Matthew 13:32

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.”

📖 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

Referenced Verses

• Dan 4:12 : 12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.
• Ezek 31:6 : 6 All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, in its shade all the great nations lived.
• Acts 21:20 : 20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him,“You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.
• Rom 15:18-19 : 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
• Dan 2:44-45 : 44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. 45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”
• Ezek 47:1-5 : 1 Water from the Temple Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east(for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. 2 He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side. 3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. 4 Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep. 5 Again he measured 1,750 feet and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.
• Dan 2:34-35 : 34 You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth.
• Mic 4:1-3 : 1 Better Days Ahead for Jerusalem In the future the LORD’s Temple Mount will be the most important mountain of all; it will be more prominent than other hills. People will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come, saying,“Come on! Let’s go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the temple of Jacob’s God, so he can teach us his ways and we can live by his laws.” For instruction will proceed from Zion, the LORD’s message from Jerusalem. 3 He will arbitrate between many peoples and settle disputes between many distant nations. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not use weapons against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.
• Zech 4:10 : 10 For who dares make light of small beginnings? These seven eyes will joyfully look on the tin tablet in Zerubbabel’s hand.(These are the eyes of the LORD, which constantly range across the whole earth.)
• Zech 8:20-23 : 20 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,‘It will someday come to pass that people– residents of many cities– will come. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another and say,“Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Indeed, I’ll go with you.”’ 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and to ask his favor. 23 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of– indeed, grab– the robe of one Jew and say,“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”
• Zech 14:7-9 : 7 It will happen in one day(a day known to the LORD); not in the day or the night, but in the evening there will be light. 8 Moreover, on that day living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it will happen both in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will then be king over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be seen as one with a single name. 10 All the land will change and become like the rift valley from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be raised up and will stay in its own place from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate and on to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.
• Acts 1:15 : 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers(a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said,
• Ps 72:16-19 : 16 May there be an abundance of grain in the earth; on the tops of the mountains may it sway! May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon! May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth! 17 May his fame endure! May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! May all nations consider him to be favored by God! 18 The LORD God, the God of Israel, deserves praise! He alone accomplishes amazing things! 19 His glorious name deserves praise forevermore! May his majestic splendor fill the whole earth! We agree! We agree!
• Ps 104:12 : 12 The birds of the sky live beside them; they chirp among the bushes.
• Isa 2:2-4 : 2 In the future the mountain of the LORD’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it, 3 many peoples will come and say,“Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the LORD’s message will issue from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.
• Ezek 17:23-24 : 23 I will plant it on a high mountain of Israel, and it will raise branches and produce fruit and become a beautiful cedar. Every bird will live under it; Every winged creature will live in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree. I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it!’”
• Rev 11:15 : 15 The Seventh Trumpet Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”