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OET (OET-LV) which on_one_hand it_is smaller of_all the seeds, on_the_other_hand whenever it_may_be_grown is greater than the garden_plants and is_becoming a_tree, so_that the birds of_the sky to_come and to_be_nesting in the branches of_it.
OET (OET-RV) Even though it’s a very small seed, it grows larger than most garden plants and becomes such a large bush that birds even come and nest in its branches.”
In this section, Jesus told two parables: the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast. These parables show something about the growth and size of God’s kingdom.
The parable about the mustard seed shows that God’s kingdom will grow from a very small beginning to a very large size. The size of God’s kingdom represents the number of people in the kingdom.
The parable of the yeast shows that God’s kingdom will spread throughout the world.
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:30–32 and Luke 13:18–21.
Although it is the smallest of all seeds,
The mustard seed is the smallest of all herb/garden seeds,
Although it is one of the smallest seeds,
it is the smallest of all seeds: The Greek text is literally “which is smaller than all the seeds.” The Greek text exaggerates the smallness of the seed to emphasize its smallness. This helps teach the point about the kingdom of God starting with only a few people.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Translate literally. For example:
It is the smallest of all seeds (GNT)
Explain the exaggeration. For example:
it is the smallest of all garden seeds
Indicate in a general way that the mustard seed is a very small seed. For example:
It’s one of the smallest seeds (GW)
It is a very small seed.
yet it grows into the largest of garden plants
but it grows into the tallest of the herb/garden plants.
when it has grown, it is bigger than all the other herb/garden plants.
yet: There is something unexpected here. We would expect a small seed to grow into a small plant. But a small mustard seed grows into a large plant.
Here are some ways to introduce this unexpected thing:
Use a conjunction in 13:32b. For example:
However, when it has grown (GW)
Use a conjunction in 13:32a. For example:
32a Although it is the smallest of all seeds, 32bit grows larger (CEV)
Use whatever is natural in your language to indicate that something unexpected is about to be said.
it grows into the largest of garden plants: The Greek word that the BSB translates as garden plants refers to vegetable and herb plants. These plants do not normally grow more than one meter high. However, the mustard plant can grow as high as three meters high. It was the largest plant that the Jews planted in their vegetable gardens.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants (GW)
when it has grown, it is bigger than all the other plants in the vegetable garden
and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
It becomes a tree so big that birds come and make nests in its branches.”
It grows into a tree that is big enough for birds to come and build their nests in its branches.”
becomes a tree: A mustard plant can grow up to three meters tall, and it has branches. It is more like a large shrub than a tree. Jesus said becomes a tree to make a strong connection to the Old Testament symbol of a great kingdom. (See more on this issue under the General Comment below.)
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
it grows into a tree (NLT)
it grows big enough to be considered/called a tree
so that the birds of the air come: The phrase the birds of the air is the Jewish way of referring to “birds.” In many languages, it will be more natural to just say “birds.” For example:
so that birds come (GNT)
that is large enough for birds (GW)
and nest in its branches: The Greek word that the BSB translates as nest means “live, dwell, settle.” Most English versions translate this word as “make nests” or as the verb “nest.”
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
perch in its branches (NIV)
shelter in its branches (NJB)
When a Jew heard about a tree so large that birds could come and make their nests in it, he would immediate think of some Old Testament passages (Ezekiel 17:23, Daniel 4:20–22) that had similar wording. Such passages were about great kingdoms. So a Jew would understand that Jesus was talking about the kingdom of heaven/God becoming a great kingdom.
You may need a footnote to explain the Jewish symbolism for the tree and birds. Here is a sample footnote:
In the Old Testament, God compared several great kingdoms to great trees that were so large that birds came and nested in its branches. When Jesus spoke of God’s kingdom being like a tree with birds perching in its branches, the Jews would quickly understand that God’s kingdom would become great as well.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole
μικρότερον & πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων
smaller & ˱of˲_all the seeds
Jesus says smallest of all the seeds here as a generalization for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: [one of the smallest seeds] or [smaller than most seeds]
Note 2 topic: translate-unknown
τῶν λαχάνων
the the garden_plants
The phrase vegetable plants refers to plants that people grow so that they can eat them or parts of them. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of plant, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [other plants that people grow to eat] or [plants that people have in their gardens]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
γίνεται δένδρον
˓is˒_becoming ˓a˒_tree
Here, the phrase becomes a tree means that the plant grows until it becomes the size of a tree. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [becomes as large as a tree]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo
τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅ μικρότερον μέν ἐστίν πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων ὅταν δέ αὐξηθῇ μεῖζον τῶν λαχάνων ἐστίν καί γίνεται δένδρον ὥστε ἐλθεῖν Τά πετεινά τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καί κατασκηνοῦν ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ)
In your language, it might seem that this phrase expresses unnecessary extra information. If so, you could abbreviate it. Alternate translation: [the birds]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
κατασκηνοῦν
˓to_be˒_nesting
Here, the word nest could indicate that: (1) the birds are building nests in the branches of the mustard plant. Alternate translation: [build nests] (2) the birds are perching or resting on the branches of the mustard plant. Alternate translation: [perch] or [roost]
13:1-53 In the third major discourse recorded by Matthew (see study note on Matt 5:1–7:29), Jesus here recognized the separation of his followers from others (13:14, 16) and began to reveal the secrets of the Kingdom privately to them through parables.
OET (OET-LV) which on_one_hand it_is smaller of_all the seeds, on_the_other_hand whenever it_may_be_grown is greater than the garden_plants and is_becoming a_tree, so_that the birds of_the sky to_come and to_be_nesting in the branches of_it.
OET (OET-RV) Even though it’s a very small seed, it grows larger than most garden plants and becomes such a large bush that birds even come and nest in its branches.”
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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