Matthew 13 · Verse 2

Matthew 13:2

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, King James Version

Matthew 13:2 in other translations

BSBSuch large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.
WEBGreat multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
ASVAnd there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
YLTand gathered together unto him were many multitudes, so that he having gone into the boat did sit down, and all the multitude on the beach did stand,
DARBYAnd great crowds were gathered together to him, so that going on board ship himself he sat down, and the whole crowd stood on the shore.
BBEAnd great numbers of people came together to him, so that he got into a boat; and the people took up their position by the sea.
WebsterAnd great multitudes were gathered to him, so that he went into a boat, and sat down; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

What does Matthew 13:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship--the article in the received text lacks authority and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore--How graphic this picture!--no doubt from the pen of an eye-witness, himself impressed with the scene. It was "the same day" on which the foregoing solemn discourse was delivered, when His kindred thought Him "beside Himself" for His indifference to food and repose--that same day retiring to the seashore of Galilee; and there seating Himself, perhaps for coolness and rest, the crowds again flock around Him, and He is fain to push off from them, in the boat usually kept in readiness for Him; yet only to begin, without waiting to rest, a new course of teaching by parables to the eager multitudes that lined the shore. To the parables of our Lord there is nothing in all language to be compared, for simplicity, grace, fulness, and variety of spiritual teaching. They are adapted to all classes and stages of advancement, being understood by each according to the measure of his spiritual capacity.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. Mt 13:1

(x) "into a ship" Lk 5:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Into a ship - Το πλοιον, The vessel or boat. Mr. Wakefield supposes (which is very likely) that a particular vessel is uniformly specified, which seems to have been kept on the lake for the use of Christ and his apostles: it probably belonged to some of the fishermen, (see Mat 4:22), who, he thinks, occasionally, at least, followed their former occupation. See Joh 21:3. The thought of pious Quesnel on this verse should not be neglected. We see here a representation of the Church, which consists of the people united to their pastors. These, being more exposed to violent tossings and storms, are, as it were, in a ship, while those continue at ease on the shore.

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 13:2 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
συνήχθησανsunēchthēsanwere gathered togetherG4863
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ὄχλοιochloicrowdsG3793
πολλοὶpolloigreatG4183
ὥστεhōsteso thatG5620
αὐτὸνautonHeG846
εἰςeisintoG1519
πλοῖονploiona boatG4143
ἐμβάνταembantahaving climbed intoG1684
καθῆσθαι,kathēsthaito sit down,G2521
καὶkaiandG2532
πᾶςpasallG3956
ὁhotheG3588
ὄχλοςochloscrowdG3793
ἐπὶepionG1909
τὸνtontheG3588
αἰγιαλὸνaigialonshoreG123
εἱστήκει.heistēkeihad stood.G2476

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

Cross references for Matthew 13:2

  • Luke 5:3

    And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

  • Matthew 15:30

    And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

  • Luke 8:4-8

    And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. …

  • Genesis 49:10

    The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

  • Matthew 4:25

    And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.

  • Mark 4:1

    And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
great.
4:25; 15:30; Ge 49:10; Lu 8:4-8
so.
Mr 4:1; Lu 5:3
a ship.[To ploion ,] "the ship" or boat; which Mr. Wakefield supposes was a particular vessel kept on the lake for the use of Christ and his disciples.

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

Context

  • Matthew 13:1

    The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

  • Matthew 13:2

    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 13:3

    And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Read all of Matthew 13

Matthew 13:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y se allegaron á él muchas gentes; y entrándose él en el barco, se sentó, y toda la gente estaba á la ribera.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et de grandes foules étaient rassemblées auprès de lui, de sorte que, montant dans un bateau, il s’assit; et toute la foule se tenait sur le rivage.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es versammelte sich eine große Volksmenge zu ihm, so daß er in ein Schiff stieg und sich setzte; und die ganze Volksmenge stand am Ufer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et congregatæ sunt ad eum turbæ multæ, ita ut naviculam ascendens sederet: et omnis turba stabat in littore,