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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/matthew/13-24.htm" title="Matthew 13:24">◄</a> Matthew 13:25 <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm" title="Matthew 13:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/matthew/13.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/matthew/13.htm">New International Version</a> But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/nlt/matthew/13.htm">New Living Translation</a> But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. <a href="/esv/matthew/13.htm">English Standard Version</a> but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. <a href="/bsb/matthew/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. <a href="/blb/matthew/13.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And while the men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds in the midst of the wheat, and went away. <a href="/kjv/matthew/13.htm">King James Bible</a> But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/13.htm">New King James Version</a> but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. <a href="/nasb_/matthew/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. <a href="/nasb/matthew/13.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/nasb77/matthew/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/lsb/matthew/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/amp/matthew/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/csb/matthew/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. <a href="/hcsb/matthew/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. <a href="/asv/matthew/13.htm">American Standard Version</a> but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/cev/matthew/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left. <a href="/erv/matthew/13.htm">English Revised Version</a> but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/gwt/matthew/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> But while people were asleep, his enemy planted weeds in the wheat field and went away. <a href="/gnt/matthew/13.htm">Good News Translation</a> One night, when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. <a href="/isv/matthew/13.htm">International Standard Version</a> While people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. <a href="/msb/matthew/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. <a href="/net/matthew/13.htm">NET Bible</a> But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. <a href="/nheb/matthew/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> but while everyone slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/wbt/matthew/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and departed. <a href="/wey/matthew/13.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> but during the night his enemy comes, and over the first seed he sows darnel among the wheat, and goes away. <a href="/web/matthew/13.htm">World English Bible</a> but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away, <a href="/blb/matthew/13.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And while the men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds in the midst of the wheat, and went away. <a href="/ylt/matthew/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and, while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away, <a href="/slt/matthew/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And in men's sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and went away.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amid the wheat, and then went away. <a href="/nabre/matthew/13.htm">New American Bible</a> While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And when the men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/13.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and he left.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/13.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. <a href="/godbey/matthew/13.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>And while the men slept, an enemy came, and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and departed.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/13.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> and while the men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed zizane among the wheat, and departed. <a href="/mace/matthew/13.htm">Mace New Testament</a> but while the people slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. <a href="/wey/matthew/13.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> but during the night his enemy comes, and over the first seed he sows darnel among the wheat, and goes away. <a href="/worrell/matthew/13.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>and, while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and went away.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/13.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>but while men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/13-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=3661" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/13.htm">The Parable of the Weeds</a> 24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">while</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/444.htm" title="444: anthrōpous (N-AMP) -- A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.">everyone</a> <a href="/greek/2518.htm" title="2518: katheudein (V-PNA) -- To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep.">was asleep,</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2190.htm" title="2190: echthros (Adj-NMS) -- Hated, hostile; subst: an enemy. From a primary echtho; hateful; usually as a noun, an adversary.">enemy</a> <a href="/greek/2064.htm" title="2064: ēlthen (V-AIA-3S) -- To come, go. ">came</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/4687.htm" title="4687: epespeiren (V-AIA-3S) -- To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow.">sowed</a> <a href="/greek/2215.htm" title="2215: zizania (N-ANP) -- Darnel or false grain.">weeds</a> <a href="/greek/303.htm" title="303: ana (Prep) -- A primary preposition and adverb; properly, up; but used severally, or at.">among</a> <a href="/greek/3319.htm" title="3319: meson (Adj-ANS) -- Middle, in the middle, between, in the midst of. From meta; middle (neuter) noun)."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/4621.htm" title="4621: sitou (N-GMS) -- Wheat, grain. Also plural irregular neuter sita of uncertain derivation; grain, especially wheat.">wheat,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/565.htm" title="565: apēlthen (V-AIA-3S) -- From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.">slipped away.