King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Complete Jewish Bible:
On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it.
Berean Standard Bible:
When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
American Standard Version:
and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Who{G3739}, when he had found{G2147} one{G1520} pearl{G3135} of great price{G4186}, went{G565} and sold{G4097} all{G3956} that{G3745} he had{G2192}, and{G2532} bought{G59} it{G846}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Luke 18:28
- Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luke 18:30
- Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Ephesians 3:8
- Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Colossians 2:3
- In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Mark 10:28
- Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mark 10:31
- But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.
1 John 5:11
- And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Matthew 13:46
Matthew 13:46 is part of the New Testament and is found within a collection of parables taught by Jesus Christ during his ministry in the first century. The verse is set in the historical context of Jewish life under Roman occupation, where Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, is teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven using parables that draw on everyday experiences to convey spiritual truths.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price, as this verse is known, is a succinct story that encapsulates the theme of the inestimable value of the Kingdom of Heaven. In the parable, a merchant, upon finding a single pearl of exceptional quality, recognizes its unparalleled worth. So captivated is he by this discovery that he decides to liquidate all his assets to purchase it. This act of selling everything he owns underscores the merchant's conviction that the pearl is worth more than any material possession he could otherwise acquire.
Theological interpretations of this parable often see the merchant as a seeker of truth, representing either a person who discovers the surpassing value of the Kingdom of Heaven or Jesus himself, who gives up everything to redeem humanity. The pearl symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven or the gospel, which is of such great value that any sacrifice made to obtain it is considered insignificant in comparison. The verse emphasizes the theme of wholehearted devotion and the radical reordering of priorities that following Jesus entails, as well as the joy and fulfillment that come from embracing the spiritual over the temporal.
In summary, Matthew 13:46 conveys the profound message that the Kingdom of Heaven is the ultimate treasure, one that demands a total commitment and surrender of all other competing interests. This verse challenges believers to evaluate their own values and commitments in light of the eternal reward promised by Jesus to those who seek first the Kingdom of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G3739
There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅς
Transliteration: hós
Pronunciation: ho
Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ. - Strong's Number: G2147
There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εὑρίσκω
Transliteration: heurískō
Pronunciation: hyoo-reh'-o
Description: a prolonged form of a primary , which (together with another cognate form) is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect; to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see. - Strong's Number: G1520
There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἷς
Transliteration: heîs
Pronunciation: hice
Description: a primary numeral; one:--a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some. See also εἷς καθ’ εἷς, μηδείς, μία, οὐδείς. - Strong's Number: G3135
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μαργαρίτης
Transliteration: margarítēs
Pronunciation: mar-gar-ee'-tace
Description: from (a pearl-oyster); a pearl:--pearl. - Strong's Number: G4186
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πολύτιμος
Transliteration: polýtimos
Pronunciation: pol-oot'-ee-mos
Description: from πολύς and τιμή; extremely valuable:--very costly, of great price. - Strong's Number: G565
There are 2564 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀπέρχομαι
Transliteration: apérchomai
Pronunciation: ap-erkh'-om-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ἔρχομαι; to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively:--come, depart, go (aside, away, back, out, … ways), pass away, be past. - Strong's Number: G4097
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πιπράσκω
Transliteration: pipráskō
Pronunciation: prah'-o
Description: contracted from (to traverse; from the base of πέραν); to traffic (by travelling), i.e. dispose of as merchandise or into slavery (literally or figuratively):--sell. - Strong's Number: G3956
There are 1075 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πᾶς
Transliteration: pâs
Pronunciation: pas
Description: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever. - Strong's Number: G3745
There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅσος
Transliteration: hósos
Pronunciation: hos'-os
Description: by reduplication from ὅς; as (much, great, long, etc.) as:--all (that), as (long, many, much) (as), how great (many, much), (in-)asmuch as, so many as, that (ever), the more, those things, what (great, -soever), wheresoever, wherewithsoever, which, X while, who(-soever). - Strong's Number: G2192
There are 628 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔχω
Transliteration: échō
Pronunciation: skheh'-o
Description: a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use. - Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G59
There are 199 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀγοράζω
Transliteration: agorázō
Pronunciation: ag-or-ad'-zo
Description: from ἀγορά; properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem:--buy, redeem. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.