Matthew · Young's Literal Translation
Matthew 13 Young's Literal Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And in that day Jesus, having gone forth from the house, was sitting by the sea,
1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.
2 and gathered together unto him were many multitudes, so that he having gone into the boat did sit down, and all the multitude on the beach did stand,
2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
3 and he spake to them many things in similes, saying: 'Lo, the sower went forth to sow,
3 He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
4 and in his sowing, some indeed fell by the way, and the fowls did come and devour them,
4 As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and immediately they sprang forth, through not having depth of earth,
5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
6 and the sun having risen they were scorched, and through not having root, they withered,
6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
7 and others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns did come up and choke them,
7 Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
8 and others fell upon the good ground, and were giving fruit, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.
8 Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who is having ears to hear — let him hear.'
9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10 And the disciples having come near, said to him, 'Wherefore in similes dost thou speak to them?'
10 The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
11 And he answering said to them that — 'To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, and to these it hath not been given,
11 He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
12 for whoever hath, it shall be given to him, and he shall have overabundance, and whoever hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.
12 For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
13 'Because of this, in similes do I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand,
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
14 and fulfilled on them is the prophecy of Isaiah, that saith, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,
14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive;
15 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they might see with the eyes, and with the ears might hear, and with the heart understand, and turn back, and I might heal them.
15 for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’
16 'And happy are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear,
16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17 for verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look on, and they did not see, and to hear that which ye hear, and they did not hear.
17 For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.
18 'Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:
18 “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
19 Every one hearing the word of the reign, and not understanding — the evil one doth come, and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.
19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
20 'And that sown on the rocky places, this is he who is hearing the word, and immediately with joy is receiving it,
20 What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
21 and he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled.
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 'And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 'And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.'
23 What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”
24 Another simile he set before them, saying: 'The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field,
24 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
25 and, while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away,
25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.
26 and when the herb sprang up, and yielded fruit, then appeared also the darnel.
26 But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
27 'And the servants of the householder, having come near, said to him, Sir, good seed didst thou not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?
27 The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’
28 And he saith to them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Wilt thou, then, [that] having gone away we may gather it up?
28 “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
29 'And he said, No, lest — gathering up the darnel — ye root up with it the wheat,
29 “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
30 suffer both to grow together till the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the darnel, and bind it in bundles, to burn it, and the wheat gather up into my storehouse.'
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
31 Another simile he set before them, saying: 'The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, did sow in his field,
31 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field,
32 which less, indeed, is than all the seeds, but when it may be grown, is greatest of the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven do come and rest in its branches.'
32 which indeed is smaller than all 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 lodge in its branches.”
33 Another simile spake he to them: 'The reign of the heavens is like to leaven, which a woman having taken, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'
33 He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
34 All these things spake Jesus in similes to the multitudes, and without a simile he was not speaking to them,
34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,
35 that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophet, saying, 'I will open in similes my mouth, I will utter things having been hidden from the foundation of the world.'
35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.”
36 Then having let away the multitudes, Jesus came to the house, and his disciples came near to him, saying, 'Explain to us the simile of the darnel of the field.'
36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”
37 And he answering said to them, 'He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Man,
37 He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
38 and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the reign, and the darnel are the sons of the evil one,
38 the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.
39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is a full end of the age, and the reapers are messengers.
39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
40 'As, then, the darnel is gathered up, and is burned with fire, so shall it be in the full end of this age,
40 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
41 the Son of Man shall send forth his messengers, and they shall gather up out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing the unlawlessness,
41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity,
42 and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 'Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who is having ears to hear — let him hear.
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
44 'Again, the reign of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field, which a man having found did hide, and from his joy goeth, and all, as much as he hath, he selleth, and buyeth that field.
44 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 'Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking goodly pearls,
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 who having found one pearl of great price, having gone away, hath sold all, as much as he had, and bought it.
46 who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 'Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea, and did gather together of every kind,
47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,
48 which, when it was filled, having drawn up again upon the beach, and having sat down, they gathered the good into vessels, and the bad they did cast out,
48 which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.
49 so shall it be in the full end of the age, the messengers shall come forth and separate the evil out of the midst of the righteous,
49 So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
50 and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.'