</a> 26When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/24-43.htm">Matthew 24:43</a> But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. <a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a> Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. <a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a> For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-9.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:9-10</a> The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. <a href="/john/10-10.htm">John 10:10</a> The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. <a href="/1_john/3-8.htm">1 John 3:8</a> The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. <a href="/acts/20-29.htm">Acts 20:29-30</a> I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. <a href="/2_timothy/3-13.htm">2 Timothy 3:13</a> while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. <a href="/revelation/12-9.htm">Revelation 12:9</a> And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. <a href="/revelation/20-8.htm">Revelation 20:8</a> and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. <a href="/genesis/3-1.htm">Genesis 3:1-6</a> Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” / The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, / but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” ... <a href="/job/1-6.htm">Job 1:6-7</a> One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. / “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.” <a href="/zechariah/3-1.htm">Zechariah 3:1-2</a> Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?” <a href="/isaiah/14-12.htm">Isaiah 14:12-15</a> How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. / You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ... <a href="/ezekiel/28-14.htm">Ezekiel 28:14-17</a> You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for I had ordained you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. / From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you. / By the vastness of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and I banished you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.men.<a href="/matthew/25-5.htm">Matthew 25:5</a> While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.<a href="/isaiah/56-9.htm">Isaiah 56:9,10</a> All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest… <a href="/acts/20-30.htm">Acts 20:30,31</a> Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them… enemy.<a href="/matthew/13-39.htm">Matthew 13:39</a> The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.<a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a> For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ… <a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a> Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:tares.<a href="/matthew/13-38.htm">Matthew 13:38</a> The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/7-13.htm">Amongst</a> <a href="/matthew/13-40.htm">Darnel</a> <a href="/matthew/12-15.htm">Departed</a> <a href="/matthew/5-43.htm">Enemy</a> <a href="/matthew/13-19.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/matthew/12-45.htm">First</a> <a href="/matthew/13-21.htm">Goes</a> <a href="/matthew/13-8.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/matthew/10-22.htm">Hate</a> <a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/matthew/2-14.htm">Night</a> <a href="/matthew/13-24.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/matthew/13-8.htm">Seeds</a> <a href="/matthew/9-24.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/matthew/8-24.htm">Slept</a> <a href="/matthew/13-24.htm">Sowed</a> <a href="/matthew/13-4.htm">Sows</a> <a href="/matthew/13-40.htm">Tares</a> <a href="/matthew/13-19.htm">Way</a> <a href="/jonah/2-5.htm">Weeds</a> <a href="/matthew/12-1.htm">Wheat</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Amongst</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Darnel</a> <a href="/matthew/13-53.htm">Departed</a> <a href="/matthew/13-28.htm">Enemy</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/matthew/13-30.htm">First</a> <a href="/matthew/13-44.htm">Goes</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/matthew/13-28.htm">Hate</a> <a href="/matthew/13-49.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/matthew/14-23.htm">Night</a> <a href="/matthew/13-27.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/matthew/13-32.htm">Seeds</a> <a href="/matthew/25-5.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/matthew/25-5.htm">Slept</a> <a href="/matthew/13-27.htm">Sowed</a> <a href="/matthew/13-31.htm">Sows</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Tares</a> <a href="/matthew/15-32.htm">Way</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Weeds</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Wheat</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 13</div>1. <a href="/matthew/13-1.htm">The parable of the sower and the seed;</a> 18. <a href="/matthew/13-18.htm">the explanation of it.</a> 24. <a href="/matthew/13-24.htm">The parable of the weeds;</a> 31. <a href="/matthew/13-31.htm">of the mustard seed;</a> 33. <a href="/matthew/13-33.htm">of the leaven;</a> 36. <a href="/matthew/13-36.htm">explanation of the parable of the weeds.</a> 44. <a href="/matthew/13-44.htm">The parable of the hidden treasure;</a> 45. <a href="/matthew/13-45.htm">of the pearl;</a> 47. <a href="/matthew/13-47.htm">of the drag net cast into the sea.</a> 53. <a href="/matthew/13-53.htm">Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In biblical context, sleep often symbolizes spiritual complacency or lack of vigilance (<a href="/1_thessalonians/5-6.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:6-7</a>). The parable highlights the importance of being spiritually alert, as Jesus often warned His disciples to watch and pray (<a href="/matthew/26-41.htm">Matthew 26:41</a>). The imagery of sleep can also reflect the state of the world before the return of Christ, where many are unaware of spiritual realities.his enemy came The enemy represents Satan or evil forces that oppose God's work. In the broader biblical narrative, Satan is often depicted as an adversary who seeks to disrupt God's plans (<a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a>). This act of sowing weeds is a deliberate attempt to undermine the growth and fruitfulness of the kingdom of God. The enemy's actions are covert, emphasizing the deceitful nature of evil.and sowed weeds among the wheat The weeds, often identified as darnel, closely resemble wheat but are harmful. This reflects the presence of false teachings or hypocritical believers within the church, as seen in other scriptures warning against false prophets (<a href="/matthew/7-15.htm">Matthew 7:15</a>). The act of sowing weeds among wheat illustrates the challenge of distinguishing true believers from false ones until the time of harvest, symbolizing the final judgment.and slipped away The enemy's departure without detection underscores the subtlety and cunning of evil. This mirrors the biblical theme of the devil's deceptive tactics, as seen in <a href="/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3</a> with the serpent's interaction with Eve. The phrase also suggests that the consequences of the enemy's actions are not immediately apparent, requiring discernment and patience from the faithful until the time of harvest, when God will separate the righteous from the wicked (<a href="/matthew/13-30.htm">Matthew 13:30</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_sower.htm">The Sower</a> Represents Jesus or the Son of Man, who sows good seed in the world. