Matthew 13:38

Simplified Cowboy Version

The pasture where the cattle lived is like this old world we're living in right now. The pure-bred calves are like the cowboys who live for the Boss. The cull calves are people who follow the Counterfeit.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,

King James Version (1611)
The field is the world. The good seed, are the children of the kingdome: but the tares are the children of the wicked one.

King James Version
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

English Standard Version
The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

New American Standard Bible
and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one;

New Century Version
The field is the world, and the good seed are all of God's children who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those people who belong to the Evil One.

Amplified Bible
and the field is the world; and [as for] the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one;

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the field is the worlde, and the good seede are the children of the kingdome, and the tares are the children of that wicked one.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;

Legacy Standard Bible
and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;

Berean Standard Bible
The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

Contemporary English Version
The field is the world, and the good seeds are the people who belong to the kingdom. The weed seeds are those who belong to the evil one,

Complete Jewish Bible
the field is the world. As for the good seed, these are the people who belong to the Kingdom; and the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One.

Darby Translation
and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, but the darnel are the sons of the evil [one];

Easy-to-Read Version
The field is the world. The good seed are the people in God's kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One.

George Lamsa Translation
The field is the world; the good seed are the sons of the kingdom; but the tares are the sons of evil.

Good News Translation
the field is the world; the good seed is the people who belong to the Kingdom; the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One;

Lexham English Bible
and the field is the world. And the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom, but the darnel are the sons of the evil one.

Literal Translation
And the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the darnel are the sons of the evil one .

American Standard Version
and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;

Bible in Basic English
And the field is the world; and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom; and the evil seeds are the sons of the Evil One;

Hebrew Names Version
the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the evil one.

International Standard Version
while the field is the world. The good seed are those who belong tothe sons of">[fn] the kingdom, while the weeds are those who belong tothe sons of">[fn] the evil one.Genesis 3:13; Matthew 24:14; 28:19; Mark 16:15,20; Luke 24:47; John 8:44; Acts 13:10; Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:6; 1 John 3:8;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
The field is the world. Now, the good seed are the sons of the kingdom, but the zizania are the sons of the evil one.

Murdock Translation
And the field is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked One.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The fielde, is the worlde: & the good seede, they are the childre of ye kingdom: the tares, are the chyldren of ye wicked.

English Revised Version
and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;

World English Bible
the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the evil one.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the darnel are the children of the wicked one.

Weymouth's New Testament
the field is the world; the good seed--these are the sons of the Kingdom; the darnel, the sons of the Evil one.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
the feeld is the world; but the good seed, these ben sones of the kyngdom, but taris, these ben yuele children;

Update Bible Version
and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one];

Webster's Bible Translation
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one];

New English Translation
The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,

New King James Version
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

New Living Translation
The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.

New Life Bible
The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the holy nation. The weeds are the children of the devil.

New Revised Standard
the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, the field, is the world, and, the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, - and, the darnel seeds, are the sons of the evil one;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the field is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle are the children of the wicked one.

Revised Standard Version
the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And ye felde is the worlde. And the chyldre of the kingdome they are ye good seed. And the tares are the chyldren of ye wicked.

Young's Literal Translation
and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the reign, and the darnel are the sons of the evil one,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
the felde is the worlde: ye good sede are the childre of the kyngdome: The tares are the children of wickednes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
the field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom: but the tares are the children of the wicked one:

Contextual Overview

²⁴Here's another cowboy story that Jesus told. "God's Green Pasture is like a rancher that had a herd of registered Angus cattle. ²⁵But when the cows were all comin' into season, the Counterfeit came and put an old, mangy, ugly, part Holstein, part Watusi, part buffalo bull in the pasture with the registered herd. ²⁶When calving time came, some of the cows produced fine, pure-bred Angus calves. But some cows produced an ugly, scrawny calf not worth nothing. ²⁷The cowboys went and told the rancher that another bull must have got to the cows. ²⁸'That no-account Counterfeit must have done this to me!' the rancher said. "'Do you want us to shoot the cross bred calves?' the cowboys asked. ²⁹"He told them, 'No! You might hit one of the good calves. I've seen your shootin'. ³⁰Let all of 'em grow up and we'll sort 'em out during shippin' season. That's when I'll tell the sorters to pen them up and burn 'em.'" ³¹Here's another one of Jesus's tales. "God's Green Pasture is like the seed of a bull. ³²It's so small you can't even see it, but when it is planted in the right spot, it grows and becomes the biggest thing in the pasture one day. It is the protector of the herd and won't let anything harm those it looks after." ³³Jesus told 'em this, "The Boss's ranch is like a sourdough starter used by the chuckwagon cook to make biscuits. Even though the starter is the smallest part, it works its way through the flour and other ingredients to make the biscuits what they were meant to be."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

