MAT 13:13 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For this reason I speak to them in parables; because seeing, they do not see; and hearing, they do not hear nor understand.

UST I use stories to instruct these people because they can look at things, but they do not really see them. They can hear what people say, but they do not really listen to it or learn from it.

BSB This is why I speak to them in parables:
⇔ ‘Though seeing, they do not see;
⇔ [though] hearing, they do not hear [or] understand.’[fn]

13:13 See Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, and Ezekiel 12:2.

BLB Because of this I speak to them in parables: 'Because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.'

AICNT “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

OEB That is why I speak to them in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand.

WEBBE Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

LSV Because of this, in allegories I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand,

FBV That's why I speak to them in illustrations. For even though they see, they do not see; and even though they hear, they do not hear; nor do they understand.[fn]

13:13 Jesus was referencing the Old Testament here. It could be any of these: Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2.

TCNT That is why I speak to them in parables, [fn]because ‘they see but do not perceive, and they hear but do not listen or understand.’

13:13 because ‘they see but do not perceive, and they hear but do not listen or understand.’ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah ¦ so that ‘they may see but not perceive, and hear but not listen or understand, lest they should turn back.’ Then the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled in them ANT

T4T That is why I use parables when I speak to people, because although they see what I do, they do not perceive what it means, and although they hear what I say, they do not really understand what it means.

LEB For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand,

BBE For this reason I put things into the form of stories; because they see without seeing, and give ear without hearing, and the sense is not clear to them.

Moff This is why I speak to them in parables, because for all their seeing they do not see and for all their hearing they do not hear or understand.

Wymth I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand.

ASV Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

DRA Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

YLT 'Because of this, in similes do I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand,

Drby For this cause I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear nor understand;

RV Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

SLT For this I speak to them in parables: for seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Wbstr Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

KJB-1769 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

KJB-1611 Therefore speake I to then in parables: because they seeing, see not: and hearing, they heare not, neither doe they vnderstand.
(Therefore speak I to then in parables: because they seeing, see not: and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand.)

Bshps Therfore speake I to them in parables: because they seeyng, see not: and hearyng, they heare not: neither do they vnderstande.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Gnva Therefore speake I to them in parables, because they seeing, doe not see: and hearing, they heare not, neither vnderstand.
(Therefore speak I to them in parables, because they seeing, do not see: and hearing, they hear not, neither understand. )

Cvdl Therfore speake I vnto the by parables, for with seynge eyes they se not, & with hearinge eares they heare not, for they vnderstonde it not.
(Therefore speak I unto the by parables, for with seeing eyes they see not, and with hearing ears they hear not, for they understood it not.)

TNT Therfore speake I to them in similitudes: for though they se they se not: and hearinge they heare not: nether vnderstonde.
(Therefore speak I to them in similitudes: for though they see they see not: and hearing they hear not: neither understood. )

Wycl Therfor Y speke to hem in parablis, for thei seynge seen not, and thei herynge heren not, nether vndurstonden;
(Therefore I speak to hem in parables, for they seeing seen not, and they hearing hearing not, neither understoodn;)

Luth Darum rede ich zu ihnen durch Gleichnisse. Denn mit sehenden Augen sehen sie nicht und mit hörenden Ohren hören sie nicht; denn sie verstehen es nicht.
(Therefore speak I to/for to_them through parables/allegories. Because with seeing eyes see they/she/them not and with hearing ears hear/listen they/she/them not; because/than they/she/them understand it not.)

ClVg Ideo in parabolis loquor eis: quia videntes non vident, et audientes non audiunt, neque intelligunt.[fn]
(Therefore/For_that_reason in/into/on parables I_speak to_them: because seeing not/no they_see, and hearing not/no they_hear, nor they_understand. )

13.13 Ideo in parabolis. Dicitur quod ideo excæcati sunt, et sententiæ Domini per parabolas eis occultatæ sunt, ut post salubrius converterentur. Nam quia obscure dicta non intellexerunt, ideo non crediderunt in eum, et sic crucifixerunt, et sic post resurrectionem miraculis territi, majoris criminis reatu compuncti sunt. Unde accepta indulgentia ampliori flagrant dilectione. Sed Joannes hunc locum ita dicit: Propterea non poterant credere, quia iterum dixit Isaias: Excævavit oculos eorum, ut non videant Joan. 11.. Ubi aperte dicit non ideo factam excæcationem, ut ea commoniti, et dolentes se non intelligere, converterentur aliquando: non enim hoc possent nisi crederent, sed potius ideo excæcati, ut non crederent, quod aliis peccatis meruerunt. Videntes non vident. Sicut avarus multas habet opes et nullas, quia inutiles sunt ei.

