Matthew 13 · Verse 14

Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Matthew 13:14, King James Version

Matthew 13:14 in other translations

BSBIn them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
WEBIn them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive;
ASVAnd unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
YLTand fulfilled on them is the prophecy of Isaiah, that saith, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,
DARBYand in them is filled up the prophecy of Esaias, which says, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and beholding ye shall behold and not see;
BBEAnd for them the words of Isaiah have come true, Though you give ear, you will not get knowledge; and seeing, you will see, but the sense will not be clear to you:
WebsterAnd in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

What does Matthew 13:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. And in them is fulfilled--rather, "is fulfilling," or "is receiving its fulfilment." the prophecy of Esaias, which saith--(Is 6:9, 10--here quoted according to the Septuagint). By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, &c.--They were thus judicially sealed up under the darkness and obduracy which they deliberately preferred to the light and healing which Jesus brought nigh to them.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 14,15. And in them is fulfilled, etc. This place is quoted substantially from Isa 6:9,10. It was literally fulfilled in the time of Isaiah. In the time of Christ the people had the same character. Like them, they closed their eyes upon the truth, and rejected the Divine teaching. The words of Isaiah were, therefore, as well fitted to express the character of the people in the time of Christ, as in that of the prophet. In this sense they were fulfilled, or filled up, or a case occurred that corresponded to their meaning. Mt 1:22. It is not by any means intended that Isaiah, when he spoke these words, had any reference to the time of Christ. The meaning in both places is, that the people were so gross, sensual, and prejudiced, that they would not see the truth, or understand anything that was contrary to their grovelling opinions and sensual desires; a case by no means uncommon in the world. See the passage more fully explained Isa 6:1 and following.

Waxed gross. Literally, has become fat. It is commonly applied to the body, but is also used to denote one who is stupid and foolish in mind. Here it means that the people were so sensual and corrupt that they did not see or understand the pure spiritual principles of the gospel.

Lest--they should see, etc. Lest they should see their lost condition as sinners, and turn and live. The reason given here why they did not hear and understand the gospel is, that their heart was wrong. They would not attend to the things that make for their peace.

I should heal them. Should pardon, sanctify, and save them. Sin is often represented as a disease, and the pardon and recovery of the soul from sin as healing.

(c) "of Esias" Isa 6:9 (d) "By hearing" Eze 12:2, Jn 12:40, Acts 28:26,27, Rom 11:8, 2Cor 3:14,15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 In them is fulfilled - Αναπληρουται, Is Again fulfilled: this proper meaning of the Greek word has been generally overlooked. The evangelist means, that as these words were fulfilled in the Jews, in the time of the Prophet Isaiah, so they are now again fulfilled in these their posterity, who exactly copy their fathers example. These awful words may be again fulfilled in us, if we take not warning by the things which these disobedient people have suffered. By hearing ye shall hear - Jesus Christ shall be sent to you, his miracles ye shall fully see, and his doctrines ye shall distinctly hear; but God will not force you to receive the salvation which is offered.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · 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 13:14 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
ἀναπληροῦταιanaplēroutaiis fulfilledG378
αὐτοῖςautoisthemG846
ἡhētheG3588
προφητείαprophēteiaprophecyG4394
ἨσαΐουĒsaiouof IsaiahG2268
ἡhēwhoG3588
λέγουσα·legousais saying:G3004
ἀκοῇakoēaIn hearingG189
ἀκούσετεakouseteyou will hearG191
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐoucertainlyG3756
μὴmēnotG3361
συνῆτε,sunētemay understand,G4920
καὶkaiandG2532
βλέποντεςbleponteslookingG991
βλέψετεblepseteyou will lookG991
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐoucertainlyG3756
μὴmēnotG3361
ἴδητε.idētemay perceive.G1492

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

Cross references for Matthew 13:14

  • Isaiah 6:9-10

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • Ezekiel 12:2

    Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:14

    But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

  • Luke 8:10

    And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

  • Acts 28:25-27

    And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

  • Mark 4:12

    That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

  • John 12:39-40

    Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

  • Romans 11:8-10

    (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the prophecy.
Isa 6:9,10; Eze 12:2; Mr 4:12; Lu 8:10; Joh 12:39,40; Ac 28:25-27
Ro 11:8-10; 2Co 3:14

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

Context

  • Matthew 13:13

    Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

  • Matthew 13:14

    And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

  • Matthew 13:15

    For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Read all of Matthew 13

Matthew 13:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		De manera que se cumple en ellos la profecía de Isaías, que dice: De oído oiréis, y no entenderéis; y viendo veréis, y no miraréis.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et par eux s’accomplit la prophétie d’Ésaïe qui dit: « En entendant vous entendrez et vous ne comprendrez point, et en voyant vous verrez et vous n’apercevrez point;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und es wird an ihnen die Weissagung Jesaias erfüllt, welche sagt: "Mit Gehör werdet ihr hören und doch nicht verstehen, und sehend werdet ihr sehen und doch nicht wahrnehmen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et adimpletur in eis prophetia Isaiæ, dicentis: Auditu audietis, et non intelligetis: et videntes videbitis, et non videbitis.