11:13a

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf: This clause has new information. Therefore, it may be more natural in your language to make it the main clause of the sentence instead of a background clause. For example:

Jesus saw a fig tree in leaf in the distance.

in the distance: The phrase in the distance is general. The tree was close enough that Jesus could see that it was covered with leaves. But it was far enough away that he could not see whether it had any fruit. Translate this phrase with a general expression that means a (short) distance away.

fig tree: A fig tree was a common and important tree in Israel. Fig trees normally produced small, edible fruit called “figs.”

If speakers of your language are not familiar with the fig tree, here are some other ways to translate it:

tree with a fruit called “fig”
-or-
fruit tree
in leaf: The phrase in leaf means that the tree had leaves on it. Fig trees lose all their leaves at a certain season of the year, and at another time of the year they grow new leaves.

11:13b

He went to see if there was any fruit on it: This clause indicates that Jesus went close to the tree because he wanted to see if there was fruit on it.

any fruit on it: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as any fruit is literally “anything” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It is recommended that you make it explicit in your translation that Jesus was looking for figs or fruit, as most English versions do. If you translate literally with a general word like “anything,” readers may think that Jesus wanted to see if he could find a bird or animal in the tree.

11:13c

But when He reached it: The words reached it here mean “arrived at the tree.” They do not mean that he stretched out his arm toward the tree.

He found nothing on it except leaves: Jesus did not find any fruit on the tree, only leaves. Jesus expected to find the early fruit that the tree produces before the mature fruit that develops later. People who were poor or hungry would eat these early figs. If a tree did not produce these early figs, it was a sign that mature figs would not grow later.

11:13d

since it was not the season for figs: The word since introduces the reason Jesus found nothing but leaves on the tree: it was not the season. This means that it was not the right time of the year to find mature fruit on the tree. (But Jesus did expect to find the early fruit.)

If your language must be specific about the season, you should say that it was not yet the season for ripe figs (mature fruit). In other words, there were no full, ripe figs because that season had not yet come. It was not because the season had passed.

It may be helpful to add a footnote to explain why Jesus expected to find fruit on the tree when it was not the season for figs. For example:

It was not the season for ripe figs. However, because there were leaves on the tree, there should have been early figs that people could eat. The tree had produced no fruit at all, even when early figs were expected.

General Comment on 11:13c–d

In 11:13c–d, 11:13d expresses the reason for the result in 11:13c. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of these clauses. For example:

13d
But it was not the season for figs. 13cThat is why, when he reached the tree, he found nothing but leaves.
-or-
13d
But it was not the season for figs. 13cSo, when he reached the tree, he found nothing but leaves.

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