Matthew 13:47

Contemporary English Version

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish,

King James Version (1611)
Againe, the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of euery kind,

King James Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

English Standard Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

New American Standard Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;

New Century Version
"Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake and caught many different kinds of fish.

Amplified Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was lowered into the sea, and gathered fish of every kind,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe, the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a drawe net cast into the sea, that gathereth of all kindes of things.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;

Legacy Standard Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;

Berean Standard Bible
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Once more, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the lake, that caught all kinds of fish.

Darby Translation
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a seine which has been cast into the sea, and which has gathered together of every kind,

Easy-to-Read Version
"Also, God's kingdom is like a net that was put into the lake. The net caught many different kinds of fish.

George Lamsa Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea, and it gathered fish of every kind.

Good News Translation
"Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Some fishermen throw their net out in the lake and catch all kinds of fish.

Lexham English Bible
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind,

Literal Translation
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is compared to a drag net thrown into the sea, and gathering together of every kind;

American Standard Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Bible in Basic English
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, which was put into the sea and took in every sort of fish:

Hebrew Names Version
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind,

International Standard Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea that gathered all kinds of fish.Matthew 22:10;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, which was thrown into the sea, and from every kind collected.

Murdock Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a sweep net, which was cast into the sea, and collected [fn] of every kind.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of all kynde:

English Revised Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

World English Bible
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, and gathering of every kind.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Again the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a draw-net let down into the sea, which encloses fish of all sorts.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Eft the kyngdom of heuenes is lijk to a nette cast into the see, and that gaderith to gidere of al kynde of fisschis;

Update Bible Version
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Webster's Bible Translation
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

New English Translation
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.

New King James Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,

New Living Translation
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.

New Life Bible
"The holy nation of heaven is like a big net which was let down into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind.

New Revised Standard
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like unto, a large drag-net, cast into the sea and gathering of every kind, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kinds of fishes.

Revised Standard Version
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Agayne the kyngdome of heve is lyke vnto a neet cast into ye see yt gadereth of all kyndes of fysshes:

Young's Literal Translation
`Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea, and did gather together of every kind,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Agayne, ye kyngdome of heaue is like vnto a nett cast in to ye see, wherwith are take all maner of fyshes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
Again, the gospel-kingdom is like a net that is cast into the sea, and draws all sorts of fish:

THE MESSAGE
"Or, God's kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That's how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won't do any good."

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Are you listening yet? Once again, the Boss's ranch is like cowboys gatherin' the cattle before a prescribed pasture burn.

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

a net: Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 5:10

and gathered: Matthew 13:26-30, Matthew 22:9, Matthew 22:10, Matthew 25:1-4, Luke 14:21-23, John 15:2, John 15:6, Acts 5:1-10, Acts 8:18-22, Acts 20:30, 1 Corinthians 5:1-6, 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Corinthians 11:26, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 2:4, 2 Timothy 3:2-5, 2 Timothy 4:3, 2 Timothy 4:4, Titus 1:9-11, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Peter 2:13-22, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:19, 1 John 4:1-6, Jude 1:4, Jude 1:5, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:15-17

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 17:23 - under Ezekiel 47:10 - fishers Matthew 3:2 - for Matthew 4:17 - kingdom Matthew 13:24 - The kingdom Matthew 18:23 - is Matthew 20:1 - the kingdom Matthew 25:2 - General Acts 10:11 - and a

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net,.... By which also is meant, the Gospel, and the ministry of it. This may be compared to a net, for its meanness in the esteem of men; being despicable, and of no account in the eyes of the world: and yet like a net, a piece of curious artifice and workmanship, being the produce of the grace of God; in which his manifold wisdom is displayed, and is what angels desire to look into: it is designed, and purposely contrived, for the gathering in of sinners to Christ, and to his churches, though by accident, it has other uses; such as troubling of the world, as the net does the waters of the sea, and drawing out the corruptions of the men of it, as that does weeds, stones, c. and which, like a net, can do nothing of itself, unless cast and not then neither, unless succeeded with a divine blessing:

that was cast into the sea; by "the sea" is meant the world, so called, for the storms and tempests of afflictions, and persecutions the saints meet with, and for the continual troubles that are in it; for the restlessness and instability of all things therein; for the dangers of it; and for its being the proper place and element of fishes, as the world is to the men of it. The casting of it into the sea, designs the opening of the Gospel, and the unfolding the mysteries of it, and the preaching it in all the world; and supposes persons qualified for it; such were the patriarchs and prophets under the Old Testament; and particularly Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostles of Christ, and succeeding ministers under the New Testament; and requires art, skill, and wisdom, might and strength, industry, diligence, and patience; and which is done at a venture, whether there are fish or not; and sometimes succeeds, and sometimes not:

and gathered of every kind; the Persic version adds, "of animals"; but much more agreeably Munster's Hebrew Gospel, and the Vulgate Latin, add, "of fishes"; and so some copies read. The preaching of the Gospel, is the means of gathering souls to Christ, and into his churches; and those that are gathered into a visible Gospel church state, are of every kind, of all nations in the world; Jews and Gentiles: of all ranks and degrees of men, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free; of all sorts of sinners, and of men good and bad; some who have the truth of grace in them, and others that are only hypocrites: profess in words, and deny in works; have nothing more than a form of godliness, and name to live, and are dead.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net ... - This parable does not differ in meaning from that of the tares. The gospel is compared to a net dragging along on the bottom of a lake, and collecting all - good and bad. The gospel may be expected to do the same; but in the end of the world, when the net “is drawn in,” the bad will be separated from the good; the one will be cast away, and the other saved. Our Saviour never fails to keep before our minds the great truth that there is to be a day of judgment, and that there will be a separation of the good and the evil. He came to preach salvation; and it is a remarkable fact, also, that the most fearful accounts of hell and of the sufferings of the damned, in the Scriptures, are from his lips. How does this agree with the representations of those who say that all will be saved?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 47. Is like unto a net — A drag-net. This is the proper meaning of σαγηνη, which the Latins translate verriculum, a sweep net; Quod in aquam jacitur ad pisces comprehendendos; imprimis, cujus usus est extrahendis iis a fundo. MARTINIUS. "Which is cast into the water to catch fish, and the particular use of which is to drag them up from the bottom." As this is dragged along it keeps gathering all in its way, both good and bad, small and great; and, when it is brought to the shore, those which are proper for use are preserved, and those which are not are either destroyed or thrown back into the water.

By the net may be understood the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, which keeps drawing men into the profession of Christianity, and into the fellowship of the visible Church of Christ. By the sea may be represented that abyss of sin, error, ignorance, and wickedness in which men live, and out of which they are drawn, by the truth and Spirit of God, who cordially close in with the offers of salvation made to them in the preaching of the Gospel.

By drawing to shore, may be represented the consummation of all things, see Matthew 13:49, when a proper distinction shall be made between those who served God, and those who served him not; for many shall doubtless be found who shall bear the name without the nature of Christ. By picking out the good, and throwing away the bad, Matthew 13:48, is meant that separation which God shall make between false and true professors, casting the former into hell, and bringing the latter to heaven.

Instead of τα καλα the good, the Cod. Bezae, and five copies of the old Antehieronymian, or Itala version, read τα καλλιστα, the best, the very best. Every reader would naturally hope that this is not the true reading, or that it is not to be understood literally, as it seems to intimate that only the very best shall be at last saved.

It is probable that this parable also refers, in its primary meaning, to the Jewish state, and that, when Christ should come to judge and destroy them by the Roman power, the genuine followers of Christ only should escape, and the rest be overwhelmed by the general destruction. See Matthew 24:30, &c.