Parables, Parable of the Net
Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Matthew 13:49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
So it will be at the consummation of this age: they will bring themselves out, these messengers, and separate the worthless from amidst the law-abiding.
Every place, every aspect life, and every person has both good and bad.
What is translated as "the end of the world/the end of the age" here just as easily could mean "at the completion of this life." See this article on the concept of "the end of the word."
"Sever/separate" really means marking off boundaries, distinguishing one thing from another. Jesus only uses this word three times. The word "judge" in Greek is a different word but it has the same idea of separating and distinguishing between things.
And "the wicked" are just those things that are worthless. This is different than the previous verse , Matthew 13:48, where "bad" was a different word with more the sense of "rotten." However, in these two verses, the ideas are clearly connected.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "end" is not the common word usually translated as "end."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "world" should be something more like "age."
- WV - Wrong Voice - The verb is in the middle voice requiring the concept of "themselves" as its object.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "end" is not the common word usually translated as "end."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "come" is not the common word usually translated as "come."
- WV - Wrong Voice - The verb is in the middle voice requiring the concept of "themselves" as its object.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "amidst" is not shown in the English translation.
So - -- The word translated in KJV as "so" is in its adverbial form, so it means "in this manner" or "in this way."
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.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
be - "Be" is from the verb "to be." When the verb "to be" appears without a subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." Here it is in the future tense, singular.
at - -- The word translated as "at" means "in," "within," "with," "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
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.
end - (CW) The word translated as "end" here is different than the Greek word more commonly translated as "end. A rare word only used by Jesus three times. It is a word meaning literally "to bring together for an end." It means the final accomplishment of a purpose, so "accomplishment" or "culmination.The word translated as "end" here is meaning literally "to bring together for an end." It means a group of people brought together for a joint purpose, so, "a company," and it means the accomplishment of a purpose, so "accomplishment."
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.
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.
world: - (WW) The Greek word translated as "the world" does not mean that. It primarily means "the age" as a span of time or "lifetime" as in one's life.
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.
angels - "Angels" is from the Greek noun which means "messenger" and "envoy." this is not the concept of "angels" that we have today, which comes mostly through Zoroastrianism.
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.
come - The word translated as "come forth" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." It is in the future tense and in form which indicates that the angels are doing something to themselves.
missing "by/for themselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself," "for themselves" or "by themselves."
forth, - -- This is from the prefix of the previous verb that means "from" or "out."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
sever - "Sever" is a verb which means "to mark off boundaries," and "to separate" in the sense of "distinguish" as well as "to banish."
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.
wicked - The word translated as "evil" is an adjective that means "second-rate" or "worthless." Here it is used as a plural noun, the worthless ones." This article explores its meaning in more detail. It is an adjective, but when used as a noun, therefore, "what is worthless."
from - The Greek preposition translated as "from" means "out of" of "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
among - The word translated as "Among" generally means "middle" but has a lot of special meanings with different prepositions. One of those with the "in" is "offer for competition" and "middle point." It also means "difference."
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.
just, - The term translated as "the just" means "those who observe the laws," "well-balanced," and "meet and fitting." this is the term translated as "the righteous" in Matthew 13:43.
This is how - -- The word translated in KJV as "so" is in its adverbial form, so it means "in this manner" or "in this way."
it -- This is from the third-person, singular 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.
be - "Be" is from the verb "to be." When the verb "to be" appears without a subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." Here it is in the future tense, singular.
at - -- The word translated as "at" means "in," "within," "with," "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
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.
end - (CW) The word translated as "end" here is different than the Greek word more commonly translated as "end. A rare word only used by Jesus three times. It is a word meaning literally "to bring together for an end." It means the final accomplishment of a purpose, so "accomplishment" or "culmination.The word translated as "end" here is meaning literally "to bring together for an end." It means a group of people brought together for a joint purpose, so, "a company," and it means the accomplishment of a purpose, so "accomplishment."
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.
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.
age: - The Greek word translated as "the world" does not mean that. It primarily means "the age" as a span of time or "lifetime" as in one's life.