13.13 Therefore/For_that_reason in/into/on parables. Sayitur that therefore/for_that_reason excæcati are, and sentences Master through parables to_them hiddentæ are, as after healthyus they_would_convertur. For/Surely because obscure said/dictated not/no they_understood, therefore/for_that_reason not/no they_believed in/into/on him, and so crucifixerunt, and so after resurrection with_miracles territi, older crime reatu compuncti are. From_where/who accepted indulgentia ampliori flagrant with_love. But Yoannes this_one place so/thus he_says: That's_why not/no they_could to_believe, because again he/she_said Isaiahs: Excævavit the_eyes their, as not/no let_them_see Yohan 11.. Where openly he_says not/no therefore/for_that_reason made excæcationem, as them commoniti, and dolentes himself not/no to_understand, they_would_convertur sometimes: not/no because this they_could except to_believent, but rather therefore/for_that_reason excæcati, as not/no to_believent, that to_others sins they_deserved. Seentes not/no they_see. Like avarus fines has wealth and nones, because inutiles are to_him.

UGNT διὰ τοῦτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ, ὅτι βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσιν, καὶ ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ συνίουσιν.
(dia touto en parabolais autois lalō, hoti blepontes ou blepousin, kai akouontes ouk akouousin, oude suniousin.)

SBL-GNT διὰ τοῦτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ, ὅτι βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσιν καὶ ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν οὐδὲ συνίουσιν·
(dia touto en parabolais autois lalō, hoti blepontes ou blepousin kai akouontes ouk akouousin oude suniousin;)

RP-GNT Διὰ τοῦτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ, ὅτι βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσιν, καὶ ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ συνιοῦσιν.
(Dia touto en parabolais autois lalō, hoti blepontes ou blepousin, kai akouontes ouk akouousin, oude suniousin.)

TC-GNT Διὰ τοῦτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ, [fn]ὅτι βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσι, καὶ ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ συνιοῦσι.
(Dia touto en parabolais autois lalō, hoti blepontes ou blepousi, kai akouontes ouk akouousin, oude suniousi. )

13:13 οτι βλεποντες ου βλεπουσι και ακουοντες ουκ ακουουσιν ουδε συνιουσι και αναπληρουται ¦ ινα βλεποντες μη βλεπωσι και ακουοντες μη ακουωσι μηδε συνωσι μηποτε επιστρεψωσι και τοτε πληρωθησεται ANT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–17: Jesus told the parable about the man who sowed seeds

In this section, Jesus told the first of eightSome commentators do not consider 13:51–52 a parable, so they count seven parables in this chapter. parables about the kingdom of heaven. These parables helped the disciples understand the kingdom of heaven. They also helped the disciples understand why some people did not accept Jesus’ message.

The first parable is about a farmer who sows seed in different kinds of soil. The different kinds of soil represent different kinds of people and how they accept God’s Word. In 13:18 Jesus referred to this parable as “the parable of the sower.”

After Jesus told this parable, he explained why he told parables (13:10–17).

Some other examples for a heading for this section are:

A story about a farmer planting seed

The parable about the four kinds of soil

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:1–12 and Luke 8:4–10.

Paragraph 13:10–17

Jesus began a new topic here. He explained why he used parables. Some English versions begin a new section here. If you want to do that, here are some possible section headings:

Jesus explained the reason he taught using parables

The Purpose of the Parables (NRSV)

13:13a

This is why I speak to them in parables:

That is the reason why I speak to them in parables,
So/Therefore I speak to them using stories.

