Matthew 13:33 Meaning and Explanation
“Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus likens the kingdom to leaven that a woman works through a large batch of dough until all is leavened.
What Does Matthew 13:33 Mean?
Jesus draws a picture from the kitchen. A woman takes leaven and hides it in three measures of meal, a large amount of flour, until the whole batch is leavened. The leaven works quietly, unseen, yet it transforms everything it touches.
This parable highlights the hidden, pervasive power of the kingdom. It does not change the world by force but by working inwardly, spreading through and through until all is affected. The verse encourages the reader to trust the quiet, penetrating influence of God's reign. What is hidden and small can permeate the whole, and the kingdom transforms from within long before its work is visible to the eye.
Matthew 13:33 in the Original Language
zymē (ζύμη), 'leaven' -- yeast or fermenting dough, a small agent that quietly works through and changes the whole.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 13:33
What does Matthew 13:33 mean?
Jesus likens the kingdom to leaven that a woman works through a large batch of dough until all is leavened.