44The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man stumbled upon and hid, and in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. [13:45] Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls. [13:46] And finding one pearl of surpassing worth, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
MAT 13:44-46
The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, the parables of the treasure and the pearl would have resonated deeply with agrarian and mercantile audiences. Burying valuables was a common practice to protect wealth from theft or instability, especially in rural areas. Discovering such a treasure in a field would have been a rare and transformative event, prompting the finder to liquidate all possessions to secure it. Similarly, the merchant reflects the itinerant traders who traveled extensively, seeking high-value goods like pearls, which were symbols of luxury and status. The term underscores not just the pearl’s monetary worth but its honorific value in a society driven by honor-shame dynamics. Both parables highlight the kingdom’s incomparable worth, requiring total commitment—selling all one has—to obtain it. This would have challenged listeners to weigh their priorities in a culture where wealth and security were paramount.
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How other translations render this
MAT 13:44
- KJV
- Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
- BSB
- The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
- Koinōnos
- The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man stumbled upon and hid, and in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
MAT 13:45
- KJV
- Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
- BSB
- Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
- Koinōnos
- Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls.
MAT 13:46
- KJV
- Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
- BSB
- When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
- Koinōnos
- And finding one pearl of surpassing worth, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 13:44
- heavens:The word translated 'treasure' here refers to a stored collection of valuables, often hidden away for safekeeping, rather than a single precious item.
- having found:The word translated 'having found' implies a discovery that was not actively sought, suggesting an element of chance or unexpectedness in the finding.
MAT 13:45
- a merchant:The term translated 'a merchant' describes someone who travels extensively, often by sea, to buy and sell goods, indicating a person engaged in significant commerce.
MAT 13:46
- one:The word translated 'one' here emphasizes the singular, unique, and supremely valuable nature of the pearl, setting it apart from all others.