Mark 13:28

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Now	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
learn	μάθετε mathete	G3129	to learn (in any way) · verb — second aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural
a parable	παραβολήν· parabolēn	G3850	a similitude ("parable") · noun — accusative singular feminine
of	ἀπὸ apo	G575	"off · preposition
the fig tree	συκῆς sukēs	G4808	a fig-tree · noun — genitive singular feminine
When	ὅταν hotan	G3752	whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertain… · conjunction
her	αὐτῆς autēs	G846	the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive singular feminine
branch	κλάδος klados	G2798	a twig or bough (as if broken off) · noun — nominative singular masculine
is	γένηται, genētai	G1096	to cause to be ("gen"-erate) · verb — second aorist middle deponent subjunctive, 3rd person singular
yet	ἤδη ēdē	G2235	even now · adverb
tender	ἁπαλὸς hapalos	G527	soft · adjective — nominative singular masculine
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
putteth forth	ἐκφύῃ ekphuē	G1631	to sprout up · verb — present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
leaves	φύλλα, phulla	G5444	a sprout · noun — accusative plural neuter
ye know	γινώσκετε ginōskete	G1097	to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applicatio… · verb — present active indicative, 2nd person plural
that	ὅτι hoti	G3754	demonstrative · conjunction
summer	θέρος theros	G2330	properly · noun — nominative singular neuter
is	ἐστί estí	G2076	he (she or it) is
near	ἐγγὺς engus	G1451	akin to the base of G43 (ἀγκάλη)) · preposition

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Luke 21:29-31 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Matthew 24:32-33 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Mark 13:28–end

We have here the application of this prophetical sermon; now learn to look forward in a right manner. I. "As to the destruction of Jerusalem, expect it to come very shortly; as when the branch of the fig-tree becomes soft, and the leaves sprout forth, ye expect that summer will come shortly, Mar 13:28. When second causes begin to work, ye expect their effects in their proper order and time. So when ye see these things come to pass, when ye see the Jewish nation embroiled in wars, distracted by false Christs and prophets, and drawing upon them the displeasure of the Romans, especially when ye see them persecuting you for your Master's sake, and thereby standing to what they did when they put…

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Adam Clarke on Mark 13:20

Had shortened those days - Because of his chosen, added by D, Armenian, and five of the Itala. See Mat 24:22.

John Gill on Mark 13:28

Now learn a parable of the fig tree,.... Our Lord was now upon the Mount of Olives, in one part of which fig trees grew in great plenty, and one, or more, might be near, and in view; and it was the time of year, the passover being at hand, for its putting forth: when her branch is yet tender; and soft and opening, through the sap now in motion: and putteth forth leaves; from the branches: ye know, that summer is near; from such an appearance on the fig tree; See Gill on Matthew 24:32.

John Calvin on Mark 13:28-32

Mark 13:28-32 Matthew 24:32-36 Mark 13:28-32 Luke 21:29-33 32. Now learn a similitude from the fig-tree. When its branch is already tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh. 33. In like manner, when you shall see all these things, know you that it is nigh, at the door. 34. Verily I say to you, This generation shall not pass away till all these things be done. 35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36. But of that day and hour no man knoweth, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father alone. 28. Now learn a similitude from the fig-tree. When its branch is still tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh. 29. In…

The Church Fathers

The summer signifies the end of the world, because at that time fruits are gathered up and stored.
— Hippolytus of Rome, ON MATTHEW

Or else, the leaves which come forth are words now spoken, the summer at hand is the day of Judgment, in which every tree shall show what it had within it, deadness for burning, or greenness to be planted with the tree of life. There follows: Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till these things be done.
— Pseudo-Jerome ((as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)), Catena Aurea by Aquinas

As the sproutings of small trees afford a sign of the approach of summer time, so do the great conflicts of the world point toward the kingdom by preceding it. Both sign and thing signified belong to the same One who orders all. So if conflicts are signs of the kingdom, as sproutings are of summer, then the kingdom also is the creator's, to whom the conflicts are ascribed, which are the signs of the coming kingdom.
— Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 4.39

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Leaf — Of a tree. The olive-leaf mentioned Gen. 8:11. The barren fig-tree had nothing but leaves (Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:13). The oak-leaf is mentioned Isa. 1:30; 6:13. There are numerous allusions to leaves,…
Prophecy — Or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human…
Earth · 5:18;24:3,14,29-31,35-39; — 5:18;24:3,14,29-31,35-39;
Summer · Approach of — Approach of

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Mark 13:28–end

Adam Clarke on Mark 13:20

John Gill on Mark 13:28

John Calvin on Mark 13:28-32

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Mark 13:28–end

Adam Clarke on Mark 13:20

John Gill on Mark 13:28

John Calvin on Mark 13:28-32

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Mark 13:28-31