English Standard Version
Matthew 13:32
32It 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."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Context of Matthew 13:32
30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" 31He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 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." 33He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." 34All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without 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 72:16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!
- Isaiah 2:2It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
- Ezekiel 47:1Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.
- Daniel 2:34As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
- Micah 4:1It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it,
- Zechariah 4:10For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth."
- Zechariah 8:20"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.
- Zechariah 14:7And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
- Acts 1:15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
- Acts 21:20And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
- Romans 15:18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,
- Revelation 11:15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."
- Ezekiel 17:23On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.
- Ezekiel 31:6All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations.
- 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 heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed 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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