Matthew 13:45

Contemporary English Version

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.

King James Version (1611)
Againe, the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a marchant man, seeking goodly pearles:

King James Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

English Standard Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

New American Standard Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,

New Century Version
"Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a man looking for fine pearls.

Amplified Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe, the kingdome of heauen is like to a marchant man, that seeketh good pearles,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,

Legacy Standard Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,

Berean Standard Bible
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls.

Darby Translation
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls;

Easy-to-Read Version
"Also, God's kingdom is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

George Lamsa Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant, who was seeking good pearls.

Good News Translation
"Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls,

Lexham English Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

Literal Translation
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man, a merchant seeking excellent pearls;

American Standard Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:

Bible in Basic English
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader searching for beautiful jewels.

Hebrew Names Version
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,

International Standard Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

Etheridge Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man a merchant, who sought goodly pearls;

Murdock Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchantman, who sought after rich pearls:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a marchaunt man, seekyng goodly pearles.

English Revised Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:

World English Bible
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking goodly pearls:

Weymouth's New Testament
"Again the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a jewel merchant who is in quest of choice pearls.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Eftsoone the kyngdom of heuenes is lijk to a marchaunt, that sechith good margaritis;

Update Bible Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:

Webster's Bible Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking goodly pearls:

New English Translation
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

New King James Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,

New Living Translation
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.

New Life Bible
"Again, the holy nation of heaven is like a man who buys and sells. He is looking for good pearls.

New Revised Standard
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is, like, unto, a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls.

Revised Standard Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Agayne ye kyngdome of heve is lyke vnto a marchaunt that seketh good pearles

Young's Literal Translation
`Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking goodly pearls,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is like vnto a marchaut, yt sought good pearles:

Mace New Testament (1729)
Again, the heavenly kingdom is like a merchant-man, who is in quest of curious pearls:

THE MESSAGE
"Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Again, the Boss's ranch is like a horse trader on the lookout for the best horse he could find.

Contextual Overview

⁴⁴ The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds a treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. A person like that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field. ⁴⁵ The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ After finding a very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that pearl. ⁴⁷ The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep the good ones, but throw the bad ones away. ⁴⁹ That's how it will be at the end of time. Angels will come and separate the evil people from the ones who have done right. ⁵⁰ Then those evil people will be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they will cry and grit their teeth in pain. ⁵¹ Jesus asked his disciples if they understood all these things. They said, "Yes, we do." ⁵² So he told them, "Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

like: Matthew 16:26, Matthew 22:5, Proverbs 3:13-18, Proverbs 8:10, Proverbs 8:11, Proverbs 8:18-20

seeking: Job 28:18, Psalms 4:6, Psalms 4:7, Psalms 39:6, Psalms 39:7, Ecclesiastes 2:2-12, Ecclesiastes 12:8, Ecclesiastes 12:13

Reciprocal: Psalms 40:16 - love Psalms 119:127 - I love Matthew 3:2 - for Matthew 13:24 - The kingdom Matthew 18:23 - is Matthew 20:1 - the kingdom Matthew 25:1 - the kingdom Revelation 21:21 - the twelve

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 45 46. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,.... This parable may be understood of Christ's seeking, finding, and purchasing his elect: for, certain it is, that he has sought after them which implies, that they were lost and going astray; expresses his great love to them, value for them, and desire after them; in doing which, he took much pains, and used much diligence: and certain it also is, that he finds them in redemption, and in effectual calling; and that they are to him a pearl of great price; as very precious to God, so highly esteemed of by Christ, as his portion, his inheritance, and his jewels. He has also parted with all he had for the sake of these persons; he became poor, emptied himself of everything, even gave himself a ransom for them, and so made a purchase of them, with the price of his own blood: though to this sense it may be objected, that it does not seem so agreeable, that Christ should be compared to a merchant man, which better suits with those that deal with him, than as he is concerned with them; nor does he seek after any other than his elect: whereas this merchant man is said to be

