Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few;
Then {G5119} saith {G3004} he unto his {G846} disciples {G3101}, The harvest {G2326} truly {G3303} is plenteous {G4183}, but {G1161} the labourers {G2040} are few {G3641};
Then he said to his talmidim, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
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Luke 10:2
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. -
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. -
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building. -
John 4:35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. -
John 4:36
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. -
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: -
2 Corinthians 6:1
¶ We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
In Matthew 9:37, Jesus speaks to His disciples with profound insight into the spiritual state of the world around them. This verse encapsulates Jesus' compassionate observation of humanity's deep spiritual need and the urgent call for individuals to engage in God's redemptive work.
Context
This pivotal statement by Jesus follows His extensive ministry of teaching, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people (Matthew 9:35). Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus is described as having profound compassion on the multitudes, seeing them as "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." It is from this vantage point of divine empathy for lost humanity that He issues His poignant observation about the harvest and the laborers. This verse sets the stage for His subsequent instruction to His disciples to "pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "harvest," therismos (θερισμός), literally refers to the act of reaping or the time of harvest, often used metaphorically for a period of gathering or judgment. "Plenteous" comes from polys (πολύς), meaning many, much, or numerous, emphasizing the vastness of the spiritual need. The term for "labourers," ergatai (ἐργάται), denotes those who work, toil, or are engaged in a task, highlighting the active, demanding nature of the spiritual work of discipleship and outreach.
Practical Application
Matthew 9:37 serves as a timeless reminder and challenge for believers today, emphasizing the ongoing need for spiritual workers: