Matthew 13:32

KJV1611 – Modern English

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὃ μικρότερον μέν ἐστιν πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων: ὅταν δὲ αὐξηθῇ, μεῖζον τῶν λαχάνων ἐστὶν, καὶ γίνεται δένδρον, ὥστε ἐλθεῖν τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατασκηνοῦν ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ.

Transliteration

Which mikroteron men estin pantōn tōn spermatōn: when de auxēthē, meizon tōn lachanōn estin, and ginetai dendron, so that elthein ta peteina tou ouranou and kataskēnoun en tois kladois autou.

Grammar Details

• *mikroteron*: comparative, nominative, neuter, singular - smaller
• *men*: particle marking first element in contrast - on one hand
• *estin*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *pantōn tōn spermatōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - of all the seeds
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and/now
• *auxēthē*: aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular - it might be grown/increased
• *meizon*: comparative, nominative, neuter, singular - greater
• *tōn lachanōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - of the garden herbs/vegetables
• *ginetai*: present middle indicative, 3rd person singular - becomes
• *dendron*: nominative, neuter, singular - tree
• *elthein*: aorist active infinitive - to come
• *ta peteina*: accusative, neuter, plural - the birds
• *tou ouranou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of the heaven/sky
• *kataskēnoun*: present active infinitive - to nest/dwell
• *en tois kladois*: in the branches
• *autou*: genitive, neuter, singular - of it

Word Meanings

• *mikroteron*: smaller/lesser
• *spermatōn*: seeds/offspring
• *auxēthē*: grows/increases/develops
• *meizon*: greater/larger
• *lachanōn*: garden herbs/vegetables/plants
• *ginetai*: becomes/turns into
• *dendron*: tree/large plant
• *peteina*: birds/flying creatures
• *kataskēnoun*: to nest/make nests/dwell
• *kladois*: branches/boughs

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  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.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  which{G3739} indeed{G3303} is{G2076} less{G3398} than all{G3956} seeds;{G4690} but{G1161} when{G3752} it is grown,{G837} it is{G2076} greater{G3173} than the herbs,{G3001} and{G2532} becometh{G1096} a tree,{G1186} so that{G5620} the birds{G4071} of the heaven{G3772} come{G2064} and{G2532} lodge{G2681} in{G1722} the branches{G2798} thereof.{G846}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Which{G3739} indeed{G3303} is{G2076}{(G5748)} the least{G3398} of all{G3956} seeds{G4690}: but{G1161} when{G3752} it is grown{G837}{(G5686)}, it is{G2076}{(G5748)} the greatest{G3187} among herbs{G3001}, and{G2532} becometh{G1096}{(G5736)} a tree{G1186}, so that{G5620} the birds{G4071} of the air{G3772} come{G2064}{(G5629)} and{G2532} lodge{G2681}{(G5721)} in{G1722} the branches{G2798} thereof{G846}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  which is ye leest of all seedes. But when it is groune it is the greatest amoge yerbes and it is a tree: so yt the bryddes of the ayer come and bylde in the brauches of it.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Which is the leest amonge all sedes. But whan it is growne, it is the greatest amonge herbes, and is a tre: so that the byrdes vnder the heauen come and dwell in the braunches of it.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Which in deede is the least of all seedes: but when it is growen, it is the greatest among herbes, and it is a tree, so that the birdes of heauen come and builde in the branches thereof.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Which in dede is the least of all seedes: But when it is growen, it is the greatest among hearbes: and is a tree, so that the byrdes of the ayre come & make their nestes in the braunches therof.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹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.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  which indeed is smaller than all 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 lodge in its branches."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  which less, indeed, is than all the seeds, but when it may be grown, is greatest of the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven do come and rest in its branches.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Which is smaller than all seeds; but when it has come up it is greater than the plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and make their resting-places in its branches.

• World English Bible (2000)

  which indeed is smaller than all 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 lodge in its branches."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.”

Referenced Verses

• Dan 4:12 : 12 Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the heaven dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
• Ezek 31:6 : 6 All the birds of heaven made their nests in its boughs, and under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow all great nations dwelt.
• Acts 21:20 : 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous for the law:
• Rom 15:18-19 : 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in making the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so from Jerusalem and all around to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
• Dan 2:44-45 : 44 And in the days of these kings, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 For as much as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.
• Ezek 47:1-5 : 1 Afterward he brought me again to the door of the house; and, behold, waters flowed out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the front of the house faced east, and the waters came down from under the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around outside to the outer gate facing east; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3 And when the man who had the measuring line in his hand went eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and brought me through the waters; the waters were ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were waist-deep. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not cross: for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.
• Dan 2:34-35 : 34 You watched until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no trace of them was found: and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
• Mic 4:1-3 : 1 But in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow to it. 2 And many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations far off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
• Zech 4:10 : 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
• Zech 8:20-23 : 20 Thus says the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go quickly to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22 Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the garment of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
• Zech 14:7-9 : 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
• Acts 1:15 : 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (the number of names together was about one hundred and twenty), and said,
• Ps 72:16-19 : 16 There shall be a handful of grain in the earth on the top of the mountains; the fruit shall shake like Lebanon, and those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure forever; his name shall continue as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed. 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 And blessed be his glorious name forever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
• Ps 104:12 : 12 By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
• Isa 2:2-4 : 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
• Ezek 17:23-24 : 23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs and bear fruit and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shadow of its branches shall they dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
• Rev 11:15 : 15 And the seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.