King James Version

What Does Luke 23:31 Mean?

Luke 23:31 in the King James Version says “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” — study this verse from Luke chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

Luke 23:31 · KJV

Context

29

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Calvary: or, The place of a skull

Read Luke 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? This proverbial saying employs agricultural imagery to teach a profound theological principle. The "green tree" (hygro xýlo, ὑγρῷ ξύλῳ, "moist/living wood") represents Jesus—innocent, righteous, full of spiritual life. The "dry" tree (xēro, ξηρῷ, "dried/dead wood") represents guilty Jerusalem—spiritually dead, covenant-breaking, ripe for judgment.

The principle: if Romans crucify the innocent (green wood), how much more severe will judgment be upon the guilty (dry wood)? If the sinless Son of God suffers such agony, what will befall sinners who reject Him? This echoes 1 Peter 4:17-18: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

The imagery also suggests combustibility—green wood resists fire, dry wood burns readily. Jesus, the green tree, endured the fire of God's wrath against sin and extinguished it through His sacrifice. But dry wood (unrepentant sinners) will be consumed by that same fire. The saying warns: if God's judgment strikes the righteous substitute, how terrifying will judgment be for the guilty who have no substitute? This is the heart of penal substitutionary atonement—Christ bore judgment meant for others.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Proverbial wisdom using agricultural imagery was common in Jewish teaching. The green/dry tree metaphor appears in Ezekiel 20:47 and Ezekiel 21:3-4, where God declares He will kindle fire that burns both green and dry trees—comprehensive judgment sparing none. Jesus inverts this image: because the green tree (Himself) bears the fire of judgment, dry trees (repentant sinners) can be spared if they hide in Him.

The historical context clarifies the prophecy. Within forty years of Christ's crucifixion, Jerusalem burned—literally. Roman soldiers set fire to the temple despite Titus's orders to preserve it. Josephus describes the inferno consuming the city, with thousands perishing in flames or smoke. If Romans treated innocent Jesus with such brutality, their treatment of rebellious Jerusalem would be incomparably worse. History confirmed Jesus' warning—the dry wood of unrepentant Israel burned catastrophically in AD 70.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the green tree/dry tree imagery illuminate the doctrine of penal substitution—Christ bearing judgment meant for sinners?
  2. If the innocent Christ suffered such agony bearing our sins, what does this reveal about the severity of sin and the wrath it deserves?
  3. How should understanding that we are "dry wood" deserving judgment, yet finding refuge in Christ the "green tree," shape our worship and gratitude?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
ὅτι1 of 13

“For”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

εἰ2 of 13

“if”

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

ἐν3 of 13

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ4 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὑγρῷ5 of 13

“a green”

G5200

wet (as if with rain), i.e., (by implication) sappy (fresh)

ξύλῳ6 of 13

“tree”

G3586

timber (as fuel or material); by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance

ταῦτα7 of 13

“these things”

G5023

these things

ποιοῦσιν8 of 13

“they do”

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

ἐν9 of 13

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ10 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ξηρῷ11 of 13

“the dry”

G3584

arid; by implication, shrunken, earth (as opposed to water)

τί12 of 13

“what”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

γένηται13 of 13

“shall be done”

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 23:31 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 23:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Peter 4:17-18Proverbs 11:31John 15:6Ezekiel 20:47-48Ezekiel 21:3-4Ezekiel 15:2-7

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