Matthew 13:14-22
King James Version
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
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Matthew 13:14-22
English Standard Version
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
(A)“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears (B)they can barely hear,
and (C)their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and (D)understand with their heart
and (E)turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But (F)blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 (G)For truly, I say to you, (H)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 (I)“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of (J)the kingdom and (K)does not understand it, (L)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately (M)receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but (N)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately (O)he falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but (P)the cares of (Q)the world and (R)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
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- Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles
Matthew 13:14-22
New American Standard Bible
14 And [a]in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘[b](A)You shall keep on listening, [c]but shall not understand;
And [d]you shall keep on looking, [e]but shall not perceive;
15 (B)For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart, and return,
And I would heal them.’
16 (C)But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that (D)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Sower Explained
18 “(E)Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears (F)the [f]word of the kingdom and does not understand it, (G)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the [g]word, immediately he [h](H)falls away. 22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of (I)the [i]world and the (J)deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it [j]becomes unfruitful.
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- Matthew 13:14 Lit for them
- Matthew 13:14 Lit With a hearing you shall hear; a Heb idiom
- Matthew 13:14 Lit and
- Matthew 13:14 Lit Seeing you shall see
- Matthew 13:14 Lit and
- Matthew 13:19 I.e., message
- Matthew 13:21 I.e., message
- Matthew 13:21 I.e., from the faith
- Matthew 13:22 Or age
- Matthew 13:22 Or proves to be unfruitful
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
