρπός (karpos, fruit) and ἐκκόπτω (ekkoptō, cut down), the same Greek words found in Luke 13:9. It makes the consequence explicit: the tree’s missing yield is the reason it is removed.
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