Parables, Parable of the Net
Matthew 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Matthew 13:48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.
That, at the time it was full filled, pulling up onto the beach and taking seats, they collected the good ones into containers but they threw out the rotten.
Dying is like passing from underwater to open air.
Three of the words here are used only once by Jesus. Coincidentally, all begin with an "a." Here, that seems to be because of their double meanings. However, a number of other words use are pregnant with meaning too. NOTE: Jesus never mentions "fish" in this parable.
The most interesting word is translated as "vessels/crates" means "vessel" is when storing liquids, but for solid objects it means a "box." However, it also refers to a "womb" or a "coffin." It seems unlikely that Jesus meant that the good are put into a box, but a womb? This could refer to rebirth to an afterline, but it implies a gestation period and growth afterward.
The word translated as "they drew," is also used one. It means "to go up," and it is a has the specific meaning of "to draw (a ship) up on land. More interestingly, it are a couple of secondary meaning, one meaning "uplifting" and the other meaning "bringing up (to the bar of a court as a witness)." It is in the form of an adjective, so "going up" and "beaching."
The word meaning "shore" means "shore" and "beach" but that idea has always been connected with stable ground, safety in coming out of the water.
A lot of other interesting words here. The word for "bad" has more the sense of "rotten" (see this article on words for "bad"). The word "sat down" has a secondary meaning of "convene" or "establish." The word ""full" means "fulfill" and "make complete." The word translated innoculously as "away" means "outside" and it is the word Jesus uses to describe "the outer darkness.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "drew" is not an active verb but a participle, "beaching."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "to" should be something more like "up on."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "sat down" is not an active verb but a participle, "taking seats."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- MM -- Many Meanings -- This word has several different meanings that work here and is a form of wordplay.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "away" should be something more like "out."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "which" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "the net" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "dragged" should be something more like "beach."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "dragged" is not an active verb but a participle, "beaching."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "sat down" is not an active verb but a participle, "taking seats."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "sorted" should be something more like "collected."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "fish" doesn't exist in the source.
- MM -- Many Meanings -- This word has several different meanings that work here and is a form of wordplay.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "away" should be something more like "out."
Which, - The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun, but it often acts as a pronoun, especially a connective pronoun introducing a dependent clause.
when -- -- The Greek word for "when" means "at this time" or "then."
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
full, -- "Full" is a verb that means "to fill," "to fulfill," and "to fill full."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
drew - (WF) The word translated as "they drew," means "to go up," and it is a has the specific meaning of "to draw (a ship) up on land. Jesus only uses it in this one verse. More interestingly, it has the secondary meaning relating to a lot of uses in court, including to "bring up (to the bar of a court as a witness)." It is in the form of an adjective, so "going up" and "beaching."
to -- (WW) The word translated as "to" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" or "on." With the accusative used here, it means "onto a height" so "up on."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
shore, - The word translated as "shore" also means "beach."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
sat down, - (WF) "Sat down" is from a verb that means "to place," "to take seats," and "to convene." It is also in the form of an adjective, so "taking seats" and "convening."
and -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "and" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
gathered - The word translated as "gathered" specifically means collecting something for use. The word means a selective choosing rather than an indiscriminate gathering as in the selection of ripe grapes and figs. In the previous verse, Matthew 13:47 , we saw a different word used because the gathering was selective.
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.
good - The word translated as "the good" means "beautiful," "noble," or "of good quality." See this article on "good" and this one on "evil."
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.
vessels - (MM) The word translated as "vessels" means "vessel" when storing liquids, but for solid objects it means a "box." It also refers to a womb or a coffin.
but - -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way.
cast - -- The word translated as "cast" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. In dice, it means "to throw" the dice, but with the sense of being lucky.
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.
bad - The word translated as "bad" means "rancid," "rotten," and "worn out."
away - (WW) The word translated as "away" means "out," "out of a place" and "outside."
missing "which" -- (MW) The untranslated word "which" is a demonstrative pronoun, but it often acts as a pronoun, especially a connective pronoun introducing a dependent clause.
When -- -- The Greek word for "when" means "at this time" or "then."
the net -- -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "the net" in the Greek source.
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
full, -- "Full" is a verb that means "to fill," "to fulfill," and "to fill full."
