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.
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.”
- BSB 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.”
- 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 leaveneth the whole lump.
- 1 Cor 5:6–7Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
- Phil 2:13–15For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
- Luke 13:21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
- Prov 4:18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
- Gen 18:6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
- 2 Pet 3:18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
- Hos 6:3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
- Job 17:9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
- 1 Th 5:23–24And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Phil 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
- John 16:12–13I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
- Matt 13:24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
- Mark 13:20And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
- John 15:2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
- Phil 1:6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
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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
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