34All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables, and without a parable he said nothing to them, [13:35] so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: I will open my mouth in parables; I will pour out things kept hidden from the foundation of the world.
MAT 13:34-35
I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, (parabolē) was a familiar rhetorical device, often used to convey deeper truths through comparison or metaphor. For Jesus’ audience, parables were not merely stories but riddles that required interpretation, often challenging listeners to discern spiritual truths. The (ochlos), or crowds, were typically composed of peasants, laborers, and the marginalized, who were accustomed to oral teaching and storytelling as primary modes of instruction. The citation of Psalm 78:2, “I will open my mouth in parables,” would have resonated with Jewish listeners as a fulfillment of prophetic tradition, emphasizing continuity with Israel’s sacred history. The phrase “things hidden from the foundation of the world” (, kekrymmena) suggests divine mysteries now being revealed, aligning with apocalyptic Jewish thought that anticipated God’s unveiling of hidden truths. The forceful verb (ereugomai) underscores the urgency and authority of this revelation, portraying Jesus as a conduit for divine wisdom.
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How other translations render this
MAT 13:34
- KJV
- All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
- BSB
- Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.
- Koinōnos
- All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables, and without a parable he said nothing to them,
MAT 13:35
- KJV
- That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
- BSB
- So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
- Koinōnos
- so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: I will open my mouth in parables; I will pour out things kept hidden from the foundation of the world.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 13:34
- parables:The word translated 'parables' referred to a comparison or illustration drawn from everyday life, often with a hidden or deeper meaning that required interpretation.
- crowds:The term used here for 'crowds' often implied a large, undifferentiated mass of people, sometimes with a sense of being unorganized or even unruly.
MAT 13:35
- I will utter [things]:The phrase translated 'I will utter [things]' literally meant to belch forth or gush out, suggesting a forceful and abundant proclamation, like a spring bubbling up.
- hidden:The word translated 'hidden' implied something concealed or kept secret, not necessarily to be permanently unknown, but to be revealed at the proper time.