Matthew 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.
Study
Other translations
New International Version
Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
New Living Translation
It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
English Standard Version
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Berean Study Bible
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.”
Berean Literal Bible
which indeed is smallest of all the seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and encamp in its branches.”
New King James Version
which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
New American Standard Bible
and this is smaller than all the [other] seeds, but when it is [fully] grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE SKY come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
NASB 1995
and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
NASB 1977
and this is smaller than all [other] seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
Amplified Bible
and of all the seeds [planted in the region] it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR FIND SHELTER IN ITS BRANCHES.”
Word by word
Which indeed is the least of all seeds
Not absolutely, but popularly and proverbially, as in Luke 17:6, “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed,” that is, “so little faith.”
But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs
Not absolutely, but in relation to the small size of the seed, and in warm latitudes proverbially great.
And becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof
This is added, no doubt, to express the amplitude of the tree.
But as this seed has a hot, fiery vigor, gives out its best virtues when bruised, and is grateful to the taste of birds, which are accordingly attracted to its branches both for shelter and food, is it straining the parable, asks Trench, to suppose that, besides the wonderful growth of His kingdom, our Lord selected this seed to illustrate further the shelter, repose and blessedness it is destined to afford to the nations of the world?
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So mustard with the Jews, is called , “a kind of seeds”; and being very small, hence “as a grain of mustard”, is often used, proverbially, for the least thing, as it is by the Christ.
Not that there are no seeds smaller than this; but the meaning is,
▪︎ that this is one of the least of all seeds;
▪︎ or was the least of seeds, which were commonly known in Judea;
▪︎ or the very least which grew to the size this sometimes did, and as here related.
Now this is designed to express the small beginnings of the Gospel dispensation, of the ministry of the word, of the grace of God in the hearts of his people, and of the small number of them at first.
The Gospel, and the ministry of it were like a grain of mustard seed, little, mean, and contemptible; the author of it, the Christ, was so to the Jews, in his birth, parentage, education, and outward appearance; the subject of it a crucified Christ, and salvation by him; and the doctrines out of the reach, and contrary to carnal reason; the preachers of it, were persons of very mean and low life, few in number, weak, illiterate, and despicable, and the whole world against them.
The circumstances which attended the Gospel were very discouraging; it was charged with novelty, represented as contrary to common sense, and the reason of mankind, and as opening a door to licentiousness; and was followed with violent opposition and persecution, wherever it went.
The grace of God, which under the ministry of the word is implanted in the hearts of the Lord’s people, is at first very small, like a grain of mustard seed; it is a day of small things; faith in Christ is very weak and low, spiritual strength small, comfort little, experience of the love of God not large, light and knowledge in the doctrines of grace but very obscure and glimmering.
The church of God, which sprung up under the ministry of the word, and through the work of grace, upon the hearts of particular persons, was like the small grain of mustard seed; the persons of which it consisted were but few in number in Christ’s time, and at his ascension into heaven, and when the Gospel was first preached among the Gentiles; and those persons which laid the foundation, and were at the beginning of the Gospel church state, made a very contemptible figure, by reason of their outward poverty, and mean circumstances in the world; and on account of the severe persecutions which every where attended them; and also through the errors and heresies introduced by evil men, that crept in among them.
But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree. Luke says, “a great tree”, Luke 13:19 for to such a size did the mustard tree grow in the land of Judea, of which take the following instances, “At Shichin there was a mustard stalk, which had three branches, and one of them was cut down, and they covered a potter’s booth with it; and found in it , “three kabs of mustard seed” (elsewhere it is said, nine kabs). Says R. Simeon ben Chelphetha, I have one stalk of mustard seed in my field, and I go up to it, “as one goes up to the top of a fig tree”.
And though the mustard tree grew to this height and size, it was reckoned among herbs, as here by Christ; for they say, “they do not put mustard in a field of fruits, but in a field of herbs.
All which serve to illustrate and confirm the account here given by the Christ, and alluded to; and which expresses the very large growth and increase of the Gospel, and the ministry of it; of the grace of God in the heart, and of the church of Christ, and His interest in the world: of the Gospel, and the ministry of it, as to its large spread in the world; which at first was confined to the Jews, but was afterwards published to the Gentiles, and carried through the whole world; and, in ages since, has made a considerable progress, particularly at the Reformation; and will make a much greater one, towards the end of time: and of the grace of God in the heart, which gradually increases to a full assurance of understanding of hope, and of faith, and to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: and of the church of Christ, and His interest in the world; both as to the large numbers it did consist of in the times of the apostles, and since, and will more especially hereafter; for the church will fill the earth, and the kingdoms of the world will become the church.
