Devine Scripture

Matthew 13:27

What does Matthew 13:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 13:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 13:27 means

The servants ask the owner if he didn’t sow good seed and wonder how tares appeared. Their question expresses innocent perplexity and a desire for corrective action. It stands for the church’s legitimate concern about sin’s presence among God’s people. The servants assume that the field should have only wheat and expect the owner to rectify the problem. Their question invites instruction on why immediate removal isn’t the right response and prompts the owner’s caution about hasty judgments.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, Sir, did you not put good seed in your field? how then has it evil plants?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`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?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him. Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it cockle?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the bondmen of the householder came up and said to him, Sir, hast thou not sown good seed in thy field? whence then has it darnel?

Context

This verse records the servants’ reaction after noticing tares. Their righteous desire to protect the crop reflects natural concerns about impurity. It leads directly to the owner’s answer, which instructs about the timing of judgment and the risk of harming the wheat by premature removal.

v.26But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

v.27This passage

v.28And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 3:5

    What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.

  • Galatians 3:1

    O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?

  • James 3:15

    This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:18

    But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1

    And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

  • 1 Corinthians 1:11

    For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

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