Devine Scripture

Matthew 13:14

What does Matthew 13:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 13:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 13:14 means

Jesus quotes Isaiah to show that hardened hearing and sight fulfill prophecy: hearing without understanding and seeing without perceiving. He links his ministry to Israel’s prophetic history, indicating that the present lack of response is foretold. The citation frames the crowd’s inability as part of God’s dealings with a nation that has resisted revelation. It highlights the tragic reality that exposure to truth does not guarantee spiritual insight; prophecy explains and judges the crowd’s condition.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And for them the words of Isaiah have come true, Though you give ear, you will not get knowledge; and seeing, you will see, but the sense will not be clear to you:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and in them is filled up the prophecy of Esaias, which says, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and beholding ye shall behold and not see;

Context

This verse begins a scriptural explanation for why parables both reveal and hide truth. It follows Jesus’ statement about parabolic purpose and precedes a fuller Isaianic quotation that blames the people’s hardened hearts. The reader should see the continuity between prophecy and Jesus’ present ministry.

v.13Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

v.14This passage

v.15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 11:8

    according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.

  • Isaiah 6:9

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Luke 8:10

    And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:14

    but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.

  • Ezekiel 12:2

    Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, that have eyes to see, and see not, that have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious house.

  • Mark 4:12

    that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.

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