Matthew 13:33 KJV
Another parable spake he unto them;
The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven,
which a woman took,
and hid in three measures of meal,
till the whole was leavened.
Study
Other translations
New International Version
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
New Living Translation
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
English Standard Version
He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Berean Study Bible
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
Berean Literal Bible
He spoke to them another parable: “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman having taken, hid in three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
New King James Version
Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
New American Standard Bible
He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”
NASB 1995
He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”
NASB 1977
He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened.”
Amplified Bible
He told them another parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and worked into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
Word by word
The parable of the leaven.
Parallel passage: Luke 13:20, 21.
The growth of the kingdom regarded in its quiet and secret influence. This is to be ultimately complete and universal. The prophecy is partially fulfilled with every fresh recognition of Christian principles in public opinion, or customs, or laws. For “every thought” shall be brought “captive unto the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven.
This is the only passage where leaven is spoken of with reference to its permeating qualities alone, without any trace of the notion of defilement, which the Paschal and other regulations (Exodus 12:15, 18; Exodus 23:15, 18; Leviticus 2:11) so readily suggested.
Even in 1 Corinthians 5:6 and Galatians 5:9 this connotation of evil is not altogether absent. In Talm. Bab., ‘Berach.,’ 17a, it is used as a figure of the “evil impulse” within us. Hence some have interpreted it in a similar sense here, and have understood our Lord to be referring to the spread of worldliness in the Church (especially after the conversion of Constantine); but
(1) this is opposed to the prima facie meaning;
(2) it is unreasonable to insist that a symbol must always have the same connotation;
(3) it is opposed to the idea of deliberate purpose underlying the action of the woman;
(4) the closing words would cast too awful a shadow – they would mean that Christianity fails.
Which a woman took, and hid.
The woman probably belongs entirely to the framework of the parable (cf. Luke 15:4, 8). For the work described is always, in normal societies, performed by women. Of other interpretations that which sees in her the Church as the agent by whom the kingdom of God is wrought into the world is the best.
In three measures of meal
i.e. an ephah. This appears to have been a convenient quantity (about a peck) for kneading at one time (Genesis 18:6; Judges 6:19).
Until the whole was leavened;
Literally: until it was leavened, even the whole of it (ἕως οῦ ἐζυμώθη ὅλον). While our Lord thus promises that the permeating influence of the kingdom of heaven shall at last be entirely successful, it is unfair to so press the parable as to deduce from it that the world as such will continue to be gradually and continuously improved up to the Lord’s return.
It may be so (contrast, however, Luke 18:8), but even direct prophecy, and still more parable, frequently regards the ultimate result, and passes over the intermediate stages.
Greek
He told
ἐλάλησεν (elalēsen)
Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular
Strong’s Greek 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.
them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong’s Greek 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
still another
Ἄλλην (Allēn)
Adjective – Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; ‘else, ‘ i.e. Different.
parable:
παραβολὴν (parabolēn)
Noun – Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 3850: From paraballo; a similitude, i.e. fictitious narrative, apothegm or adage.
“The
ἡ (hē)
Article – Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun – Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.
of
τῶν (tōn)
Article – Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong’s Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
heaven
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun – Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong’s Greek 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.
is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular
Strong’s Greek 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
like
Ὁμοία (Homoia)
Adjective – Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 3664: Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.
yeast
ζύμῃ (zymē)
Noun – Dative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 2219: Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.
that
ἣν (hēn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun – Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 3739: Who, which, what, that.
a woman
γυνὴ (gynē)
Noun – Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.
took [and]
λαβοῦσα (labousa)
Verb – Aorist Participle Active – Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.
mixed
ἐνέκρυψεν (enekrypsen)
Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular
Strong’s Greek 1470: To hide in, mix with. From en and krupto; to conceal in, i.e. Incorporate with.
into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong’s Greek 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.
three
τρία (tria)
Adjective – Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong’s Greek 5140: Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; ‘three’.
measures
σάτα (sata)
Noun – Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong’s Greek 4568: A large measure equal to nearly three English gallons. Of Hebrew origin; a certain measure for things dry.
of flour,
ἀλεύρου (aleurou)
Noun – Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong’s Greek 224: Meal, flour. From aleo; flour.
until
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong’s Greek 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.
all
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective – Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong’s Greek 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; ‘whole’ or ‘all’, i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.
of it
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun – Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong’s Greek 3739: Who, which, what, that.
was leavened.
ἐζυμώθη (ezymōthē)
Verb – Aorist Indicative Passive – 3rd Person Singular
Strong’s Greek 2220: To leaven, ferment. From zume; to cause to ferment.
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