Matthew 13 2

Matthew 13:2 kjv

And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Matthew 13:2 nkjv

And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Matthew 13:2 niv

Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

Matthew 13:2 esv

And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

Matthew 13:2 nlt

A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 2 Meaning

Matthew 13:2 sets the scene for Jesus' extensive discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven through parables. It describes how overwhelming crowds, drawn by His ministry, gathered around Him. To accommodate the vast number of people and teach effectively, Jesus stepped into a boat and sat down, a customary posture for a teacher, while the multitude remained on the nearby shore. This arrangement provided both a practical solution for crowd management and an acoustic advantage for delivering His message across the water.

Matthew 13 2 Context

Matthew 13:2 marks the prelude to one of Jesus' most significant teaching blocks in the Gospel of Matthew, the "Parables of the Kingdom." Following a period of increasing rejection and opposition from religious leaders (Matthew 12), Jesus shifts His public teaching method. No longer are His words openly explained to all, but now He employs parables to conceal spiritual truths from those with hardened hearts while simultaneously revealing them to His true followers (Mt 13:10-17). This verse depicts the immense public interest in Jesus, despite the growing animosity of the authorities. The chosen setting by the Sea of Galilee, a common locale for His ministry, provides a vivid backdrop for this transition. Culturally, Jewish rabbis often sat when teaching authoritatively, a posture signifying their wisdom and position. The boat served as a natural platform, addressing the logistical challenge of managing large crowds, enabling acoustics to carry His voice effectively over water, and symbolically creating a separation between the authoritative teacher and the general, often uncomprehending, audience.

Matthew 13 2 Word analysis

• And great multitudes (Καὶ συνήχθησαν ὄχλοι πολλοὶ - Kai synēchthēsan ochloi polloi):
  • "And" (Καὶ - kai): Connects this scene directly to the previous events, showing a continuation of Jesus' active ministry and the public's sustained attention to Him.
  • "great multitudes" (ὄχλοι πολλοὶ - ochloi polloi): The Greek word ochloi typically refers to undifferentiated crowds, vast numbers of people. It signifies general popular interest rather than specific, committed discipleship. Polloi (many/great) emphasizes the immense scale, highlighting the widespread draw of Jesus, yet also hints at the varied intentions of those present, a theme central to the parables that follow.
• were gathered together (συνήχθησαν - synechthēsan):
  • Passive voice, indicating that the multitudes came together either through spontaneous movement driven by their desire to see or hear Jesus, or as a divinely permitted, or even directed, concourse. It conveys a strong pull towards Jesus.
• unto him (πρὸς αὐτόν - pros auton):
  • Literally "towards Him." It explicitly states Jesus as the focal point and destination of the crowds, emphasizing their intent to engage with Him directly.
• so that (ὥστε - hōste):
  • Introduces the consequence or result of the preceding statement. The overwhelming size of the crowd necessitated Jesus' strategic movement to the boat.
• he went into a ship (αὐτὸν ἐμβάντα εἰς πλοῖον - auton embanta eis ploion):
  • "ship" (πλοῖον - ploion): A small fishing boat, commonly used on the Sea of Galilee. This was a practical necessity to create space, prevent crushing by the throng, and establish a clear teaching platform. It also may carry symbolic weight as a vessel of truth, or separating Him from the worldly shore.
• and sat (καὶ καθίσαντα - kai kathisanta):
  • "sat" (kathisanta): This was the customary posture for an authoritative teacher or rabbi in ancient Judaism when delivering serious instruction. It denotes a position of deliberate and authoritative teaching, unlike standing which might be for exhortation or speaking informally. This sets the expectation for a profound discourse.
• and the whole multitude (καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος - kai pas ho ochlos):
  • "whole multitude" (pas ho ochlos): Reiterates the immense number of people, signifying that His audience was truly comprehensive of all who had gathered.
• stood (εἱστήκει - heistēkei):
  • Indicates the common posture for listeners or students respecting an authoritative teacher. Their standing position signifies readiness, attention, and perhaps even eagerness to receive instruction.
• on the shore (ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν - epi ton aigialon):
  • "on the shore" (epi ton aigialon): Refers to the land alongside the water. This natural setting served as an ideal open-air amphitheater, where Jesus in the boat could be clearly seen and heard by a large number of people gathered on the curved bank. The physical separation also sets the stage for the spiritual distinction between those who understand and those who do not, revealed in the parables.

Matthew 13 2 Bonus section

• The recurring motif of "multitudes" (ὄχλος/ὄχλοι) in the Gospels often serves to contrast superficial popular interest with the genuine commitment required of true discipleship, a distinction sharply drawn out by the parables that follow in Matthew 13.
• Teaching from a boat on the water may also symbolically evoke Christ's sovereignty over the "sea," often a biblical symbol of chaotic nations or forces, indicating that His words bring order and divine truth even to unruly humanity.
• This scene anticipates Jesus' eventual departure (His ascension) while His followers (symbolically the boat) remain in the world (the sea), entrusted with His teachings to navigate and proclaim the Kingdom.
• The practice of sitting to teach implies the full delivery of an authorized lesson, in contrast to brief exhortations or prayers which could be done standing.

Matthew 13 2 Commentary

Matthew 13:2 describes the intentional setup for Jesus' Parables Discourse, driven by the practical demands of His immense popularity. The imagery of Jesus seated in a boat, distanced from the multitude standing on the shore, is both functional and symbolic. It highlights His authoritative role as the Divine Teacher, presenting timeless truths in a setting accessible to the masses, yet subtly delineating the spiritual separation that His teachings would reveal. This scene underscores that Jesus proactively adapted His approach to effectively disseminate the message of the Kingdom, using ordinary elements—a boat, the sea, the shore—to communicate profound spiritual realities to a waiting audience.