Matthew 13:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears and understands the word. This person produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν σπαρείς οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων, καὶ συνιών· ὃς δὴ καρποφορεῖ, καὶ ποιεῖ, ὃ μὲν ἑκατόν, ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα, ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.

Transliteration

The de upon the gēn the kalēn spareis, houtos is the one the logon akouōn, and syniōn; who dē karpophorei, and poiei, the men hundred, the de sixty, the de thirty.

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and/now
• *gēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - earth/land/soil
• *kalēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - good/beautiful/noble
• *spareis*: aorist passive participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having been sown
• *houtos*: demonstrative pronoun, nominative, masculine, singular - this one
• *logon*: accusative, masculine, singular - word/message
• *akouōn*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - hearing/listening to
• *syniōn*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - understanding
• *dē*: particle - indeed/truly/verily
• *karpophorei*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - bears fruit
• *poiei*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - makes/produces/does
• *men*: particle marking first element in contrast - on one hand

Word Meanings

• *gēn*: earth/land/soil/ground
• *kalēn*: good/fine/noble/beautiful
• *spareis*: sown/scattered/planted
• *logon*: word/message/account
• *syniōn*: understanding/comprehending/grasping

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G1161} he that was sown{G4687} upon{G1909} the{G1093} good{G2570} ground,{G1093} this is{G2076} he{G3778} that heareth{G191} the word,{G3056} and{G2532} understandeth{G4920} it; who{G3739} verily{G1211} beareth fruit,{G2592} and{G2532} bringeth forth,{G3303} some{G3739} a hundredfold,{G1161} some{G3739} sixty,{G1161} some{G3739} thirty.{G5144}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} he that received seed{G4687}{(G5651)} into{G1909} the good{G2570} ground{G1093} is{G2076}{(G5748)} he{G3778} that heareth{G191}{(G5723)} the word{G3056}, and{G2532} understandeth{G4920}{(G5723)} it; which{G3739} also{G1211} beareth fruit{G2592}{(G5719)}, and{G2532} bringeth forth{G4160}{(G5719)}, some{G3739}{G3303} an hundredfold{G1540},{G1161} some{G3739} sixty{G1835},{G1161} some{G3739} thirty{G5144}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  He which is sowne in ye good grounde is he yt heareth ye worde and vnderstodeth it which also bereth frute and bringeth forth some an.C. folde some sixtie folde and some.xxx. folde.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But he yt is sowne in the good grounde, is this: whan one heareth the worde, and vnderstondeth it, and bringeth forth frute: and some geueth an hudreth folde, some sixtie folde, and some thirtie folde.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But he that receiued the seede in the good ground, is he that heareth the worde, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruite, and bringeth foorth, some an hundreth folde, some sixtie folde, and some thirtie folde.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But he that receaued seede into the good grounde, is he that heareth the worde, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruite: and bryngeth foorth, some an hundred folde, some sixtie folde, some thirtie folde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth› [it]; ‹which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most assuredly bears fruit, and brings forth, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the seed which was put in good earth, this is he who gives ear to the word, and gets the sense of it; who gives fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times as much.

• World English Bible (2000)

  What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and brings forth, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 13:8 : 8 Still other seeds fell on good soil and yielded a crop—some one hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.
• Matt 12:33 : 33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.
• Gal 5:22-23 : 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
• Phil 1:11 : 11 Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
• John 15:16 : 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
• Col 1:6 : 6 That gospel has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
• Col 1:10 : 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
• 1 Thess 4:1 : 1 Finally, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, just as you received instructions from us on how you ought to live and please God, that you would excel even more.
• 2 Thess 2:10 : 10 and with every kind of deceit targeting those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
• 2 Thess 2:13-14 : 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits for salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Heb 4:2 : 2 For we have also received the good news, just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith in those who heard it.
• Heb 6:7 : 7 For the land that drinks in the rain that often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.
• Heb 8:10 : 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Heb 13:15-16 : 15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
• Jas 1:21-22 : 21 Therefore, rid yourselves of all moral filth and the excess of evil, and humbly accept the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• 1 Pet 2:1-2 : 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and every kind of slander. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow in your salvation,
• 2 Pet 1:5-8 : 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; to virtue, knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Pet 3:18 : 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
• 1 John 5:20 : 20 We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
• John 17:7-8 : 7 Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8 For I gave them the words You gave Me, and they received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
• Acts 16:14 : 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
• Acts 17:11 : 11 The Bereans were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
• 2 Cor 8:1-2 : 1 Now we want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia. 2 In the midst of a severe trial brought by affliction, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty overflowed into abundant generosity.
• 2 Cor 9:10 : 10 Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
• Phil 4:17 : 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
• Mark 4:20 : 20 But those sown on good ground are the ones who hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit—some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred times what was sown.
• Mark 10:15 : 15 'Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'
• Luke 6:43-44 : 43 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from bramble bushes.
• Luke 8:15 : 15 But the seed on good soil represents those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and produce a harvest through perseverance.
• Luke 13:9 : 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! But if not, then cut it down.'
• John 1:11-13 : 11 He came to His own, but His own people did not receive Him. 12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 They were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• John 8:47 : 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you do not listen, because you are not from God.
• John 10:26-27 : 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
• John 15:1-8 : 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and show yourselves to be my disciples.
• Ps 1:1-3 : 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers. 2 Instead, his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law, he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; whatever he does prospers.
• Ps 92:13-15 : 13 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. 14 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 15 They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green.
• Prov 1:5-6 : 5 Let the wise hear and increase their learning, and the one who understands gain guidance, 6 To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
• Prov 2:2-6 : 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding, 3 if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Ezek 18:31 : 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, house of Israel?
• Ezek 36:26 : 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
• Matt 3:8 : 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
• Matt 3:10 : 10 Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.