New English Translation
Matthew 13:32
32It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest 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.”
- 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. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’” 31He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.” 33He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.” 34Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak 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 an abundance of grain in the earth; on the tops of the mountains may it sway! May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon! May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth!
- Isaiah 2:2In the future the mountain of the Lord’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it,
- Ezekiel 47:1Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar.
- Daniel 2:34You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces.
- Micah 4:1In the future the Lord’s Temple Mount will be the most important mountain of all; it will be more prominent than other hills. People will stream to it.
- Zechariah 4:10For who dares make light of small beginnings? These seven eyes will joyfully look on the tin tablet in Zerubbabel’s hand. (These are the eyes of the Lord, which constantly range across the whole earth.)
- Zechariah 8:20The Lord who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people – residents of many cities – will come.
- Zechariah 14:7It will happen in one day (a day known to the Lord); not in the day or the night, but in the evening there will be light.
- Acts 1:15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said,
- Acts 21:20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.
- Romans 15:18For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, 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 will reign for ever and ever.”
- Ezekiel 17:23I will plant it on a high mountain of Israel, and it will raise branches and produce fruit and become a beautiful cedar. Every bird will live under it; Every winged creature will live in the shade of its branches.
- Ezekiel 31:6All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, in its shade all the great nations lived.
- Daniel 4:12Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves 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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