The Parables, the Sower
Matthew 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The one having ears, he must listen!
We must want to understand in order to hear.
Christ is telling his audience that there is more here than meets the ear. He is saying that you must pay attention to understand. However, this phrase was later used by Plutarch, a Greek historian living after Christ. He used it to refer to spies in Persia. It may have been a more general phrase referring to speaking on coded terms, as this parable does. This raises a question about a possible reason for the parables: so Jesus could say more revolutionary things about the coming of the kingdom of heaven without triggering laws against sedition.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "hath" is not an active verb but a participle, "having."
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "to hear" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "hath" is not an active verb but a participle, "having."
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "them" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
Who - The word translated as "who" is from the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" especially when it precedes the verb form that follows.
hath - (WF) The word translated as "hath" is a verb meaning "to possess," "to hold," or "to keep" but it is in the form of adjective, having."
ears - "Ears" is from the Greek word for "ears" or any similar "handles" on the sides of something. The term is also a metaphor for understanding.
to hear, -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "to hear" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
let -- This "let" is the helping verb used to translate the Greek form of the third-person command. In English all commands are in the second-person. This form is used as something like our word "must."
him -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.
hear. - "Hear" is from a verb that means "to hear," "to listen," and "to understand." It is in the form of a command, that in English, is usually in the second person, but this is the third-person.
Who - The word translated as "who" is from the Greek article, "the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" especially when it precedes the verb form that follows.
has - (WF) The word translated as "has" is a verb meaning "to possess," "to hold," or "to keep" but it is in the form of adjective, having."
ears - "Ears" is from the Greek word for "ears" or any similar "handles" on the sides of something. The term is also a metaphor for understanding.
let -- This "let" is the helping verb used to translate the Greek form of the third-person command. In English all commands are in the second-person. This form is used as something like our word "must."
them -- (WN) There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences. However, the verb is singular, not plural.
hear. - "Hear" is from a verb that means "to hear," "to listen," and "to understand." It is in the form of a command, that in English, is usually in the second person, but this is the third-person.
Ὁ (article sg masc nom ) "Who" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."
ἔχων (part sg pres act masc nom) "Hath" is from echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to bear," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."
ὦτα (noun pl neut acc) "Ears" is from ous, which means "ear" and things that resemble an ear, such as a handle on pitchers, cups, etc.
ἀκουέτω. (3rd sg pres imperat act) "To hear...let him hear" is from akouo, which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand."
The word for "ear" is a metaphor for understanding.
The word for "hear" also means "to understand" and "to give ear to."
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear,
Mark 4:9 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. ›
Mark 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill;
Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun
‘But you were talking about fields and seeds, but and now you are talking about you followers,” the Distinguished leader objected. “What do you mean?’
“The one having ears,” the Master suggested cheerfully, cupping his own ear, “He must listen!”
Many in the crowd laughed, but many also shared the Distinguished leaders confusion.