Matthew 13:25 Meaning and Explanation
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →While people sleep, an enemy secretly sows weeds among the wheat and slips away.
What Does Matthew 13:25 Mean?
The trouble enters quietly. While men slept, an enemy came and sowed tares, a weed that closely resembles wheat in its early growth, then went his way. The sabotage is hidden, done under cover of darkness and left to grow unnoticed.
The verse acknowledges that evil works secretly within a good world, mingling its counterfeit among the genuine. Yet the enemy slinks away; he cannot stay and rule the field. The picture prepares the reader for a hard reality: good and evil grow side by side for a time, and the difference is not always plain at first. The King sees, even when His servants are caught unaware.
Matthew 13:25 in the Original Language
zizania (ζιζάνια), 'tares' -- a darnel weed that mimics wheat until the grain forms, when the difference becomes clear.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 13:25
What does Matthew 13:25 mean?
While people sleep, an enemy secretly sows weeds among the wheat and slips away.