Luke 13 · Verse 18

Luke 13:18

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Luke 13:18, King James Version

Luke 13:18 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
WEBHe said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it?
ASVHe said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?
YLTAnd he said, ‘To what is the reign of God like? and to what shall I liken it?
DARBYAnd he said, To what is the kingdom of God like? and to what shall I liken it?
BBEThen he said, What is the kingdom of God like? what comparison may I make of it?
WebsterThen said he, To what is the kingdom of God like? and to what shall I resemble it?

What does Luke 13:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 13:18-21

Lu 13:18-30. Miscellaneous Teachings.

18-21. mustard seed ... leaven--(See on Mr 4:30-32). The parable of "the Leaven" sets forth, perhaps, rather the inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed" seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman" here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the "three measures of meal" of that threefold division of our nature into "spirit, soul, and body," (alluded to in 1Th 5:23) or of the threefold partition of the world among the three sons of Noah (Ge 10:32), as some do. It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." (See on Re 11:15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 18-21. See these parables explained Mt 13:31 Mt 13:32.

Verse 18.

(t) "Unto what is the kingdom" Mt 13:31, Mk 4:30

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 The kingdom - is like a grain of mustard seed - See on Mat 13:31 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 13:18-22
Here is the progress of the gospel foretold in two parables, as in Mt 13. The kingdom of the Messiah is the kingdom of God. May grace grow in our hearts; may our faith and love grow exceedingly, so as to give undoubted evidence of their reality. May the example of God's saints be blessed to those among whom they live; and may his grace flow from heart to heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 13:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἜλεγενElegenHe was sayingG3004
οὖν·ounthen:G3767
τίνιtiniTo whatG5101
ὁμοίαhomoialikeG3664
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ἡhētheG3588
βασιλείαbasileiakingdomG932
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ,theouof God?G2316
καὶkaiAndG2532
τίνιtinito whatG5101
ὁμοιώσωhomoiōsōwill I likenG3666
αὐτήν;autēnit?G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 13:18

  • Mark 4:30-34

    And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. …

  • Luke 17:21

    Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

  • Matthew 13:31-32

    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

  • Mark 4:26

    And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

  • Luke 13:20

    And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

  • Matthew 13:24

    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

  • Luke 7:31

    And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

  • Lamentations 2:13

    What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Unto.
20; 7:31; La 2:13; Mt 13:31
the kingdom.
17:21; Mr 4:26,30-34

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 13:17

    And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

  • Luke 13:18

    Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

  • Luke 13:19

    It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Read all of Luke 13

Luke 13:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo: ¿A qué es semejante el reino de Dios, y á qué le compararé?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il disait: À quoi est semblable le royaume de Dieu, et à quoi le comparerai-je?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er sprach aber: Wem ist das Reich Gottes gleich, und wem soll ich es vergleichen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicebat ergo: Cui simile est regnum Dei, et cui simile æstimabo illud?