50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
51 Jesus saith to them, 'Did ye understand all these?' They say to him, 'Yes, sir.'
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
52 And he said to them, 'Because of this every scribe having been discipled in regard to the reign of the heavens, is like to a man, a householder, who doth bring forth out of his treasure things new and old.'
52 He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”
53 And it came to pass, when Jesus finished these similes, he removed thence,
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.
54 and having come to his own country, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and were saying, 'Whence to this one this wisdom and the mighty works?
54 Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55 is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56 and his sisters — are they not all with us? whence, then, to this one all these?'
56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
57 and they were stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honour except in his own country, and in his own house:'
57 They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”
58 and he did not there many mighty works, because of their unbelief.
58 He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
James
The Gospels name him first among Jesus' brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and Paul calls him 'James, the Lord's brother' (Galatians 1:19); he led the church in Jerusalem and is…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Acts 15; James 1:1
Joses
Named in the Gospels among Jesus' brothers: Joses in Mark 6:3, Joseph in Matthew 13:55. The Orthodox Church, following the early Church, understands the Lord's brothers as sons of…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3
Jude
Named in the Gospels among Jesus' brothers as Judas (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and honored as the author of the epistle of Jude, who calls himself 'a brother of James' (Jude 1).…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Jude 1:1
Simon
Named in the Gospels among Jesus' brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). The Orthodox Church, following the early Church, understands the Lord's brothers as sons of Joseph from an…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3
Cross references (56)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 8:4–10; Matthew 13:1–15; Mark 4:1–12; Matthew 13:36
- 2 Luke 5:3; Matthew 15:30; Luke 8:4–8; Genesis 49:10; Matthew 4:25
- 3 Mark 4:2–9; Mark 4:13; Psalm 78:2; Mark 4:33; Matthew 13:34–35
- 4 Matthew 13:18–19
- 5 Ezekiel 36:26; Ezekiel 11:19; Zechariah 7:12; Amos 6:12; Matthew 13:20
- 6 James 1:11–12; Matthew 13:21; Luke 8:13; Isaiah 49:10; Colossians 1:23
- 7 Mark 4:18–19; Jeremiah 4:3–4; Genesis 3:18; Matthew 13:22
- 8 John 15:8; Luke 8:15; Matthew 13:23; Genesis 26:12; Galatians 5:22–23
- 9 Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Matthew 11:15; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:13
- 10 Mark 4:33–34; Mark 4:10
- 11 1 Corinthians 2:9–10; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Matthew 19:11; James 1:5; 1 John 2:27
- 12 Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:24–25; Luke 8:18; Luke 19:24–26; John 15:2–5
- 13 Ezekiel 12:2; Jeremiah 5:21; Isaiah 42:18–20; 2 Corinthians 4:3–4; Deuteronomy 29:3–4
- 14 Isaiah 6:9–10; Ezekiel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:14; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:25–27
- 15 Isaiah 6:10; Zechariah 7:11; Mark 4:12; John 8:43–44; 2 Timothy 2:25–26
- 16 Luke 10:23–24; Ephesians 1:17–18; Matthew 16:17; John 20:29; Acts 26:18
- 17 John 8:56; Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 1:10–12; Luke 10:24; Hebrews 11:39–40
- 18 Matthew 13:11–12; Luke 8:11–15; Mark 4:13–20
- 19 Luke 8:11–15; Hebrews 2:1; Matthew 13:38; 1 John 5:18; Matthew 4:23
- 20 Ezekiel 33:31–32; Psalm 106:12–13; John 5:35; 2 Chronicles 24:2; Psalm 78:34–37
- 21 Matthew 11:6; 2 Peter 1:8–9; Ephesians 3:17; Hosea 6:4; Job 19:28
- 22 1 Timothy 6:17; Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Mark 4:18–19; Luke 12:15
- 23 Philippians 1:11; Matthew 12:33; John 15:16; Galatians 5:22–23; Psalm 92:13–15
