Matthew 13:32

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 both grow together until the harvest. When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. But I’ll have them bring the wheat into my barn.’ ” 31Jesus used another illustration. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field. It’s one of the smallest seeds. However, when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants. It becomes a tree that is large enough for birds to nest in its branches.” 33He used another illustration. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.” 34Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story.

Matthew 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 plenty of grain in the land. May it wave ⌞in the breeze⌟ on the mountaintops, its fruit like ⌞the treetops of⌟ Lebanon. May those from the city flourish like the grass on the ground.
• Isaiah 2:2In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains and raised above the hills. All the nations will stream to it.
• Ezekiel 47:1Then the man took me back to the door of the temple. I saw water flowing from under the entrance of the temple toward the east. (The temple faced east.) The water was flowing under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.
• Daniel 2:34While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by humans. It struck the statue’s iron-and-clay feet and smashed them.
• Micah 4:1In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains and raised above the hills. People will stream to it.
• Zechariah 4:10Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (These seven eyes of the Lord roam over all the earth.)”
• Zechariah 8:20This is what the Lord of Armies says: People and citizens from many cities are going to come.
• Zechariah 14:7There will be one day—a day known to the Lord—with no difference between day and night. It will be light even in the evening.
• Acts 1:15At a time when about 120 disciples had gathered together, Peter got up and spoke to them. He said,
• Acts 21:20When the spiritual leaders heard about everything, they praised God. They said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews are now believers, and all of them are deeply committed to Moses’ Teachings.
• Romans 15:18I’m bold enough to tell you only what Christ has done through me to bring people who are not Jewish to obedience. By what I have said and done,
• Revelation 11:15When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will rule as king forever and ever.”
• Ezekiel 17:23I will plant it on a high mountain in Israel. It will grow branches and produce fruit. It will become a magnificent cedar tree. Every kind of bird will nest in it and find a home in the shelter of its branches.
• Ezekiel 31:6All the birds made their nests in its branches. All the wild animals gave birth to their young under it. All the powerful nations lived in its shade.
• Daniel 4:12It had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit, enough to feed everyone. Wild animals found shade under it. Birds came to live in its branches. It fed every living creature.

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

• Birds
• Church
• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Mustard
• Sermon

In the dictionaries

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