Luke 17:6
New International Version
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

New Living Translation
The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

English Standard Version
And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Berean Standard Bible
And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Berean Literal Bible
And the Lord said, "If you have faith like a grain of mustard, you would have said to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it would have obeyed you.

King James Bible
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

New King James Version
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

New American Standard Bible
But the Lord said, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

NASB 1995
And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’ and it would obey you.

NASB 1977
And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the Lord said, “If you have faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

Amplified Bible
And the Lord said, “If you have [confident, abiding] faith in God [even as small] as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree [which has very strong roots], ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’; and [if the request was in agreement with the will of God] it would have obeyed you.

Christian Standard Bible
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

American Standard Version
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied: If you had faith no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up, roots and all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would!

English Revised Version
And the Lord said, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would have obeyed you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Lord said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Pull yourself up by the roots, and plant yourself in the sea!' and it would obey you.

Good News Translation
The Lord answered, "If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea!' and it would obey you.

International Standard Version
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you!

Majority Standard Bible
And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

NET Bible
So the Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree, 'Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

New Heart English Bible
The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say to this sycamine-tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.

Weymouth New Testament
"If your faith," replied the Lord, "is like a mustard seed, you might command this black-mulberry-tree, 'Tear up your roots and plant yourself in the sea,' and instantly it would obey you.

World English Bible
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the LORD said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard, you would have said to this sycamine, Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea, and it would have obeyed you.

Berean Literal Bible
And the Lord said, "If you have faith like a grain of mustard, you would have said to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it would have obeyed you.

Young's Literal Translation
and the Lord said, 'If ye had faith as a grain of mustard, ye would have said to this sycamine, Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea, and it would have obeyed you.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a kernel of mustard, said ye to this mulberry-tree, Be thou rooted up, and planted in the sea; and it had listened to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou transplanted into the sea: and it would obey you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the Lord said: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you may say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be transplanted into the sea.’ And it would obey you.

New American Bible
The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

New Revised Standard Version
The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He said to them, If you have faith, even as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea; it would obey you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He said to them, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you may say to this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea', and it would obey you.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the Lord said: If you had faith like a grain of mustard, you might say to this sycamine-tree, Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea, and it should obey you.

Godbey New Testament
And the Lord said, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you should say to this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up, and planted in the sea; and it would obey you.

Haweis New Testament
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard, ye might say to that sycamore-tree, Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you.

Mace New Testament
if your faith improv'd like a grain of mustard-seed, you might say to this sycamine-tree, be thou rooted up, and planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Weymouth New Testament
"If your faith," replied the Lord, "is like a mustard seed, you might command this black-mulberry-tree, 'Tear up your roots and plant yourself in the sea,' and instantly it would obey you.

Worrell New Testament
And the Lord said, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say to this sycamine tree, 'Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Worsley New Testament
And the Lord said, If ye had faith but as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say to this sycamine-tree, Be thou rooted up and planted in the sea; and it would obey you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Power of Faith
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. 7Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?…

Cross References
Matthew 17:20
“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. / “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. / Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 21:21
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

James 1:6
But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

1 Corinthians 13:2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Matthew 8:26
“You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.

Romans 4:20-21
Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, / being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Genesis 22:17
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

Isaiah 41:15
Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.

Zechariah 4:7
What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Exodus 14:21
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,

Joshua 3:13-17
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.” / So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. / Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this sycamine tree, Be you plucked up by the root, and be you planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

If.

Matthew 17:20,21
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you…

Matthew 21:21
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.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

as.

Luke 13:19
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Matthew 13:31,32
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: …

Jump to Previous
Command Faith Grain Instantly Mustard Mustard-Seed Obey Obeyed Plant Planted Plucked Root Rooted Roots Sea Seed Small Sycamore Tear Tree Uprooted
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Luke 17
1. Jesus teaches to avoid occasions of offense;
3. and to forgive one another.
5. The power of faith.
6. How we are bound to God.
11. Jesus heals ten lepers.
22. Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of Man.














And the Lord said
This phrase introduces the authority of Jesus Christ, who is referred to as "the Lord." In the Greek, "Kyrios" is used, emphasizing His divine authority and lordship. This sets the stage for the profound teaching that follows, underscoring that the words are not merely human wisdom but divine instruction. Historically, Jesus' teachings were revolutionary, challenging the norms and inviting His followers to a deeper understanding of faith.

