Matthew 9:37

Matthew 9:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
• New International Version (NIV)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Context of Matthew 9:37

35Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages [in Galilee], teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness [His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship]. 36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. 38So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Matthew 9:37 word by word

Τότε λέγει τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς πολύς, οἱ δὲ ἐργάται ὀλίγοι·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• saith heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• untoμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• The harvestθερισμόςtherismos · harvestG2326
• trulyμένmen · on the other handG3303
• plenteousπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• butδέde · thenG1161
• the labourersἐργάτηςergatēs · workerG2040
• fewὀλίγοςoligos · little/fewG3641

Cross-references for Matthew 9:37

• Matthew 28:19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• Mark 16:15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
• Luke 10:2He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.
• Luke 24:47and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• John 4:35Do you not say, ‘It is still four months until the harvest comes?’ Look, I say to you, raise your eyes and look at the fields and see, they are white for harvest.
• Acts 16:9Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from [the Roman province of] Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
• Acts 18:10for I am with you, and no one will attack you in order to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”
• Psalms 68:11The Lord gives the command [to take Canaan]; The women who proclaim the good news are a great host (army);
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].
• Philippians 2:19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged by learning news about you.
• Colossians 4:11and from Jesus, who is called Justus. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision (Jewish Christians), and they have proved to be an encouragement and a comfort to me.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction,
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].

Commentaries on Matthew 9:37

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37The harvest - The souls who are ready to receive the truth are very numerous; but the laborers are few. There are multitudes of scribes, Pharisees, and priests, of reverend and right reverend men; but there are few that work. Jesus wishes for laborers, not gentlemen, who are either idle drones, or slaves to pleasure and sin, and nati consumere fruges. "Born to consume the produce of the soil." It was customary with the Jews to call their rabbins and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37The harvest truly is plenteous … - Another beautiful image. A waving field of golden grain invites many reapers and demands haste. By the reference to the harvest here, he meant that the multitude of people that flocked to his ministry was great. The people expected the Messiah. They were prepared to receive the gospel; but the laborers were few. He directed them, therefore, to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth reapers. God is the proprietor…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-38Verses 35-38 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, Zec 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-38Harvest refers to the great number of people who are ready to hear and respond to God’s message (see also Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43; Mark 4:26–29; John 4:35–38; Revelation 14:15–20). the Lord of the harvest: God is the true master of the harvest. All ministries are under his call (see Matthew 23:8–10, 13). So Jesus encourages his disciples to pray for God to send out more workers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3737. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous--His eye doubtless rested immediately on the Jewish field, but this he saw widening into the vast field of "the world" (Mt 13:38), teeming with souls having to be gathered to Him. but the labourers--men divinely qualified and called to gather them in--"are few."Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:37

• Agriculture
• Harvest
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Bridechamber
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest
• Hem
• Issue
• Mean

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• 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