Matthew 9:37

Matthew 9:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
• New Living Translation (NLT)He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

Context of Matthew 9:37

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:37 word by word

Τότε λέγει τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς πολύς, οἱ δὲ ἐργάται ὀλίγοι·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• saith heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• untoμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• The harvestθερισμόςtherismos · harvestG2326
• trulyμένmen · on the other handG3303
• plenteousπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• butδέde · thenG1161
• the labourersἐργάτηςergatēs · workerG2040
• fewὀλίγοςoligos · little/fewG3641

Cross-references for Matthew 9:37

• Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• Mark 16:15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
• Luke 10:2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
• Luke 24:47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• John 4:35Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
• Acts 16:9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
• Acts 18:10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
• Psalms 68:11The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
• Philippians 2:19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
• Colossians 4:11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Commentaries on Matthew 9:37

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37The harvest - The souls who are ready to receive the truth are very numerous; but the laborers are few. There are multitudes of scribes, Pharisees, and priests, of reverend and right reverend men; but there are few that work. Jesus wishes for laborers, not gentlemen, who are either idle drones, or slaves to pleasure and sin, and nati consumere fruges. "Born to consume the produce of the soil." It was customary with the Jews to call their rabbins and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37The harvest truly is plenteous … - Another beautiful image. A waving field of golden grain invites many reapers and demands haste. By the reference to the harvest here, he meant that the multitude of people that flocked to his ministry was great. The people expected the Messiah. They were prepared to receive the gospel; but the laborers were few. He directed them, therefore, to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth reapers. God is the proprietor…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-38Verses 35-38 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, Zec 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-38Harvest refers to the great number of people who are ready to hear and respond to God’s message (see also Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43; Mark 4:26–29; John 4:35–38; Revelation 14:15–20). the Lord of the harvest: God is the true master of the harvest. All ministries are under his call (see Matthew 23:8–10, 13). So Jesus encourages his disciples to pray for God to send out more workers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3737. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous--His eye doubtless rested immediately on the Jewish field, but this he saw widening into the vast field of "the world" (Mt 13:38), teeming with souls having to be gathered to Him. but the labourers--men divinely qualified and called to gather them in--"are few."Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:37

• Agriculture
• Harvest
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Bridechamber
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest
• Hem
• Issue
• Mean

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• 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