Matthew 13:48
What does Matthew 13:48 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 13:48 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 13:48 means
When the net is full, the fishermen draw it ashore, sit, and sort the good into vessels while throwing the bad away. This practical detail depicts the orderly process of discernment and judgment: at fullness—the appointed time—separation occurs. It underscores human responsibility to sort once the time is right and the Master’s plan is enacted. The verse reassures that the mixed harvest will not remain indefinite; God’s purposes include eventual purification and proper placement of the righteous.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949When it was full, they took it up on the sands; and seated there they put the good into vessels, but the bad they put away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862which, 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,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890which, when it has been filled, having drawn up on the shore and sat down, they gathered the good into vessels and cast the worthless out.
Context
This verse completes the net image by describing the sorting action on the beach. It closely parallels the tares parable’s harvest and separation theme. The passage continues by making the eschatological point explicit: this is how it will be at the end of the world.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 13:40
As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
- Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.
- Matthew 3:12
whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
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