field: Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:47, Romans 10:18, Romans 16:26, Colossians 1:6, Revelation 14:6

the good: Psalms 22:30, Isaiah 53:10, Hosea 2:23, Zechariah 10:8, Zechariah 10:9, John 1:12, John 1:13, John 12:24, Romans 8:17, James 1:18, James 2:5, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:9

the children of the wicked: Matthew 13:19, Genesis 3:15, John 8:44, Acts 13:10, Philippians 3:18, Philippians 3:19, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 3:10

Reciprocal: Isaiah 57:4 - are ye Matthew 13:25 - tares Matthew 22:10 - both Matthew 25:1 - the kingdom Matthew 25:2 - General Mark 14:22 - this Luke 16:22 - was carried 1 Corinthians 10:4 - that Rock Ephesians 2:2 - the children 2 Thessalonians 2:8 - that 1 John 2:13 - the wicked 1 John 3:12 - of

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The field is the world,.... That which is represented by "the field", in which the good seed is sown, is not only the land of Judea, where Christ preached in person, but the whole world, into which the apostles were afterwards sent; or the church of Christ, in the several parts of the world:

the good seed are the children of the kingdom: they which are designed by the good seed, are such, for whom the kingdom of heaven is prepared, to whom it is bequeathed, and who are appointed to it; who are possessed of the kingdom of grace here, and are heirs of the kingdom of glory; and have both a meetness for it, and a right unto it, being the children of God by adoption, and that appearing by regeneration:

but the tares are the children of the wicked one: the persons intended by "the tares", are such professors of religion, as both by their principles and practices, manifestly show that they are of their father the devil; they resemble and imitate him, and do his works; and plainly declare, that they were never born of God, and are in no better state, though under a profession, than openly profane and immoral persons; and are more hurtful and scandalous to the interest of Christ, than such are.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Declare unto us - That is, explain the meaning of the parable. This was done in so plain a manner as to render comment unnecessary. The Son of man, the Lord Jesus, sows the good seed - that is, preaches the gospel. This he did personally, and does now by his ministers, his providence, and his Spirit, by all the means of conveying “truth” to the mind. This seed was, by various means, to be carried over all the world. It was to be confined to no particular nation or people. The good seed was the children of the kingdom; that is, of the kingdom of God, or Christians. For these the Saviour toiled and died. They are the fruit of his labors. Yet amid them were wicked people; and all hypocrites and unbelievers in the church are the work of Satan. Yet they must remain together until the end, when they shall be separated, and the righteous saved and the wicked lost. The one shall shine clear as the sun, the other be cast into a furnace of fire - a most expressive image of suffering.

We have no idea of more acute suffering than to be thrown into the fire, and to have our bodies made capable of bearing the burning heat, and living on m this burning heat forever and forever. It is not certain that our Saviour meant to teach here that hell is made up of “material” fire; but it is certain that he meant to teach that this would be a proper “representation” of the sufferings of the lost. We may be further assured that the Redeemer would not deceive us, or use words to torment and tantalize us. He would not talk of hell-fire which had no existence, nor would the Saviour of people hold out frightful images merely to terrify mankind. If he has spoken of hell, then there is a hell. If he meant to say that the wicked shall suffer, then they will suffer. If he did not mean to deceive mankind, then there is a hell, and then the wicked will be punished. The impenitent, therefore, should be alarmed. And the righteous, however much wickedness they may see, and however many hypocrites there may be in the church, should be cheered with the prospect that soon the just will be separated from the unjust, and that they shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.