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.
angels - "Angels" is from the Greek noun which means "messenger" and "envoy." this is not the concept of "angels" that we have today, which comes mostly through Zoroastrianism.
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.
come - (CW) The word translated as "come forth" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." It is in the future tense and in form which indicates that the angels are doing something to themselves. It is not the simple word for "come" but one with a prefix that means "come out."
missing "by/for themselves"-- (WV) A phrase is necessary because the form of the previous verb is a middle voice, which means that the subject is to act on "yourself," "for themselves" or "by themselves."
The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
separate - "Sever" is a verb which means "to mark off boundaries," and "to separate" in the sense of "distinguish" as well as "to banish."
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.
wicked - The word translated as "evil" is an adjective that means "second-rate" or "worthless." Here it is used as a plural noun, the worthless ones." This article explores its meaning in more detail. It is an adjective, but when used as a noun, therefore, "what is worthless."
from - The Greek preposition translated as "from" means "out of" of "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
missing "amidst"-- (MW) The missing words generally means "middle" but has a lot of special meanings with different prepositions. One of those with the "in" is "offer for competition" and "middle point." It also means "difference."
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.
just, - The term translated as "the just" means "those who observe the laws," "well-balanced," and "meet and fitting." this is the term translated as "the righteous" in Matthew 13:43.
οὕτως (adv) "So" is from houtos, which, as an adverb, it means "in this way," "therefore," "so much," "to such an extent," and "that is why."
ἔσται (verb 3rd sg fut ind mid) "Shall it be" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. )
ἐν (prep) "In" is from en, which means "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," and "with"
τῇ (article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
συντελείᾳ [4 verses]](noun sg fem dat) "End" is synteleia, which means "joint contribution for the public burdens," "(compulsory) provision of recruits," "a body of citizens who contributed jointly to bear public burdens," generally, "company," "the consummation of a scheme," "an end of," "full realization," "unjust gain," and, in Grammar, "completed action."
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
αἰῶνος: [41 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Age" is aion, which means "life," "lifetime," "age," "one's life," "destiny," "lot," "eternity," "space of time," "for ever," "all one's life long," or "generation."
ἐξελεύσονται (verb 3rd pl fut ind mid) "shall come forth" is from exerchomai, which means "to come or go out of ""to march forth," "go out on," "to stand forth," "to exceed all bounds," "to come to an end," "to go out of office," and [of dreams or prophecies] "to come true."
οἱ (article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἄγγελοι [29 verses](noun pl masc nom) "The angels" is aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoy."
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."
ἀφοριοῦσιν [3 verses](verb 3rd pl fut ind act attic ) "Sever" is aphorizo which means "to mark off boundaries," "to separate," "distinguish," "bring to an end," "finish," "grant as a special gift," "banish," "set apart for rejection," and "distinguish."
τοὺς (article pl masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
πονηροὺς [38 verses](adj pl masc acc) "The wicked" is poneros, which means "burdened by toil," "useless," and "worthless." In a moral sense, it means "worthless," "base," and "cowardly."
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."
μέσου [11 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Among" is mesos, which means "middle," "middle point," "midway between," "offered for competition," "deposited," "by the middle," "by the waist," "impartial," "inter-mediate," "indeterminate," "things indifferent (neither good nor bad)," "middling," "moderate," "midst," "intervening space," "intervening," "difference," "in a moderate degree," "in the mean," and "equator."
τῶν (article pl masc gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
δικαίων [21 verses](adj pl masc gen) "The just " is dikaios which means "observant of rules," "observant of customs," "well-ordered," "civilized," and "observant of duty." Later it means "well-balanced," "impartial," and "just."
“So even the rotten can be pulled out of the dark by the net of the realm,” commented Flat Nose.
“But then they are thrown out,” added Johnny Boy.
“But each person has both the noble and rotten within him,” added Brother James, “so a judgment must be made about the life in total.”
“At that time, it will be at the summation of this lifetime,” the Master agreed, “they will bring themselves out, these messengers, and separate the worthless from among the law-abiding.”