And all nations of the earth will flock unto it; the people of the Jews in general will be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles will be brought in: as also with respect to the figure it will make through the great personages, the kings and princes of the earth, that will be in it; the great power and authority the saints will then have; the peace and prosperity that will be enjoyed by them; the spirituality, holiness, righteousness, love, and unity, there will be among them; as also the presence of God and of the Lamb, they will be favoured with; all which glory and happiness will be brought about by a plentiful effusion of the Spirit, and by the glorious appearance of Christ,
So that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof: by “the birds of the air”, some think angels are meant, compared to “birds” for their harmlessness and innocence; for their readiness and swiftness to do the will of God; and for their warbling notes and tuneful songs of praise; and who may be called birds “of the air”, or heaven, because of their habitation: now these delight to be in the church, to be under the shadow of the Gospel ministry, and to look into the mysteries of it.
Though rather, the saints and people of God are intended, who, in Scripture, are sometimes compared to particular birds; as to the eagle, the dove, and sparrow; and to birds in general, because timorous, weak, and defenceless, are exposed to danger, and wonderfully delivered, and are very subject to wander and go astray; and because of their chirpings, and singing songs of praise to their God and Redeemer; and to birds of the air or heaven, because they are heaven born souls, are partakers of the heavenly calling, and are pressing for, and soaring aloft towards the high calling of God in Christ.
Now the Gospel ministry, and the Gospel church state, are very useful to these; they “come” thereunto willingly, and cheerfully, deliberately, and with dependence on the grace and strength of Christ; humbly, under a sense of their own unworthiness, and yet with joy and thankfulness; heartily, and with their faces thitherwards, and they also “lodge” therein. This is what they desire, and their hearts are set upon; here they determine to be, and it is their happiness to be here; the shadow of Gospel ordinances is very delightful, very refreshing, and very fruitful to them, and under which saints dwell with great safety; and what a coming of these birds will there be hither, and a tabernacling of them herein, at the latter day! which are greatly designed in this part of the parable.
Greek
Although
μέν (men)
Conjunction
A primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession; usually followed by a contrasted clause with de.
it
ὃ (ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun – Nominative Neuter Singular
Who, which, what, that.
is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular
I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
[the] smallest
μικρότερον (mikroteron)
Adjective – Nominative Neuter Singular – Comparative
Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).
of all
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective – Genitive Neuter Plural
All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.
seeds,
σπερμάτων (spermatōn)
Noun – Genitive Neuter Plural
From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.
yet
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
A primary particle; but, and, etc.
it grows into
αὐξηθῇ (auxēthē)
Verb – Aorist Subjunctive Passive – 3rd Person Singular
(a) I cause to increase, become greater (b) I increase, grow. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow, i.e. Enlarge.
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular
I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
the largest
μεῖζον (meizon)
Adjective – Nominative Neuter Singular – Comparative
Large, great, in the widest sense.
of
τῶν (tōn)
Article – Genitive Neuter Plural
The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
garden plants
λαχάνων (lachanōn)
Noun – Genitive Neuter Plural
An herb, garden plant, vegetable. From lachaino; a vegetable.
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
And, even, also, namely.
becomes
γίνεται (ginetai)
Verb – Present Indicative Middle or Passive – 3rd Person Singular
A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.
a tree,
δένδρον (dendron)
Noun – Nominative Neuter Singular
A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.
so that
ὥστε (hōste)
Conjunction
So that, therefore, so then, so as to. From hos and te; so too, i.e. Thus therefore.
the
τὰ (ta)
Article – Accusative Neuter Plural
The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
birds
πετεινὰ (peteina)
Noun – Accusative Neuter Plural
A bird, fowl. Neuter of a derivative of petomai; a flying animal, i.e. Bird.
of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article – Genitive Masculine Singular
The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
air
οὐρανοῦ (ouranou)
Noun – Genitive Masculine Singular
Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.
come
ἐλθεῖν (elthein)
Verb – Aorist Infinitive Active
To come, go.
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
And, even, also, namely.
nest
κατασκηνοῦν* (kataskēnoun)
Verb – Present Infinitive Active
From kata and skenoo; to camp down, i.e. Haunt; figuratively, to remain.
in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; ‘in, ‘ at, on, by, etc.
its
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Singular
He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
branches.
κλάδοις (kladois)
Noun – Dative Masculine Plural
A young tender shoot, then: a branch; met: of descendants. From klao; a twig or bough.
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