Devine Scripture

Matthew 21:34

What does Matthew 21:34 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 21:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 21:34 means

When the harvest season approached, the householder sent his servants to the tenants to collect his rightful share of the fruit. This action represents God's persistent sending of prophets throughout Israelite history, seeking the spiritual fruit of obedience and righteousness from His people. It highlights God's expectation for a return on His investment and His patience in seeking it.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And when the season of the fruits came nigh, he sent his servants unto the husbandmen, to receive the fruits of it,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But when the time of fruit drew near, he sent his bondmen to the husbandmen to receive his fruits.

Context

This verse describes the householder's initial action of sending servants to collect his due, directly following the vineyard's establishment and the letting out to tenants. This act of seeking fruit precedes the tenants' violent rejection of the servants. It establishes the householder's just expectations, setting up the subsequent narrative of repeated rejection and abuse.

v.33Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

v.34This passage

v.35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Cross references

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

  • Zechariah 7:9

    Thus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken, saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother;

  • Jeremiah 25:3

    From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Jehovah hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

  • Jeremiah 35:15

    I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

  • Luke 20:10

    And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

  • Zechariah 1:3

    Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts.

  • Nehemiah 9:29

    and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

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