Matthew 13:40
What does Matthew 13:40 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 13:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 13:40 means
Jesus says that as tares are gathered and burned, so it will be at the world’s end. The simile indicates definitive destruction for the wicked: judgment will be real, final, and severe. This verse reinforces the previous assurance that evil will not go unpunished, providing moral seriousness to the coexistence of good and evil. It also underscores the eschatological certainty that vindication and retribution belong to God’s final act of judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949As then the evil plants are got together and burned with fire, so will it be in the end of the world.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`As, then, the darnel is gathered up, and is burned with fire, so shall it be in the full end of this age,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890As then the darnel is gathered and is burned in the fire, thus it shall be in the completion of the age.
Context
This follows the identification of reapers and harvest and emphasizes the fate of the tares. It reaffirms the earlier instruction not to root out evil prematurely, because ultimate separation and punishment belong to the final harvest when God acts decisively.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 13:39
and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
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