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;
• New International Version (NIV)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers 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.

Context of Matthew 9:37

35Now Yeshua was going around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. 36When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for 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. 38Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may 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 28:19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh,
• Mark 16:15He told them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to every creature.
• Luke 10:2And He was telling them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.
• Luke 24:47and that repentance for the removal of sins is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• John 4:35Don’t you say, ‘Four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields! They are white and ready for harvest.
• Acts 16:9Now a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man from Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
• Acts 18:10For I am with you and no one shall attack you to harm you—many people in this city are for Me.”
• Psalms 68:11Your community settled in it. In Your goodness, O God, You provided for the poor.
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1Since we are co-laboring, we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
• Philippians 2:19But I hope in the Lord Yeshua to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too might be encouraged when I know the news about you.
• Colossians 4:11Yeshua who is called Justus also sends his greetings. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God that are from among the circumcision—they have been a comfort to me.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord and correct you,
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who lead well are worthy of honor and honorarium—especially those who work hard in the word 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

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• Harvest
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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