The Meaning of Mark 11:21 Explained

Mark 11:21

KJV: And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

YLT: and Peter having remembered saith to him, 'Rabbi, lo, the fig-tree that thou didst curse is dried up.'

Darby: And Peter, remembering what Jesus had said, says to him, Rabbi, see, the fig-tree which thou cursedst is dried up.

ASV: And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  Peter  calling to remembrance  saith  unto him,  Master,  behold,  the fig tree  which  thou cursedst  is withered away. 

What does Mark 11:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 11:20-33 - The Conditions Of Prayer
The great lesson taught by this stricken tree justified its doom. It was not yet the time of the fig harvest, but some of last year's fruit might still be found; and the hope of this was still further aroused by the abundance of young leaves. It was a type of profession without performance. In addition to proclaiming the doom of promise which is not followed by performance, our Lord drew from the miracle the great lesson that faith can absolutely reckon on God's faith, that is, His faithfulness. Throughout His life, as we look into the heart of Jesus, we find only forgiving love, humility, faith. Forgiveness and love are the conditions of all successful prayers, Mark 11:24-26. We do not show sufficient appreciation for our Lord's marvelous intellectual power. He was more than equal to these clever intellects trained to argument. They were beaten at their own game. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 11

1  Jesus rides with triumph into Jerusalem;
12  curses the fruitless fig tree;
15  purges the temple;
20  exhorts his disciples to steadfastness of faith, and to forgive their enemies;
27  and defends his actions by the witness of John, who was a man sent of God

Greek Commentary for Mark 11:21

Peter calling to remembrance [αναμνηστεις ο Πετρος]
First aorist participle, being reminded. Only in Mark and due to Peter‘s story. For his quick memory see also Mark 14:72. [source]
Which thou cursedst [ην κατηρασω]
First aorist middle indicative second person singular from καταραομαι — kataraomai It almost sounds as if Peter blamed Jesus for what he had done to the fig tree. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 11:21

John 1:38 Turned [στραπεις]
Second aorist passive participle of στρεπω — strephō vividly picturing the sudden act of Jesus on hearing their steps behind him. Beheld First aorist middle participle of τεαομαι — theaomai (John 1:32). Both participles here express antecedent action to λεγει — legei (saith). Following Present active participle of ακολουτεω — akoloutheō (John 1:37). It was Christ‘s first experience of this kind and the two came from the Baptist to Jesus. What seek ye? Not “whom” Aramaic title for “Teacher” which John here translates by Διδασκαλε — Didaskale as he is writing late and for general readers. Luke, a Greek Christian, does not use it, but John recalls his first use of this term to Jesus and explains it. Matthew has it only in the greeting of Judas to the Master (Matthew 26:25, Matthew 26:49) and Mark once by Judas (Mark 14:45) and twice by Peter (Mark 9:5; Mark 11:21). John‘s Gospel has the disciples at first addressing Jesus by Rabbi while others address him by Κυριε — Kurie (Lord or Sir) as in John 4:11, John 4:49; John 5:7. Peter uses Κυριε — Kurie in John 6:68. In the end the disciples usually say Κυριε — Kurie (John 13:6, John 13:25, etc.), but Mary Magdalene says αββουνει — Rabbounei (John 20:16). Being interpreted Present passive participle of μετερμηνευω — methermēneuō late compound of μετα — meta and ερμηνευω — hermēneuō to explain (John 1:42), old word from ερμες — Hermes the god of speech (hermeneutics). John often explains Aramaic words (John 1:38, John 1:41, John 1:42; John 4:25; John 9:7, etc.). Where abidest thou? They wished a place for quiet converse with Jesus. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 11:21 mean?

And having remembered - Peter says to Him Rabbi look the fig tree that You cursed is dried up
καὶ ἀναμνησθεὶς Πέτρος λέγει αὐτῷ Ῥαββί ἴδε συκῆ ἣν κατηράσω ἐξήρανται

ἀναμνησθεὶς  having  remembered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀναμιμνῄσκω  
Sense: to call to remembrance, to remind, to admonish.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
λέγει  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Ῥαββί  Rabbi 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: ῥαββί  
Sense: my great one, my honourable sir.
ἴδε  look 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
συκῆ  fig  tree 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: συκῆ  
Sense: a fig tree.
ἣν  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
κατηράσω  You  cursed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Singular
Root: καταράομαι  
Sense: to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon.
ἐξήρανται  is  dried  up 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ξηραίνω  
Sense: to make dry, dry up, wither.