Discovery BoxLuke 13:7 
Context13:7 So 1 he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘For 2 three years 3 now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it 4 I find none. Cut 5 it down! Why 6 should it continue to deplete 7 the soil?’
Luke 13:34
Context13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 8 you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! 9 How often I have longed 10 to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but 11 you would have none of it! 12
1 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the man’s response as a result of the lack of figs in the preceding clause.
2 tn Grk “Behold, for.”
3 sn The elapsed time could be six years total since planting, since often a fig was given three years before one even started to look for fruit. The point in any case is that enough time had been given to expect fruit.
4 tn The phrase “each time I inspect it” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied to indicate the customary nature of the man’s search for fruit.
5 tc ‡ Several witnesses (Ì75 A L Θ Ψ 070 Ë13 33 579 892 al lat co) have “therefore” (οὖν, oun) here. This conjunction has the effect of strengthening the logical connection with the preceding statement but also of reducing the rhetorical power and urgency of the imperative. In light of the slightly greater internal probability of adding a conjunction to an otherwise asyndetic sentence, as well as significant external support for the omission (א B D W Ë1 Ï), the shorter reading appears to be more likely as the original wording here. NA27 puts the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.
6 tn Grk “Why indeed.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
7 sn Such fig trees would deplete the soil, robbing it of nutrients needed by other trees and plants.
8 sn The double use of the city’s name betrays intense emotion.
9 tn Although the opening address (“Jerusalem, Jerusalem”) is direct (second person), the remainder of this sentence in the Greek text is third person (“who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her”). The following sentences then revert to second person (“your… you”), so to keep all this consistent in English, the third person pronouns in the present verse were translated as second person (“you who kill… sent to you”).
10 sn How often I have longed to gather your children. Jesus, like a lamenting prophet, speaks for God here, who longed to care tenderly for Israel and protect her.
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
12 tn Grk “you were not willing.”
