Matthew 13:3

Matthew 13:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
• New International Version (NIV)Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.

Context of Matthew 13:3

1That same day Jesus left the house and sat down by the Sea of Galilee. 2The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore. Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said, “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. 4Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. 5Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep.

Matthew 13:3 word by word

καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς πολλὰ ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγων· ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπείρειν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he spakeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• many thingsπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• parablesπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a sowerσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
• went forthἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831

Cross-references for Matthew 13:3

• Matthew 13:10The disciples asked him, “Why do you use stories as illustrations when you speak to people?”
• Matthew 22:1Again Jesus used stories as illustrations when he spoke to them. He said,
• Matthew 24:32“Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
• Judges 9:8“The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
• 2 Samuel 12:1So the Lord sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said, “There were two men in a certain city. One was rich, and the other was poor.
• Psalms 49:4I will turn my attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the ⌞music of⌟ a lyre.
• Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will explain what has been hidden long ago,
• Isaiah 5:1Let me sing a lovesong to my beloved about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill.
• Ezekiel 17:2“Son of man, tell this riddle. Give this illustration to the nation of Israel.
• Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Oh no! Almighty Lord, no! The people already say that I’m only telling stories.”
• Ezekiel 24:3Tell these rebellious people a story. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Put the pot on the fire; put it on. Pour water in it.
• Micah 2:4When that day comes, people will make fun of you. They will sing this sad song about you: “We are completely ruined. The Lord gives our people’s possessions ⌞to others⌟. He takes them from us. He divides our fields among our captors.”
• Habakkuk 2:6Won’t all of them ridicule him, directing clever sayings and riddles at him, like: “ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich with what is not his own and makes himself wealthy on loans. How long will this go on?’
• Mark 3:23Jesus called them together and used this illustration: “How can Satan force out Satan?
• Mark 4:2He used stories as illustrations to teach them many things. While he was teaching them, he said,
• Mark 12:1Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to them. He said, “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a vat for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.

Commentaries on Matthew 13:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He spake many things unto them in parables - Parable, from , near, and , I cast, or put. A comparison or similitude, in which one thing is compared with another, especially spiritual things with natural, by which means these spiritual things are better understood, and make a deeper impression on an attentive mind. Or, a parable is a representation of any matter accommodated, in the way of similitude, to the real subject, in order to delineate it with the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-9Verses 3-9 In parables - The word “parable” is derived from a Greek word signifying “to compare together,” and denotes a similitude taken from a natural object to illustrate a spiritual or moral subject. It is a narrative of some fictitious or real event, in order to illustrate more clearly some truth that the speaker wished to communicate. In early ages it was much used. Pagan writers, as Aesop, often employed it. In the time of Christ it was in common…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-9This parable (explained in Matthew 13:18–23) discusses the mostly negative reactions of the Jewish people to Jesus and his message. Parables (Greek parabolē): These are stories that use everyday life to explain a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, find the main comparison (analogy) and consider its historical and gospel context. Then a person can understand the main message. Avoid finding unintended symbolic meanings in every part of a parable.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, &c.--These parables are SEVEN in number; and it is not a little remarkable that while this is the sacred number, the first FOUR of them were spoken to the mixed multitude, while the remaining THREE were spoken to the Twelve in private--these divisions, four and three, being themselves notable in the symbolical arithmetic of Scripture. Another thing remarkable in the structure of these parables is…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 13:3

• Agriculture
• Galilee
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Sermon
• Sower
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Agriculture
• Anon
• Choke
• Church
• Fishing, the art of
• Furnace
• Gather
• Harvest
• Householder
• Root

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