Amplified Bible
Matthew 13:32
32and of all the seeds [planted in the region] it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air find shelter in its branches.”
Matthew 13:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
- New King James Version (NKJV)which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Context of Matthew 13:32
30Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ” 31He gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and of all the seeds [planted in the region] it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air find shelter in its branches.” 33He told them another parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and worked into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” 34All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables, and He said nothing to them without [using] a parable.
Read all of Matthew 13Matthew 13:32 word by word
ὃ μικρότερον μέν ἐστιν πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων, ὅταν δὲ αὐξηθῇ, μεῖζον τῶν λαχάνων ἐστὶν καὶ γίνεται δένδρον ὥστε ἐλθεῖν τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατασκηνοῦν ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- indeedμένmen · on the other handG3303
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the leastμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- seedsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- seedsσπέρμαsperma · seed(s)G4690
- butδέde · thenG1161
- whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- it is grownαὐξάνωauxanō · to growG837
- the greatestμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- among herbsλάχανονlachanon · plantG3001
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- becomethγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a treeδένδρονdendron · treeG1186
- so thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
- the birdsπετεινόςpeteinon · birdG4071
- of the airοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- lodgeκατασκηνόωkataskēnoō · to dwellG2681
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the branchesκλάδοςklados · branchG2798
- thereofαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Matthew 13:32
- Psalms 72:16There will be an abundance of grain in the soil on the top of the mountains; Its fruit will wave like [the cedars of] Lebanon, And those of the city will flourish like grass of the earth.
- Isaiah 2:2Now it will come to pass that In the last days The mountain of the house of the Lord Will be [firmly] established as the highest of the mountains, And will be exalted above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it.
- Ezekiel 47:1Then he [my guide] brought me back to the door of the house [the temple of the Lord]; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house (temple) toward the east, for the front of the temple was facing east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
- Daniel 2:34As you were looking, a stone was cut out without [human] hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.
- Micah 4:1But it shall come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the Lord Shall be established as the highest and chief of the mountains; It shall be above the hills, And peoples shall flow [like a river] to it.
- Zechariah 4:10Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For these seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord which roam throughout the earth.”
- Zechariah 8:20“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘It will come to pass that peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will come [to Jerusalem].
- Zechariah 14:7But it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord—not day and not night, but at evening time there will be light.
- Acts 1:15Now on one of these days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty believers was there) and he said,
- Acts 21:20And when they heard it, they began glorifying and praising God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses].
- Romans 15:18For I will not [even] presume to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me [as an instrument in His hands], resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles [to the gospel], by word and deed,
- Revelation 11:15Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
- Ezekiel 17:23I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel, that it may grow boughs and bear fruit and be a noble and stately cedar. And birds of every kind will live under it; they will nest [securely] in the shade of its branches.
- Ezekiel 31:6All the birds of the sky made their nests in its twigs, And under its branches all the animals of the field gave birth [to their young], And all of the great nations lived under its shadow.
- Daniel 4:12Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, And the birds of the sky nested in its branches, And all living creatures fed themselves from it.
Commentaries on Matthew 13:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds - That is, of all those seeds which produce plants, whose stems and branches, according to the saying of the botanists, are apt , arborescere, to grow into a ligneous or woody substance. Becometh a tree - That is, it is not only the largest of plants which are produced from such small seeds, but partakes, in its substance, the close woody texture, especially in warm climates, where we are informed it grows to an…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-35Verses 31-35 The scope of the parable of the seed sown, is to show that the beginnings of the gospel would be small, but its latter end would greatly increase; in this way the work of grace in the heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on. In the soul where grace truly is, it will grow really; though perhaps at first not to be discerned, it will at last come to great strength and usefulness. The preaching of the gospel works like leaven in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-33Jesus used surprising and vivid images in these parables. He probably wanted to show how the kingdom of Heaven would grow through preaching the good news. More probably, he wanted to highlight the contrast between small beginnings and a glorious end. He also encouraged the disciples to be patient (see also Matthew 16:24–17:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 30-3930-39. Let both grow together--that is, in the visible Church. until the harvest--till the one have ripened for full salvation, the other for destruction. (See on Mt 13:39). and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers--(See on Mt 13:39). Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them--"in the fire" (Mt 13:40). but gather the wheat into my barn--Christ, as the Judge, will separate the two classes (as in Mt 25:32). It…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 13:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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