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.

LUKE 17:6KJV
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Luke 17:6 (KJV)

What does Luke 17:6 mean?

Luke 17:6 describes Jesus telling his followers that even a very small amount of faith—like a mustard seed—could accomplish what seems impossible, such as commanding a tree to uproot itself and be planted in the sea. The verse uses vivid imagery to show that genuine faith, no matter how small, has great potential.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, responding to their request for increased faith. The "sycamine tree" he mentions was known for its deep roots, making the idea of moving it especially striking. The focus is not on the size of faith itself, but on the power and effectiveness of faith when it is real, even if it seems tiny.

The Greek behind Luke 17:6

  • πίστις (pistis, G4102): This word means "faith" or "trust." Here, Jesus highlights that it is not the amount of faith that matters, but its presence and authenticity.
  • κόκκος (kokkos, G2848): Translated as "grain," this refers to something very small, emphasizing the minimal size needed for faith to be effective.
  • συκάμινος (sykaminos, G4807): This is the "sycamine tree," a tree known for its strong, deep roots. Mentioning this tree underlines the difficulty of the task, making the point about faith's power even clearer.
  • ὑπακούω (hypakouō, G5219): Translated as "obey," this word carries the sense of something responding to a command. The verse stresses that even nature would respond to faith-filled words.

Why Luke 17:6 matters

  • Luke 17:6 clears up the common misunderstanding that faith must be large or impressive to be effective; Jesus instead points to the quality and presence of faith, not its quantity.
  • The verse emphasizes that faith is not about personal power or magic, but about trust in God’s ability to do what seems impossible.
  • This teaching connects to the wider passage, where Jesus is instructing his disciples about forgiveness and humility, showing that faith is central to living out his teachings.

Where else these words appear

“root” Greek G1610 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
  • Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
  • Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

“seed” Greek G4615 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 13:31 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:
  • Matthew 17:20 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.
  • Mark 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

“grain” Greek G2848 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 13:31 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:
  • Mark 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
  • John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

“planted” Greek G5452 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
  • Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.