- 24 Matthew 25:1; Matthew 13:47; Matthew 20:1; Matthew 22:2; Matthew 13:37
- 25 1 Peter 5:8; Acts 20:30–31; 2 Peter 2:1; Matthew 13:39; Hebrews 12:15
- 26 Mark 4:26–29
- 27 Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Corinthians 12:28–29; 2 Corinthians 6:4
- 28 1 Corinthians 5:3–7; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Luke 9:49–54; Jude 22–23; 2 Corinthians 2:6–11
- 30 Matthew 3:12; 1 Timothy 5:24; 1 Corinthians 4:5; John 15:6; Malachi 3:18–4:1
- 31 Luke 13:18–19; Matthew 17:20; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 17:6; Matthew 13:24
- 32 Ezekiel 31:6; Daniel 4:12; Ezekiel 17:23–24; Acts 21:20; Zechariah 8:20–23
- 33 Galatians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Luke 13:21; Philippians 2:13–15; Genesis 18:6
- 34 Mark 4:33–34; John 16:25; Matthew 13:13
- 35 Psalm 78:2; Ephesians 3:9; 1 Peter 1:20–21; Romans 16:25–26; 1 Corinthians 2:7
- 36 Matthew 13:11; John 16:17–20; Matthew 13:1; Mark 8:9; Mark 6:45
- 37 1 Corinthians 3:5–7; Acts 1:8; Matthew 13:27; Matthew 13:24; Luke 10:16
- 38 John 8:44; Acts 13:10; Philippians 3:18–19; 1 John 3:8–10; 1 Peter 1:23
- 39 Matthew 13:49; Revelation 14:15–19; Matthew 25:31; Joel 3:13; Revelation 19:20
- 40 Matthew 13:39
- 41 Matthew 24:31; Revelation 21:27; Matthew 18:7; 2 Peter 2:1–2; Matthew 13:49
- 42 Matthew 13:50; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14–15; Matthew 8:12; Luke 16:23–24
- 43 Daniel 12:3; Luke 12:32; Matthew 25:34; 1 Corinthians 15:41–54; Matthew 11:15
- 44 Proverbs 2:2–5; Colossians 2:3; Philippians 3:7–9; Matthew 6:21; Luke 14:33
- 45 Proverbs 8:10–11; Matthew 16:26; Proverbs 3:13–18; Job 28:18; Matthew 13:24
- 46 Luke 18:28–30; Ephesians 3:8; Proverbs 2:4; Acts 20:24; Colossians 2:3
- 47 John 15:6; 2 Timothy 3:2–5; Matthew 22:9–10; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 1 John 4:1–6
- 48 Matthew 13:30; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 13:40–43
- 49 Revelation 20:12–15; Matthew 13:39; Matthew 24:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Matthew 22:12–14
- 50 Revelation 14:10–11; Luke 13:27–28; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 8:12; Revelation 16:10–11
- 51 Mark 4:34; Matthew 13:19; Matthew 13:11; Matthew 15:17; Matthew 24:15
- 52 1 John 2:7–8; Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Corinthians 3:4–6; Titus 2:6–7
- 53 Matthew 7:28; Mark 4:33–35
- 54 John 7:15–16; Matthew 7:28; Mark 6:1–6; Matthew 2:23; Luke 4:16–30
- 55 Mark 6:3; John 6:42; Luke 3:23; Mark 15:47–16:1; Luke 4:22
- 57 John 4:44; Luke 4:24; Matthew 11:6; Isaiah 53:3; John 6:61
- 58 Mark 6:5–6; Romans 11:20; Hebrews 3:12–19; Luke 4:25–29
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Both yesterday and to-day ye have heard the parables of the sower, in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do ye who were present yesterday, recollect to-day.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
We have good cause to admire the disciples, how, longing as they do to learn, they know when they ought to ask. For they do it not before all: and this Matthew shows by saying, "And they came." And, as to this assertion not being conjecture, Mark hath expressed it more distinctly, by saying, that "they came to Him privately." …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
And every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." And as to those who are not living pursuant to these His teachings, and are Christians only in name, we demand that all such be punished by you.
… no such thing as good and evil, but certain things were deemed righteous, and certain others unrighteous, in human opinion only, He never would have expressed Himself thus in His teaching: "The righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father;" but He shall send the unrighteous, and those who do not the works of righteousness, …
For Thou hast said unto man, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;" and desire not to seem wise, because, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." But I had now found the goodly pearl, which, selling all that I had, I ought to have bought; and I hesitated.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)