If you have faith
The Greek word for faith here is "pistis," which implies trust, belief, and confidence in God. This phrase suggests that faith is not about quantity but quality. It is a call to trust in God's power and promises, regardless of how small or insignificant one's faith might seem. In the historical context, faith was a central theme in Jesus' ministry, often highlighted as the key to experiencing God's power and presence.

the size of a mustard seed
The mustard seed is known for its small size, yet it grows into a large plant. This metaphor illustrates that even the smallest amount of genuine faith can have a significant impact. In the Jewish culture of Jesus' time, the mustard seed was commonly used to represent something very small, making this analogy relatable and powerful for His audience. It emphasizes that God can work through even the smallest beginnings.

you can say to this mulberry tree
The mulberry tree, known for its deep roots and strength, symbolizes challenges or obstacles that seem insurmountable. In the Greek, the word used is "sykaminos," which refers to a type of fig-mulberry tree. This imagery would resonate with Jesus' listeners, who understood the difficulty of uprooting such a tree. It highlights the power of faith to overcome formidable challenges.

‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’
This phrase uses hyperbolic language to illustrate the miraculous potential of faith. The idea of a tree being uprooted and planted in the sea is humanly impossible, yet it signifies that with faith, nothing is impossible with God. The sea, often representing chaos and the unknown in biblical literature, further emphasizes the transformative power of faith to bring order and possibility where there seems to be none.

and it will obey you
The promise of obedience from the mulberry tree signifies the authority granted to believers through faith. In the Greek, "hypakouō" is used, meaning to listen or to be subject to. This reflects the biblical principle that creation itself responds to the faith-filled commands of those who trust in God. Historically, this teaching would have been both encouraging and challenging to Jesus' disciples, urging them to exercise their faith boldly.

(6) If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed.--The words remind us, and must have reminded the disciples, of those of Matthew 17:20, which were called forth by the failure of the disciples to heal the demoniac boy after the Transfiguration. The "sycamine tree" (probably not the same as the "sycamore," but identified by most botanists with the mulberry tree, still cultivated on the slopes of the Lebanon and in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem and Nablous, both for its fruit and as supplying food for silkworms) takes the place of "this mountain," sc. Hermon, as an illustration of what true faith could do. If we suppose the conversation to have taken place near the Sea of Galilee, both features of the comparison gain a local vividness. It is remarkable that our Lord meets the prayer with what sounds like a reproof; and such a reproof, we must believe, was needed. The most elementary faith would have been enough to teach them (assuming the connection that has been traced above) that God is love, and that He would help them to overcome all hindrances to their love being after the pattern of His own. There was something, it may be, false in the ring of that prayer, an unreal diffidence asking for that as a gift which really comes only through active obedience and the experience which is gained through it.

Verse 6. - And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. The Lord signifies that a very slight real faith, which he compares to the mustard seed, that smallest of grains, would be of power sufficient to accomplish what seemed to them impossible. In other words, he says, "If you have any real faith at all, you will be able to win the victory over yourselves necessary for a perpetual loving judgment of others." The sycamine tree here mentioned in his comparison is not the sycamore; he was probably standing close by the tree in question as he spoke. The sycamine is the black mulberry, Morns nigra, still called sycamenea in Greece.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
Κύριος (Kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

answered,
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“If
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

you have
ἔχετε (echete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

faith
πίστιν (pistin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

the size
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

of a mustard seed,
σινάπεως (sinapeōs)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4615: Mustard (probably the shrub, not the herb). Perhaps from sinomai; mustard.

you can say
ἐλέγετε (elegete)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to this
ταύτῃ (tautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

mulberry tree,
συκαμίνῳ (sykaminō)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4807: A sycamore tree, black mulberry tree. Of Hebrew origin in imitation of sukomoraia; a sycamore-fig tree.

‘Be uprooted
Ἐκριζώθητι (Ekrizōthēti)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1610: To root out, pluck up by the roots. From ek and rhizoo; to uproot.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

planted
φυτεύθητι (phyteuthēti)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5452: To plant, set. From a derivative of phuo; to set out in the earth, i.e. Implant; figuratively, to instil doctrine.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sea,’
θαλάσσῃ (thalassē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2281: Probably prolonged from hals; the sea.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

it will obey
ὑπήκουσεν (hypēkousen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5219: From hupo and akouo; to hear under, i.e. To listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority.

you.
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Gospels: Luke 17:6 The Lord said If you had faith (Luke Lu Lk)
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