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
dragged - (WW, WF) The word translated as "they drew," means "to go up," and it is a has the specific meaning of "to draw (a ship) up on land. Jesus only uses it in this one verse. More interestingly, it has the secondary meaning relating to a lot of uses in court, including to "bring up (to the bar of a court as a witness)." It is in the form of an adjective, so "going up" and "beaching." This does not describe something done to the net, but that the fishermen do.
it -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
up onto . -- The word translated as "up onto" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" or "on." With the accusative used here, it means "onto a height" so "up on."
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.
shore, - The word translated as "shore" also means "beach."
sat down, - (WF) "Sat down" is from a verb that means "to place," "to take seats," and "to convene." It is also in the form of an adjective, so "taking seats" and "convening."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
sorted - (WW) The word translated as "sorted" specifically means collecting something for use. The word means a selective choosing rather than an indiscriminate gathering as in the selection of ripe grapes and figs. In the previous verse, Matthew 13:47 , we saw a different word used because the gathering was selective.
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.
good - The word translated as "the good" means "beautiful," "noble," or "of good quality." See this article on "good" and this one on "evil."
fish -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "and" in the Greek source. Because this is an analogy, Jesus is careful not to identify "fish" as such.
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.
crates- (MM) The word translated as "vessels" means "vessel" when storing liquids, but for solid objects it means a "box." It also refers to a womb or a coffin.
but - -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way.
threw - -- The word translated as "threw" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. In dice, it means "to throw" the dice, but with the sense of being lucky.
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.
bad - The word translated as "bad" means "rancid," "rotten," and "worn out."
ones - This can be taken from the plural form of the word.
away - (WW) The word translated as "away" means "out," "out of a place" and "outside."
ἣν (pron sg fem acc) "Which" is from hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. --
ὅτε (adv) "Then" is from hote, which means "when," "as when," "at the time when," and "sometimes."
ἐπληρώθη [21 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "It was full" is pleroo, which mean "to fill," "to fulfill," "to make complete," "to pay in full," "to make pregnant," and "to fill full."
ἀναβιβάσαντες [1 verse](part pl aor act masc nom) "They drew" is anabibazo which means make "to go up," "to mount," "draw up on land (a ship)," "bring up (to the bar of a court as a witness)," "bring upon the stage," "promote," "advance," and, metaphorically, "to uplift."
ἐπὶ (adv) "To" is from epi. which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."
τὸν (article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
αἰγιαλὸν [1 verse] (noun sg masc acc) "Shore" is from aigialos, which means "sea-shore," and "beach."
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."
καθίσαντες [15 verses](part pl aor act masc nom) "Sat down" is kathizo, which means "to make sit down," "to seat," "to place," "to sit," "to post," "to take seats," "to convene," "to appoint," "to establish," "to put in a certain condition," "to reside," "to sink down," "to run aground [for ships]," "to recline at meals," and "to settle." From the Greek kata ("down") and hedraios ("to settle") .
συνέλεξαν [8 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind act) "Gathered" is from sylego, a term meaning "gather," "collect," "come together," "collect," "get together [people]," "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."
τὰ (article pl neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
καλὰ (adj pl neut acc) "The good" is from kalos, which means "beautiful," "good," "of fine quality," "noble," and "honorable." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless," "noble" and "base."
εἰς (prep) "In" 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)."
ἄγγη, [1 verse] (noun pl neut acc ) "Vessels" is from angeion, which means "vessel" to hold liquids, "cradle" for dry substances,,womb, coffin, shell, and "cell" of a honey comb.
τὰ (article pl neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun but here it is separated by the conjunction.
δὲ (conj) "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
σαπρὰ [5 verses](adj pl neut nom) "Bad" is from sapros, which means "rotten," "putrid," "stale," "rancid," "worn-out," and "mellow [of wine]."
ἔξω [21 verses](adv) "Away" is exo, which means "out of a place," "outside," "external things," and "beyond a time."
ἔβαλον. [54 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind act) "Cast" is 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."
The word translated as "they drew," also has several uses in court proceeding, including to "bring up (to the bar of a court as a witness)." Considering the topic of this verse is judgment, that doesn't seem a coincidence.
The word translated as "sit down" also means "to convene" in the sense of starting a judicial proceeding.
The good are placed in "boxes," or "wombs," implying rebirth.
“Which,” the Master continued, ignoring the criticism, “at the time it was full filled, pulling up onto the shore.”
“Good word, a play on fill the net and being completed,” observed Brother James.
“And taking seats,” the Master continued, indicating his seated students. “they collected the good ones into containers, but they threw out the rotten.”