Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
The vinedresser (ton ampelourgon). Old word, but here only in the N.T., from ampelov, vine, and ergon, work.
These three years I come (tria eth af ou erxomai). Literally, "three years since (from which time) I come." These three years, of course, have nothing to do with the three years of Christ's public ministry. The three years are counted from the time when the fig tree would normally be expected to bear, not from the time of planting. The Jewish nation is meant by this parable of the barren fig tree. In the withering of the barren fig tree later at Jerusalem we see parable changed to object lesson or fact (Mark 11:12-14; Matthew 21:18 f.).
Cut it down (ekkoyon). "Cut it out," the Greek has it, out of the vineyard, perfective use of ek with the effective aorist active imperative of koptw, where we prefer "down."
Why? (ina ti). Ellipsis here of genhtai of which ti is subject (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 739,916).
Also (kai). Besides bearing no fruit.
Doth cumber the ground (thn ghn katargei). Makes the ground completely idle, of no use (kata, argew, from argov, a privative and ergon, work). Late verb, here only in the N.T. except in Paul's Epistles.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Luke 13:7:
Hebrews 2:14
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