This is why I speak to them in parables: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as This:

It refers to the things that Jesus had already said in 13:11–12. In other words, “The secrets of the kingdom have been revealed to you, my disciples, but not to the crowd. That is the reason why I speak to the crowd in parables.” For example:
This is why I speak to them this way. (GW) (RSV, ESV, GW, NLT, JBP, KJV, NASB, REB)
It refers to the things that Jesus will say in 13:13b–c. In other words, “This/Here is the reason I speak to the crowd in parables: they do not see, hear, or understand.” For example:
The reason I use parables in talking to them is (GNT) (BSB, NRSV, NIV, GNT, NET, CEV, NCV, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In all other places in Matthew where the Greek phrase translated as This is why occurs, it refers to something that has already been said. It does not refer to something yet to be said.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

That is why I speak to them in parables (REB)

So/Therefore, I speak to them in parables.

13:13b

‘Though seeing, they do not see;

because even though they look, they do not see,
I also speak to them using parables/stories because, they see things, but they do not really see them.

This verse part begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “because.” It introduces the reason why Jesus spoke to the people in parables. He spoke to them in parables because they did not see, hear, or understand (13:13b–c).

Here are some ways to translate this word:

Use the word “because” or “for.” For example:
For
Repeat part of 13:13a. For example:
I speak like this because
I speak to them in parables because
Leave it untranslated. For example:
^aThis is why I speak to them this way. ^bThey see, but they’re blind. (GW)

Though seeing, they do not see: The Greek words that the BSB translates as seeing and see are different forms of the same verb. However, they are used in different senses here. The word seeing refers to literally seeing something with the eyes; something like a person, object, or event. The word see refers to figuratively seeing something with the mind. This means understanding the meaning of what is seen. There is a contrast between these two words that the BSB expresses with the word Though. Some versions indicate this contrast with a conjunction like “but.”

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

Use different verbs for these ideas. For example:
when they look, they cannot see (CEV)
Modify one of the verbs. For example:
They see, but they don’t really see. (NCV)

In some languages, it may be necessary to supply objects for the two verbs. For example:

they see things, but they do not perceive them

13:13c

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

and even though they listen, they do not hear or understand.
They hear things, but they do not really hear or understand.

In the Greek, a word that is often translated as “and” connects the first half of the saying (13:13b) with the second half of the saying (13:13c). The BSB indicates the connection with a semi-colon at the end of 13:13b. The NCV begins a new sentence here and allows the context to imply the connection. Translate this connection in a way that is natural in your language.

though hearing, they do not hear or understand: This clause is parallel to 13:13b. The word hearing refers to literally hearing something with the ears. The word hear refers to figuratively hearing something with the mind. This means understanding the meaning of what is heard.

There is a contrast between these two words that the BSB expresses with the word though. Some versions indicate this contrast with a conjunction like “but.”

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

Use different verbs for these ideas. For example:
when they listen, they cannot hear (CEV)
Modify one of the verbs. For example:
They hear, but they don’t really hear (NCV)

In some languages, it may be necessary to supply objects for the two verbs. For example:

they listen to things, but they do not hear them

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

διὰ τοῦτο

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ ὅτι βλέποντες οὒ βλέπουσιν καί ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν οὐδέ συνίουσιν)

Here, the pronoun this could refer to: (1) what Jesus is about to say, beginning with the word because. Alternate translation: [Here is why] (2) what Jesus said in the previous two verses. Alternate translation: [That is why] or [For those reasons]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτοῖς

˱to˲_them

The pronoun them refers to the “crowd” that was standing on the shore of the sea to listen to Jesus (see [13:2](../13/02.md)). Express the idea as you did in [13:10](../13/10.md). Alternate translation: [to the crowd]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσιν, καὶ ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ συνίουσιν

seeing (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ ὅτι βλέποντες οὒ βλέπουσιν καί ἀκούοντες οὐκ ἀκούουσιν οὐδέ συνίουσιν)

Here Jesus means that the people see things, but they do not look carefully. They hear things, but they do not listen carefully or understand. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [although they see, they do not really see; and although they hear, they do not really hear nor understand] or [seeming to see, they do not actually see, and seeming to hear, they do not actually hear nor understand]

Parallel MAT 13:13

Section 13:1–17: Jesus told the parable about the man who sowed seeds

Paragraph 13:10–17

13:13a

13:13b

13:13c