47Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet cast into the sea, which gathered fish of every kind. [13:48] When it was full, they drew it up on the shore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw the rotten out. [13:49] So it will be at the close of the age: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous [13:50] and throw them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [13:51] Jesus said to them: Have you understood all these things? They said to him: Yes. [13:52] And he said to them: Therefore every scribe trained for the kingdom of the heavens is like a master of a household who brings out of his storehouse things new and things old.
MAT 13:47-52
The Parable of the Net
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, fishing with a dragnet was a communal activity involving multiple boats and laborers. The net indiscriminately gathered fish of all kinds, which were then sorted on the shore—valuable fish kept in vessels for sale or consumption, while the rotten or useless were discarded. This imagery would resonate with Jesus’ audience, who were familiar with the labor-intensive and communal nature of fishing. The parable’s focus on the final sorting echoes Jewish apocalyptic expectations of divine judgment, where the righteous and the wicked are separated at the end of the age. The mention of angels as agents of this separation aligns with Second Temple Jewish thought, where angels often mediated God’s judgment. The furnace of fire, weeping, and gnashing of teeth evoke traditional Jewish imagery of Gehenna, a place of punishment for the wicked. The scribe trained in the kingdom is likened to a householder who brings out both old and new treasures, reflecting the continuity and fulfillment of Jewish tradition in Jesus’ teaching.
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How other translations render this
MAT 13:47
- KJV
- Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
- BSB
- Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.
- Koinōnos
- Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet cast into the sea, which gathered fish of every kind.
MAT 13:48
- KJV
- Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
- BSB
- When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.
- Koinōnos
- When it was full, they drew it up on the shore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw the rotten out.
MAT 13:49
- KJV
- So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
- BSB
- So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
- Koinōnos
- So it will be at the close of the age: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
MAT 13:50
- KJV
- And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
- BSB
- and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Koinōnos
- and throw them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MAT 13:51
- KJV
- Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
- BSB
- Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said to them: Have you understood all these things? They said to him: Yes.
MAT 13:52
- KJV
- Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
- BSB
- Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them: Therefore every scribe trained for the kingdom of the heavens is like a master of a household who brings out of his storehouse things new and things old.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 13:47
- to a dragnet:The word translated 'dragnet' refers to a large fishing net, often weighted, that was dragged along the bottom of the sea to catch all kinds of fish, indiscriminately.
MAT 13:48
- vessels,:The term used here for 'vessels' specifically refers to containers or jars, often used for storing liquids or dry goods, highlighting their function as storage for the good fish.
- bad:The word translated 'bad' here carries the sense of rotten, putrid, or decayed, often referring to things that are spoiled and therefore useless or harmful.
MAT 13:52
- scribe:The word translated 'scribe' referred to a learned person, an expert in the Jewish law, who was responsible for interpreting and teaching it, often holding a position of authority.