Luke 17:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
This study note uses an AI-assisted editorial workflow with source, duplication, and quality checks. See how verse explanations are prepared.
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Context of Luke 17:6
This saying responds to the apostles' request in Luke 17:5 to increase their faith, which itself follows Jesus' demanding teaching on forgiveness in the preceding verses.
What Does Luke 17:6 Mean?
Jesus is teaching that the power of faith lies in its object and reality rather than in its size: even faith as small as a mustard seed can accomplish the seemingly impossible. The apostles had just asked Him to "increase our faith" (Luke 17:5), as if faith were a quantity to be stockpiled. Jesus answers by pointing to the tiniest of seeds, gently correcting their assumption.
The mustard seed was a proverbial image for the smallest thing imaginable, and the sycamine tree had a deep, stubborn root system thought nearly impossible to remove. Jesus pairs the smallest faith with the most immovable obstacle to make His point vivid: what matters is whether one truly trusts the God who acts, far more than the bulk of one's faith. A small, genuine trust connected to an unlimited God can do what no amount of self-confidence ever could. The command to the tree, "Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea," describes something nature would never do, yet "it should obey you." The lesson lands on the disciples' request: they do not need a larger supply of faith so much as real faith placed in the right place. The reader is invited to stop measuring faith and start exercising the trust they already have, however small it feels.
Luke 17:6 in the Original Language
"Faith" is pistis, trust or reliance. "Mustard seed" is sinapi, the proverbially tiny seed; "sycamine" (sykaminos) names the black mulberry, known for deep roots.
Bible Verses Related to Luke 17:6
“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.”
- Matthew 17:20
“Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed... and shall not doubt in his heart... he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
- Mark 11:23
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is.”
- Hebrews 11:6
How to Apply Luke 17:6 Today
Stop waiting for a feeling of greater faith before you obey God. Exercise the small, real trust you already have, and place it in the God who is able.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 17:6
Does Luke 17:6 mean faith is about how much I have?
No. Jesus deliberately uses the smallest seed to show that the quantity of faith is not the issue. What matters is genuine trust placed in a God for whom nothing is impossible.
Why does Jesus mention a sycamine tree?
The sycamine, or black mulberry, was known for an unusually deep and stubborn root system. Pairing tiny faith with this immovable tree dramatizes that real trust can accomplish what seems utterly out of reach.