24Jesus put another parable before them, saying: The kingdom of the heavens is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [13:25] But while his men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went away. [13:26] When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel appeared also. [13:27] The household slaves of the master of the house came and said to him: Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where then does the darnel come from? [13:28] He said to them: An enemy did this. And the slaves said to him: Do you want us, then, to go and gather it? [13:29] But he said: No — lest in gathering the darnel you uproot the wheat with it. [13:30] Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the harvest season I will say to the reapers: Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to burn it, but gather the wheat into my storehouse.
MAT 13:24-30
The Parable of the Weeds
In the world it was spoken into
In agrarian 1st-century Galilee, wheat was a staple crop, and its cultivation was essential for survival. The parable’s imagery of sowing good seed and the appearance of weeds would resonate deeply with listeners familiar with farming. Darnel, a weed that resembles wheat, was a known threat; its presence could sabotage a harvest, as it was difficult to distinguish from wheat until maturity. The mention of an enemy sowing weeds would evoke the cultural reality of rivalries and sabotage in rural communities, where disputes over land or resources were common. The , or household master, represents a figure of authority and ownership, typical of the Roman estate system where landowners relied on (slaves) to manage their fields. The decision to wait until the (harvest) to separate weeds from wheat reflects the practical wisdom of avoiding damage to the crop, a detail that would resonate with agrarian listeners who understood the risks of premature action.
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How other translations render this
MAT 13:24
- KJV
- Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
- BSB
- Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus put another parable before them, saying: The kingdom of the heavens is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
MAT 13:25
- KJV
- But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
- BSB
- But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.
- Koinōnos
- But while his men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went away.
MAT 13:26
- KJV
- But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
- BSB
- When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.
- Koinōnos
- When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel appeared also.
MAT 13:27
- KJV
- 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?
- BSB
- The ownerʼs servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didnʼt you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
- Koinōnos
- The household slaves of the master of the house came and said to him: Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where then does the darnel come from?
MAT 13:28
- KJV
- He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
- BSB
- ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
- Koinōnos
- He said to them: An enemy did this. And the slaves said to him: Do you want us, then, to go and gather it?
MAT 13:29
- KJV
- But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
- BSB
- ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.
- Koinōnos
- But he said: No — lest in gathering the darnel you uproot the wheat with it.
MAT 13:30
- KJV
- Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
- BSB
- Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
- Koinōnos
- Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the harvest season I will say to the reapers: Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to burn it, but gather the wheat into my storehouse.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 13:25
- weeds:The word translated 'weeds' here refers to darnel, a specific type of weed that looks almost identical to wheat in its early stages, making it difficult to distinguish until maturity.
MAT 13:27
- servants:The term used here for 'servants' more accurately describes household slaves, who were considered property and had a lifelong obligation to their owner.
- master of the house:The phrase 'master of the house' refers to the head of the household, who had authority over all its members and managed its affairs, including the agricultural work.
MAT 13:30
- harvest;:The word translated 'harvest' refers not just to the act of gathering crops, but also to the entire season of reaping and the final collection of the produce.