Mark 11 · Verse 20

Mark 11:20

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Mark 11:20, King James Version

Mark 11:20 in other translations

BSBAs they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.
WEBAs they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
ASVAnd as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
YLTAnd in the morning, passing by, they saw the fig-tree having been dried up from the roots,
DARBYAnd passing by early in the morning they saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots.
BBEAnd when they were going by in the morning, they saw the fig-tree dead from the roots.
WebsterAnd in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots.

What does Mark 11:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. And in the morning--of Tuesday, the third day of the week: He had slept, as during all this week, at Bethany. as they passed by--going into Jerusalem again. they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots--no partial blight, leaving life in the root; but it was now dead, root and branch. In Mt 21:19 it is said it withered away as soon as it was cursed. But the full blight had not appeared probably at once; and in the dusk perhaps, as they returned to Bethany, they had not observed it. The precision with which Mark distinguishes the days is not observed by Matthew, intent only on holding up the truths which the incident was designed to teach. In Matthew the whole is represented as taking place at once, just as the two stages of Jairus' daughter--dying and dead--are represented by him as one. The only difference is between a more summary and a more detailed narrative, each of which only confirms the other.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 11:19-26

The disciples could not think why that fig-tree should so soon wither away; but all wither who reject Christ; it represented the state of the Jewish church. We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works. Christ taught them from hence to pray in faith. It may be applied to that mighty faith with which all true Christians are endued, and which does wonders in spiritual things. It justifies…

Read the full comment on Mark 11:19-26 →

Mark 11:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
παραπορευόμενοιparaporeuomenoipassing byG3899
πρωῒprōiin the morningG4404
εἶδονeidonthey sawG1492
τὴνtēntheG3588
συκῆνsukēnfig treeG4808
ἐξηραμμένηνexērammenēndried upG3583
ἐκekfrom [the]G1537
ῥιζῶν.rhizōnroots.G4491

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 11:20

  • Matthew 15:13

    But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

  • Matthew 21:19-22

    And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

  • Mark 11:14

    And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

  • Matthew 13:6

    And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

  • John 15:6

    If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

  • Isaiah 40:24

    Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

  • Isaiah 5:4

    What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

  • Hebrews 6:8

    But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

  • Jude 1:12

    These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

  • Job 18:16-17

    His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

  • Job 20:5-7

    That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they saw.Matthew informs us that this tree grew by the way-side, and was therefore not private, but public property; so that the destruction of it really injured no one. Our Lord was pleased to make use of this miracle to prefigure the speedy ruin of the Jewish nation, on account of its unfruitfulness under greater advantages than any other people enjoyed at that day; and, like all the rest of his miracles, it was done with a gracious intention, to alarm his countrymen, and induce them to repent.
See on ver.
14; Job 18:16,17; 20:5-7; Isa 5:4; 40:24; Mt 13:6; 15:13; 21:19,20
Joh 15:6; Heb 6:8; Jude 1:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 11:19

    And when even was come, he went out of the city.

  • Mark 11:20

    And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

  • Mark 11:21

    And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

Read all of Mark 11

Mark 11:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y pasando por la mañana, vieron que la higuera se había secado desde las raíces.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le matin, comme ils passaient, ils virent le figuier séché depuis les racines.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als sie frühmorgens vorbeigingen, sahen sie den Feigenbaum verdorrt von den Wurzeln an.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cum mane transirent, viderunt ficum aridam factam a radicibus.