Luke 13:18

Luke 13:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?
• English Standard Version (ESV)He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

Context of Luke 13:18

16Now, here is a descendant of Abraham. Satan has kept her in this condition for 18 years. Isn’t it right to free her on the day of rest—a holy day?” 17As he said this, everyone who opposed him felt ashamed. But the entire crowd was happy about the miraculous things he was doing. Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it to? 19It’s like a mustard seed that someone planted in a garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds nested in its branches.” 20He asked again, “What can I compare God’s kingdom to?

Luke 13:18 word by word

Ἔλεγεν οὖν· τίνι ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ τίνι ὁμοιώσω αὐτήν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenδέde · thenG1161
• said heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Unto whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the kingdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• likeὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• shall I resembleὁμοιόωhomoioō · to likenG3666
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Luke 13:18

• Luke 13:20He asked again, “What can I compare God’s kingdom to?
• Luke 7:31“How can I describe the people who are living now? What are they like?
• Lamentations 2:13“What example can I give you? What parallel can I show you, people of Jerusalem? What comparison can I make that will comfort you, beloved people of Zion? Your wounds are as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?
• Matthew 13:31Jesus used another illustration. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field.
• Luke 17:21They can’t say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ You see, God’s kingdom is within you.”
• Mark 4:26Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground.

Commentaries on Luke 13:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The kingdom - is like a grain of mustard seed - See on Matthew 13:31; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 See these parables explained in the notes at Matthew 13:31-32.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-22Verses 18-22 Here is the progress of the gospel foretold in two parables, as in Mt 13. The kingdom of the Messiah is the kingdom of God. May grace grow in our hearts; may our faith and love grow exceedingly, so as to give undoubted evidence of their reality. May the example of God's saints be blessed to those among whom they live; and may his grace flow from heart to heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-21The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast reveal the nature of the kingdom of God. Like a mustard seed, it grows from a tiny size until it becomes large. Like yeast (leaven) in dough, it spreads through everything.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-3018-21. mustard seed ... leaven--(See on Mr 4:30-32). The parable of "the Leaven" sets forth, perhaps, rather the inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed" seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman" here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the "three measures of meal" of that threefold…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 13:18

• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Kingdom of God
• Bind
• Mustard
• Nay
• Repent
• Jesus Christ
• Luke, the Gospel of
• Mark, the Gospel According to

Commentaries on Luke 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