Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net,

Spoken to: 

Apostles

Parables, Parable of the Net

KJV: 

Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

NIV : 

Matthew 13:47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

The  realm of the skies is like a large fishing net being tossed into the sea and collecting out every type.

MY TAKE: 

The higher reality occastionally dips into our own.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The word translated as "cast" and "let down" is usually translated as  being "cast" or "thrown." Jesus often uses it humorously. Neither this verb not the next verb, translated as "gather" and "caught," are active verbs. They are participles acting as adjectives describing the fishing net.

The "every kind" here is singular. It is also part of a preposition phrase meaning "out of every type." The word translated as "gather" or "caught" takes a direct object so the preposition "out" is important. Every type is not just "gathered" but "gathered out."

The net is a specific types, a large drop net, also known as a seine net.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but he Greek word is plural, "skies."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "he" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "cast" is not an active verb but a participle, "being cast."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "gathered" is not an active verb but a participle, "gathering."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" is not the just the case usually translated as "of" but a preposition.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

10
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but he Greek word is plural, "skies."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "he" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "let down" is usually translated as "cast" or "tossed."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "cast" is not an active verb but a participle, "being cast."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "caught" is usually translated as "gathered" or "bring together."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "gathered" is not an active verb but a participle, "gathering."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" is not the just the case usually translated as "of" but a preposition.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "kinds" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "of fish" doesn't exist in the source.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Again,  - -- The Greek word translated as "again" means "back," "again," and "contradiction."

the  - -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

kingdom  - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Here, it is plural and in a form that could be either the object or subject of the verb. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "rule" seems more appropriate.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

heaven  - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It is plural. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods.

is  - -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

like  - -- The word translated as "like" is an adjective that means "like," "resembling," and "matching."

unto   -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

net,  - "Net" is from from a Greek word that means a "seine net," "large drag-net" for catching fish.

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.

was -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

cast  - (WF) The word translated as "cast" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." This word is a passive verb in the form and an adjective, so "being  thrown."

into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

sea,  - The "sea" is from the Greek word for "sea" and "sea water."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

gathered  - (WF) The Greek word translated as "gathered" means "to bring together." It also is a past participle in the form on an adjective, "having brought together." Matthew uses to indicate the general bringing together of things with the sense of uniting them. This is the unselective sense of gathering as contrasted with a different verb used in Matthew 13:40, which also is translated as "to gather" but which means a selective gathering..

of --  (CW) The word "of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of." This more clearly means "out of."

every  - The word translated as "every" is one word meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. This word is singular.

kind: - "Kind" is from the Greek word from which we get "genus" and "genes." It means "race," "stock," "direct decent," "tribe," "sex," "species," and "class." This word is singular.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Once again,  - -- The Greek word translated as "once again" means "back," "again," and "contradiction."

the  - -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

kingdom  - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Here, it is plural and in a form that could be either the object or subject of the verb. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "rule" seems more appropriate.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

heaven  - (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It is plural. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods.

is  - -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

like  - -- The word translated as "like" is an adjective that means "like," "resembling," and "matching."

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

net,  - "Net" is from from a Greek word that means a "seine net," "large drag-net" for catching fish.

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.

was -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

let down   - (CW, WF) The word translated as "let down" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." The Bible almost always translates it as "cast" or "thrown" This word is a passive verb in the form and an adjective, so "being  thrown."

into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

lake ,  - The "sea" is from the Greek word for "sea" and "sea water."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

caught - (CW, WF) The Greek word translated as "caught" means "to bring together." It also is a past participle in the form on an adjective, "having brought together." Matthew uses to indicate the general bringing together of things with the sense of uniting them. This is the unselective sense of gathering as contrasted with a different verb used in Matthew 13:40, which also is translated as "to gather" but which means a selective gathering..

of --  (CW) The word "of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of." This more clearly means "out of."

all - The word translated as "all" is one word meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. This word is singular.

kinds: - (WN) "Kinds" is from the Greek word from which we get "genus" and "genes." It means "race," "stock," "direct decent," "tribe," "sex," "species," and "class." This word is singular.

 of fish.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Πάλιν (adv) "Again" is from palin (palin), which means "back," "backward," "contradiction," "again," "once more," and "in turn."

ὁμοία (adj pl neut acc) Like is from homoios, which means "like," "resembling," "the same," "equal in force, "a match for one," "suiting," "of the same rank," "alike," "in like manner," and "equally."

ἐστὶν (3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible."

(article sg fem nom )  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

βασιλεία (noun sg fem nom ) "The kingdom" is from basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign." -

τῶν (article pl masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

οὐρανῶν (noun pl masc gen) "Of Heaven" is from the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate." --

σαγήνῃ [1 verse] (noun sg fem dat) "Net" is sagene , which means "seine net," a"large drag-net."

βληθείσῃs (part sg aor pass fem dat) "Cast" is from ballo, which means "to throw," "to let fall," "to cast," "to put," "to pour," "to place money on deposit," "push forward or in front [of animals]," "to shed," "to place," "to pay,"to throw [of dice,] ""to be lucky," "to fall," "to lay as foundation," "to begin to form," "to dash oneself with water," and "to bathe."

εἰς (prep) "Into" is from eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

τὴν (article sg fem acc - )  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

θάλασσαν [11 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Sea" is  thalassa, which means also means "sea," "channel," "well of saltwater," or "sea water."

καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." -

ἐκ (prep) "From" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from."

παντὸς (adj sg neut gen) "Every" is from pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether."

γένους (noun sg neut gen) "Kind" is from genos, which means "race," "stock," "direct decent," "tribe," "sex," "species," and "class."

συναγαγούσῃ: [20 verses](part sg aor act fem dat) "Gather" is from synago, which means "bring together," "gather together," "pit [two warriors against each other]," "join in one," "unite," "make friends of," "lead with one," "receive," "reconcile," "draw together," "narrow," "contract," "conclude [from premises]," " infer," and "prove." --

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

The water is Christ's symbol for the physical realm, specifically change, the temporary nature of the physical. Having discussed symbolically the emotional (earth, Matthew 13:44) and intellectual (wisdom, Matthew 13:45) aspects of recognizing what is valuable, he moves to a physical realm.

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

“Why not have an analogy for fishermen?” suggested Brother James.
Johnny Boy enthusiastically agree, “We were among your first students.”
The Master thought for a moment.
“Once more, it is similar, this realm of the skies,” said the Master, making his throwing-out-the-trash gesture, “to a large fishing net, being tossed into the sea and collecting out every type.”
“That is not the way you through a net,” complained Johnny Boy.

Front Page Date: 

Jan 2 2021