seeking goodly pearls; any pearls that were so: nor is Christ's finding his elect a chance business; nor have they any intrinsic excellency in them, to denominate them pearls, but by his grace. The more common interpretation of it is, that it designs a sensible sinner, seeking after the true way of salvation, and finding Christ, and parting with all for him: such a man is a spiritual merchant, who trades in foreign parts, and in things of worth and value; and such an one seeks after a variety of things, which at first sight seem "goodly", in order to obtain salvation by; as civility, morality, a legal righteousness, fasting, watchings, prayer, a profession of religion, and a submission to external ordinances; but at length finds Christ,

the pearl of great price: who is of an unspeakable brightness and glory, of intrinsic worth and value; who is enriching to those that possess him, and precious to them that believe; and of such a price, that no valuable consideration can be given for him: wherefore such a soul is willing to part with all for him; with sinful self, and righteous self; and with the honours, riches, and profits of this world; and buy him, his grace and righteousness, without money, and without price. Though I rather think, that in connection and agreement with the other parables, this is to be understood of such, who are seeking after knowledge in every branch of it, natural, moral, and spiritual; and so may be compared to a "merchant man, seeking goodly pearls"; and who find the Gospel, and prefer it to everything else.

Who when he had found one pearl of great price: for such who seek after wisdom and knowledge in the use of proper means, are like merchant men, that trade abroad, and for things of value; and these, under divine direction, find in the Scriptures, and through the ministry of the word, and by prayer and study, the truths of the everlasting Gospel, respecting Christ, his person, office, grace and righteousness; which are equal to, yea transcend a pearl of the highest price; for their original, coming from a far country, from heaven; for their brightness, clearness, and perspicuity; for their ornament and glory; for their firmness and solidity; for their virtue and value, to them that know the worth of them; and such will buy, but not sell them; reckon all things but loss and dung, in comparison of them; and will contend for them, and stand fast in them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman - The meaning is, that the proper seeking for salvation, or the proper conduct in reference to religion, is like the conduct of a “merchantman.” In his searches he found one pearl of great value, and sold all his possessions to obtain it. So, says the Saviour, people seeking for happiness and finding the gospel - the pearl of great price - should be willing to sacrifice all other things for this. Pearls are precious stones found in the shells of oysters, chiefly in the East Indies. See the notes at Matthew 7:6. They are valuable on account of their beauty and because they are rare. The value of them is greatly increased by their size. The meaning of this parable is nearly the same as the other. It is designed to represent the gospel as of more value than all other things, and to impress on us the duty of sacrificing all that we possess in order to obtain it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 45. A merchant man, seeking goodly pearls — A story very like this is found in the Talmudical tract Shabbath: "Joseph, who sanctified the Sabbath, had a very rich neighbour; the Chaldeans said, All the riches of this man shall come to Joseph, who sanctifies the Sabbath. To prevent this, the rich man went and sold all that he had, and bought a pearl, and went aboard of a ship; but the wind carried the pearl away, it fell into the sea, and was swallowed by a fish. This fish was caught, and the day before the Sabbath it was brought into the market, and they proclaimed, Who wishes to buy this fish? The people said, Carry it to Joseph, the sanctifier of the Sabbath, who is accustomed to buy things of great value. They carried it to him, and he bought it, and when he cut it up he found the pearl, and sold it for thirteen pounds weight of golden denarii!" From some tradition of this kind, our Lord might have borrowed the simile in this parable.

The meaning of this parable is the same with the other; and both were spoken to impress more forcibly this great truth on the souls of the people:-eternal salvation from sin and its consequences is the supreme good of man, should be sought after above all things, and prized beyond all that God has made. Those merchants who compass sea and land for temporal gain, condemn the slothfulness of the majority of those called Christians, who, though they confess that this salvation is the most certain and the most excellent of all treasures, yet seek worldly possessions in preference to it! Alas, for him who expects to find any thing more amiable than God, more worthy to fill his heart, and more capable of making him happy!