Devine Scripture

Matthew 13:54

What does Matthew 13:54 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 13:54 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 13:54 means

Jesus returns to his own country and teaches in the synagogue; people are astonished and ask where he got such wisdom and mighty works. The verse highlights the tension between Jesus’ authority and local familiarity: his wisdom and miracles amaze his neighbors. Their amazement shows that Jesus’ teaching and deeds are extraordinary, yet their familiarity with him will soon produce a different reaction. The scene sets up the theme of rejected prophets familiar to their hometowns.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And coming into his country, he gave them teaching in their Synagogue, so that they were greatly surprised and said, Where did this man get this wisdom and these works of power?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having come to his own country, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and were saying, `Whence to this one this wisdom and the mighty works?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so that they wondered and said: How came this man by this wisdom and miracles?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And having come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, Whence has this [man] this wisdom and these works of power?

Context

This event follows the parables and shows the immediate human response to Jesus’ authority. It contrasts the crowds’ receptivity in other places with the skepticism that arises at home. The narrative now explores reasons for that resistance and its consequences.

v.53And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

v.54This passage

v.55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 2:23

    and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.

  • Psalms 40:9

    I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.

  • Matthew 7:28

    And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching:

  • Psalms 22:22

    I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the assembly will I praise thee.

  • Acts 28:17

    And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:

  • Matthew 4:23

    And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.

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