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_enemy.htm">The Enemy</a> Symbolizes Satan, who seeks to disrupt God's work by sowing evil. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_weeds.htm">The Weeds</a> Represent the sons of the evil one, those who do not belong to the kingdom of God. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_wheat.htm">The Wheat</a> Symbolizes the sons of the kingdom, the true believers. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_field.htm">The Field</a> Represents the world, where both good and evil coexist until the end of the age.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/v/vigilance_in_faith.htm">Vigilance in Faith</a> Just as the enemy sowed weeds while everyone was asleep, believers must remain spiritually alert and vigilant against the subtle workings of evil in their lives. <a href="/topical/d/discernment.htm">Discernment</a> Christians are called to discern between true and false teachings, as the enemy often sows confusion and deception among believers. <a href="/topical/p/patience_and_trust.htm">Patience and Trust</a> The coexistence of wheat and weeds teaches us to be patient and trust in God's timing for judgment and separation. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a> Recognize that the Christian life involves spiritual warfare, and we must equip ourselves with the armor of God to stand firm against the enemy's schemes. <a href="/topical/h/hope_in_final_justice.htm">Hope in Final Justice</a> The parable assures believers that God will ultimately bring justice, separating the righteous from the wicked at the end of the age.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 13</a> <a href="/q/would_a_farmer_let_weeds_grow_with_crops.htm">In the parable of the weeds, would a farmer realistically let weeds grow among crops to avoid harming the wheat?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_hanbali_islam.htm">What parables did Jesus teach in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/what_do_jesus'_parables_teach.htm">What lessons do Jesus' parables teach us?</a> <a href="/q/what_if_a_net_catches_all_fish.htm">What happens when a net catches all kinds of fish?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25, 26) His enemy came and sowed tares.--The act described was then--and still is--a common form of Eastern malice or revenge. It easily escaped detection. It inflicted both loss and trouble. The "enemy" had the satisfaction of brooding for weeks or months over the prospect of the injury he had inflicted, and the vexation it would cause when discovered. The tares, known to botanists as the Lolium temulentum, or darnel, grew up at first with stalk and blade like the wheat; and it was not till fructification began that the difference was easily detected. It adds to the point of the parable to remember that the seeds of the tares were not merely useless as food, but were positively noxious.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 25. - But while men slept. Not in the explanation. If more than merely a part of the necessary framework of the story, it points to the secrecy with which the devil works. His enemy came. This form of malice is still well known in the East (cf. Exell's 'Biblical Illustrator,' in loc.). And sowed. Sowed over or in (ἐπέσπειρεν). Tares; i.e. bearded darnel, Lolium temulentum, "a kind of rye grass, and the only species of the grass family the seeds of which are poisonous. The derivation of zauan [ζιζάνια] is from zan, 'vomiting,' the effect of eating darnel being to produce violent nausea, convulsions, and diarrhoea, which frequently ends in death" (Tristram, 'Nat. Hist. of Bible,' p. 487, edit. 1889). Among the wheat, and went his way; went away (Revised Version, ἀπῆλθεν). <a href="/commentaries/matthew/13-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>But δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. while ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. everyone ἀνθρώπους (anthrōpous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_444.htm">Strong's 444: </a> A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. was asleep, καθεύδειν (katheudein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_2518.htm">Strong's 2518: </a> To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. enemy ἐχθρὸς (echthros) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2190.htm">Strong's 2190: </a> Hated, hostile; subst: an enemy. From a primary echtho; hateful; usually as a noun, an adversary. came ἦλθεν (ēlthen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2064.htm">Strong's 2064: </a> To come, go. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. sowed ἐπέσπειρεν (epespeiren) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4687.htm">Strong's 4687: </a> To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow. weeds ζιζάνια (zizania) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2215.htm">Strong's 2215: </a> Darnel or false grain. among ἀνὰ (ana) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_303.htm">Strong's 303: </a> A primary preposition and adverb; properly, up; but used severally, or at. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. wheat, σίτου (sitou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4621.htm">Strong's 4621: </a> Wheat, grain. Also plural irregular neuter sita of uncertain derivation; grain, especially wheat. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. slipped away. ἀπῆλθεν (apēlthen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_565.htm">Strong's 565: </a> From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/13-25.htm">Matthew 13:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/13-25.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 13:25 But while people slept his enemy came (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/13-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 13:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 13:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/13-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 13:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 13:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>