He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
- KJV Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
- NKJV Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
- NASB He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”
- NLT Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus compares the Kingdom to yeast a woman works through a large batch of dough until it is all leavened. God's reign quietly and pervasively transforms everything it touches.
Overview
In this parable the Kingdom works like leaven hidden in three measures of meal, spreading unseen until the whole is changed. Though yeast often symbolizes corruption elsewhere in Scripture, here it pictures the Kingdom's penetrating, inevitable influence. The emphasis is on the hidden yet thorough working of God's reign, which transforms the world from within rather than by outward force.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Gal 5:9A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.
- 1 Cor 5:6–7Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
- Phil 2:13–15For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- Luke 13:21It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
- Prov 4:18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
- Gen 18:6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
- 2 Pet 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- Hos 6:3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.
- Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
- 1 Th 5:23–24Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Phil 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- John 16:12–13I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.
- Matt 13:24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Mark 13:20If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short.
- John 15:2He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
- Phil 1:6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 13:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.