31Jesus put another parable before them, saying: The kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. [13:32] This seed is the smallest of all the garden plants, yet when it has grown it is the greatest among the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and settle in its branches.
MAT 13:31-32
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century agrarian Galilee, mustard seeds were a common agricultural reference point, known for their small size yet remarkable growth potential. Mustard plants, though technically shrubs, could grow large enough to resemble trees, providing shade and shelter for birds. This imagery would resonate with Jesus' audience, who were familiar with agricultural metaphors in Jewish teaching. The phrase 'kingdom of the heavens' would evoke Jewish eschatological expectations of God's reign, often symbolized in prophetic literature by trees sheltering birds (e.g., Ezekiel 17:23, Daniel 4:12). The mustard seed's transformation from the smallest seed to a tree-like plant would challenge assumptions about the kingdom's humble beginnings and its ultimate expansive impact. The birds nesting in its branches might symbolize the inclusion of Gentiles or the provision of refuge for all peoples, echoing Old Testament imagery of God's care for creation. The parable's agricultural setting aligns with Jesus' rural audience, while its theological implications would provoke reflection on the nature of God's kingdom.
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How other translations render this
MAT 13:31
- KJV
- Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
- BSB
- He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus put another parable before them, saying: The kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
MAT 13:32
- KJV
- Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
- BSB
- Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
- Koinōnos
- This seed is the smallest of all the garden plants, yet when it has grown it is the greatest among the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and settle in its branches.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 13:31
- put He before:The word translated 'put He before' here implies presenting something for consideration or discussion, often in the context of teaching or proposing a topic.
MAT 13:32
- smallest:The term used here for 'smallest' emphasizes something truly tiny or insignificant in size, often in comparison to other things.
- garden plants:The word translated 'garden plants' specifically refers to cultivated vegetables or herbs grown in a garden, distinguishing them from wild plants.
- perching:The word translated 'perching' carries the sense of settling down or making a dwelling place, often used for birds finding a permanent resting spot.