Matthew 13 · Verse 10

Matthew 13:10

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Matthew 13:10, King James Version

Matthew 13:10 in other translations

BSBThen the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
WEBThe disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
ASVAnd the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
YLTAnd the disciples having come near, said to him, ‘Wherefore in similes dost thou speak to them?'
DARBYAnd the disciples came up and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables?
BBEAnd the disciples came and said to him, Why do you say things to them in the form of stories?
WebsterAnd the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables?

What does Matthew 13:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. And the disciples came, and said unto him--"they that were with Him, when they were alone" (Mr 4:10). Why speakest thou to them in parables?--Though before this He had couched some things in the parabolic form, for more vivid illustration, it would appear that He now, for the first time, formally employed this method of teaching.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 10-17. Christ, in these verses, gives a reason why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mk 4:10-12, Lk 8:9,10.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 13:1-23

The parable of the tares. (24-30; 36-43) The parables of the mustard-seed and the leaven. (31-35) The parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net cast into the sea, and the householder. (44-52) Jesus is again rejected at Nazareth. (53-58) Verses 1-23 Jesus entered into a boat that he might be the less pressed, and be the better heard by the people. By this he teaches us in the outward…

Read the full comment on Matthew 13:1-23 →

Matthew 13:10 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.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
προσελθόντεςproselthonteshaving comeG4334
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
εἶπανeipansaidG2036
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
τίtiwhyG5101
ἐνeninG1722
παραβολαῖςparabolaisparablesG3850
λαλεῖςlaleisspeak YouG2980
αὐτοῖς;autoisto them?G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 13:10

  • Mark 4:33-34

    And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

  • Mark 4:10

    And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Why.
Mr 4:10,33,34

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

Context

  • Matthew 13:9

    Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  • Matthew 13:10

    And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

  • Matthew 13:11

    He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Read all of Matthew 13

Matthew 13:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces, llegándose los discípulos, le dijeron: ¿Por qué les hablas por parábolas?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les disciples, s’approchant, lui dirent: Pourquoi leur parles-tu en paraboles?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Jünger traten herzu und sprachen zu ihm: Warum redest du in Gleichnissen zu ihnen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et accedentes discipuli dixerunt ei: Quare in parabolis loqueris eis?