Parables, Parable of the Weeds, Explanation
Matthew 13:41 - The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
He will send out, this child of the man, his messengers and they will collect together from out of that kingdom of his all those traps and the ones producing this lawlessness.
Those who identify people who mislead us are heaven sent.
The word translated as "angels" means "messengers." The word was adopted into English via Latin, but it did not retain its original meaning, which was displaced by a Zoroastrian concept, which wasn't known in Judea at the time. The word translated as "sent forth" is the Greek word that was also adapted untranslated into English as the word "apostles." So Jesus could easily be talking about his sending of the Apostles here, who were his messengers.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "man" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "angels" is not shown in the English translation.
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "angels" means "messengers." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "gather" is not the common word usually translated as "gather" and has the more sense "collect together."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "kingdom" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "that" should be something more like "the ones."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "offend" should be something more like "traps."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "them" should be something more like "the ones."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "do" is not an active verb but a participle, "doing" or "making."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "iniquity" or "lawlessness" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "iniquity" should be something more like "lawlessness."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "man" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "angels" is not shown in the English translation.
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "angels" means "messengers." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "weed" should be something more like "collect together."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "kingdom" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "that" should be something more like "the ones."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "causes that sin" should be something more like "traps."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "all" should be something more like "the ones."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "do" is not an active verb but a participle, "doing" or "making."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "evil" or "lawlessness" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "evil" should be something more like "lawlessness."
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.
Son - The word translated as "son" more generally means "child."
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.
man - The Greek word for "of man" in the singular means "person" and "humanity" and "people" and "peoples" in plural.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
send - The "send forth" here is from a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle."
forth -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb that means "away from' and "from."
his - -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
angels, - (UW) The word translated as "angels" means "messengers" or "envoys."It did not convey our concept of "angels" to anyone hearing Christ speak, which was neither a Greek nor Jewish concept but comes from Zoroastrianism.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
they - -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
gather -- (CW) The word translated as "gather" specifically means collecting something for use. The word means a selective choosing. In the previous verse, "picking" worked better because we were talking about crops, but here "collecting" might fit the context better.
out of - The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" when referring to motion, but "beyond," "outside of," "beyond" when referring to place as it does here.
his - -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
kingdom - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.
all - The word translated as "all things" is an adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. It is in a form that modifies the follow word that means "trap" and "snare."
things - This is from neuter plural form of the previous adjective.
that -- (WW) that word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") but it is not the pronoun that acts as a subordinate clause. See this article for more.
offend, - (WW) - The word translated as "offend" is not a verb, but a noun that means a "trap" or "snare" for an enemy. The verb form is translated as "offend" in the Gospels, but
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
them -- (WW) that word translated as "them" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") but it is not the pronoun that acts as a subordinate clause. See this article for more.
which -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "it" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
do - (WF) The Greek word translated as "do" is a verb meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. It is in the form of a noun or adjective.
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.
iniquity; -- (WW) The term translated as "iniquity" is literally "the condition of being without law.' It does not mean "wickedness" or "injustice" as suggested by "iniquity,: In English, the term for this is "lawless, "anarchy." The prefix means "without" and the root means "law" or "tradition." Jesus only uses this word four times.
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.
Son - The word translated as "son" more generally means "child."
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.
Man - The Greek word for "of man" in the singular means "person" and "humanity" and "people" and "peoples" in plural.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
send - The "send forth" here is from a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle."
out -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb that means "away from' and "from."
his - -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
angels, - (UW) The word translated as "angels" means "messengers" or "envoys."It did not convey our concept of "angels" to anyone hearing Christ speak, which was neither a Greek nor Jewish concept but comes from Zoroastrianism.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
they - -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
weed -- (WW) The word translated as "gather" specifically means collecting something for use. The word means a selective choosing. In the previous verse, "picking" worked better because we were talking about crops, but here "collecting" might fit the context better.
out of - The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" when referring to motion, but "beyond," "outside of," "beyond" when referring to place as it does here.
his - -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
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.
kingdom - The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will.
everything - The word translated as "all things" is an adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. It is in a form that modifies the follow word that means "trap" and "snare."
that -- (WW) that word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") but it is not the pronoun that acts as a subordinate clause. See this article for more.
causes that sin , - (WW) - The word translated as "causes " is not a verb, but a noun that means a "trap" or "snare" for an enemy. The verb form is translated as "offend" in the Gospels It has not relation to the word translated as "sin."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
all -- (WW) that word translated as "them" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") but it is not the pronoun that acts as a subordinate clause. See this article for more.
who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "it" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
do - (WF) The Greek word translated as "do" is a verb meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. It is in the form of a noun or adjective.
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.
evil; -- (WW) The term translated as "iniquity" is literally "the condition of being without law.' It does not mean "wickedness" or "injustice" as suggested by "iniquity,: In English, the term for this is "lawless, "anarchy." The prefix means "without" and the root means "law" or "tradition." Jesus only uses this word four times. This is not the common word for "evil>'
ἀποστελεῖ (verb 3rd sg fut ind act ) "Shall send forth" is from apostello, which means "to send off," "to send away," or "to dispatch."
ὁ (article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
υἱὸς (noun sg masc nom) "The Son" is from huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child."
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀνθρώπου (noun sg masc gen) "Of man" is from anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
τοὺς (article pl masc/fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀγγέλους (noun pl masc/fem acc) "Angels" is aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoy."
αὐτοῦ, (adj sg masc gen) "His" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." -
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."
συλλέξουσιν [8 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind act) "They shall gather" is sylego, a term meaning "gather," "collect," "come together," "collect," "get together [people]," "picking (fruit)," "compose," "compile," "scrape together," "compile a list of," (in middle passive) "collect for oneself," "for one's own use," and (in passive) "come together," "become customary," "come together," "assemble." --
ἐκ (prep) "Out of" 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."
τῆς (article sg fem gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
βασιλείας (noun sg fem gen) "The kingdom" is from basileia, which means "kingdom," "dominion," "hereditary monarchy," "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign."
αὐτοῦ (adj sg masc gen) "His" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." -
πάντα (adj pl neut acc "All" 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."
“τὰ (article pl neut acc) "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
σκάνδαλα [6 verses](noun pl neut acc) "That offends" is skandalon, which means a "trap" or "snare" for an enemy. It is not Greek but based on the Hebrew and Aramaic word. This is one of the words that first occurs in the Greek version of the Old Testament translating the Hebrew word for "noose" or "snare."
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."
τοὺς (article pl masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which, when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ποιοῦντας (part pl pres act masc acc) "Them which do" is from poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."
τὴν (article sg fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀνομίαν,” [4 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Inequity" is anomia, which means "lawless," "lawless conduct," and "the negation of law."
Matthew 13:40 As therefore the weeds are gathered
More about related verses in this article: The End of the World?
“And what part will you, ‘this child of the man,’ play,” asked Johnny Boy, indicating his master. “In this culmination?”
“He will send out, this child of the man,” said the Master, indicating his students. “his messengers, and they will collect together from out of that kingdom of his all those traps and the ones producing this lawlessness.”