Matthew 13:18
What does Matthew 13:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 13:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 13:18 means
Jesus calls the disciples to ‘hear the parable of the sower,’ now moving from public storytelling to private explanation. This invitation signals a shift from veiled teaching to direct interpretation for those given understanding. It underscores that parables have layers: publicly instructive yet privately explicable. The verse emphasizes the disciples’ role as recipients who must grasp the meanings and apply them, preparing them to recognize the spiritual conditions illustrated by the four soils.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Hear then ye the parable of the sower.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Hear then ye the parable of the sower.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give ear, then, to the story of the man who put the seed in the earth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Ye, therefore, hear the parable of the sower.
Context
This verse follows the praise of the disciples’ perceptiveness and precedes Jesus’ detailed explanation of the Sower parable. It marks a pedagogical moment: what the crowds heard in story form will now be unraveled for Jesus’ inner circle to apply and learn from.
v.17For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.
v.18This passage
v.19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 8:11
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
- Mark 4:13
And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?
- Matthew 13:11
And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
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