Matthew 13:2
New International Version
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

New Living Translation
A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.

English Standard Version
And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

Berean Standard Bible
Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.

Berean Literal Bible
And great crowds were gathered together to Him, so that He having entered into a boat, sat down, and all the crowd stood on the shore.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

New American Standard Bible
And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

NASB 1995
And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

NASB 1977
And great multitudes gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole multitude was standing on the beach.

Legacy Standard Bible
And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

Amplified Bible
But such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat there [positioning Himself as a teacher], while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

Christian Standard Bible
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

American Standard Version
And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.

Contemporary English Version
Such large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore.

English Revised Version
And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore.

Good News Translation
The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the crowd stood on the shore.

International Standard Version
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the entire crowd stood on the shore.

Majority Standard Bible
Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into the boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.

NET Bible
And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

New Heart English Bible
And large crowds gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the crowd stood on the beach.

Webster's Bible Translation
And great multitudes were gathered to him, so that he went into a boat, and sat down; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Weymouth New Testament
when a vast multitude of people crowded round Him. He therefore went on board a boat and sat there, while all the people stood on the shore.

World English Bible
Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and gathered together to Him were many multitudes, so that He having gone into the boat sat down, and all the multitude on the beach stood,

Berean Literal Bible
And great crowds were gathered together to Him, so that He having entered into a boat, sat down, and all the crowd stood on the shore.

Young's Literal Translation
and 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,

Smith's Literal Translation
And many crowds were assembled together to him; therefore having entered into the ship, he sat down, and all the crowd stood upon the sea-shore.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And great multitudes were gathered unto him, so that he went up into a boat and sat: and all the multitude stood on the shore.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And such great crowds were gathered to him that he climbed into a boat and he sat down. And the entire multitude stood on the shore.

New American Bible
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.

New Revised Standard Version
Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And many people gathered around him, so that he had to go up and sit in a boat, and all the people stood on the seashore.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And great crowds were assembled to him so that he embarked, seating himself in a ship, and all the crowds were standing on the beach by the sea.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And many multitudes came together to him, so that he went into a ship and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Godbey New Testament
and many multitudes were gathered unto Him, so that having gone into a ship, He sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Haweis New Testament
And vast multitudes were gathered together unto him, insomuch that he entered into a vessel to be seated; and all the multitude stood on the beach.

Mace New Testament
and there was so great a croud of people got about him, that he was oblig'd to go into a bark, where he sat, while the people all stood on the shore.

Weymouth New Testament
when a vast multitude of people crowded round Him. He therefore went on board a boat and sat there, while all the people stood on the shore.

Worrell New Testament
And there were gathered to Him great multitudes; so that He, having entered into a boat, sat down, and all the multitudes were standing on the beach.

Worsley New Testament
and many people were gathered together to bear Him, so that He went into a ship and sat down, and all the multitude stood upon the shore; and He spake to them many things in parables,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. 3And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.…

Cross References
Mark 4:1-2
Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore. / And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,

Luke 8:4
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable:

Matthew 5:1-2
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, / and He began to teach them, saying:

John 6:2-3
A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. / Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

Mark 3:9
Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.

Luke 5:1-3
On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, / He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. / Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.

John 6:24-25
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him. / When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Matthew 14:13-14
When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns. / When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Mark 6:34
When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

Luke 9:11
But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

John 4:1
When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

Matthew 15:30
Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them.

Mark 2:13
Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.

Luke 6:17-19
Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. / They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed. / The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

John 8:2
Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.


Treasury of Scripture

And great multitudes were gathered together to him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

great.

Matthew 4:25
And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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:

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.

so.

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.

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.

a ship.

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Beach Board Boat Crowd Crowded Crowds Entered Gathered Great Large Multitude Multitudes Numbers Position Round Sat Sea Ship Shore Sit Stand Standing Stood Together Vast Whole
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Beach Board Boat Crowd Crowded Crowds Entered Gathered Great Large Multitude Multitudes Numbers Position Round Sat Sea Ship Shore Sit Stand Standing Stood Together Vast Whole
Matthew 13
1. The parable of the sower and the seed;
18. the explanation of it.
24. The parable of the weeds;
31. of the mustard seed;
33. of the leaven;
36. explanation of the parable of the weeds.
44. The parable of the hidden treasure;
45. of the pearl;
47. of the drag net cast into the sea.
53. Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country.














Such large crowds
The phrase "such large crowds" indicates the immense popularity and draw of Jesus' ministry at this point. The Greek word used here is "ὄχλοι" (ochloi), which refers to a multitude or a throng of people. This suggests that Jesus' teachings and miracles had reached a wide audience, creating a significant following. Historically, this reflects the social and religious climate of the time, where people were eagerly seeking hope and truth amidst Roman occupation and religious legalism.

gathered around Him
The act of gathering around Jesus signifies the people's desire to be near Him, to hear His teachings, and to witness His miracles. The Greek root "συνέρχομαι" (synerchomai) implies a coming together or assembling, which can be seen as a reflection of the human longing for spiritual truth and guidance. This gathering also highlights Jesus' role as a central figure who draws people together, fulfilling the prophetic expectations of a shepherd for the lost sheep of Israel.

that He got into a boat
Jesus getting into a boat is a practical response to the pressing crowd, but it also holds symbolic meaning. The boat becomes a pulpit from which He can address the multitude. In the context of the Sea of Galilee, boats were common and essential for daily life, symbolizing Jesus' connection to the everyday experiences of the people. This action also foreshadows the many journeys Jesus and His disciples would undertake, spreading the Gospel across waters and lands.

and sat down
In Jewish tradition, sitting down was the customary posture for a teacher or rabbi when instructing others. This act of sitting signifies authority and readiness to teach. The Greek word "καθίζω" (kathizó) implies a deliberate action, emphasizing Jesus' role as the authoritative teacher. This posture invites the audience to listen attentively, recognizing the importance of the teachings that are about to be delivered.

while all the people stood on the shore
The contrast between Jesus sitting and the people standing underscores the respect and attention given to His words. The shore serves as a natural amphitheater, allowing His voice to carry over the water to the crowd. This setting reflects the accessibility of Jesus' message to all who are willing to listen, regardless of their social or religious status. The imagery of the people standing also suggests readiness and anticipation, highlighting the eagerness with which they awaited His teachings.

Verse 2. - And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship. The article wrongly inserted in the Received Text (τὸ πλοῖον) suggests that it was the boat which, as some think, waited upon him. (For another occasion when he taught from a boat, cf. Luke 5:3.) And sat; and the whole multitude stood; was standing. The position of ἱστήκει at the end of the sentence in the Greek emphasizes their attitude. Their numbers compelled it, and they disregarded the fatigue. Further, the tense (pluperf., equivalent to imperf.) pictures them as patiently standing there. On the shore; beach (Revised Version); ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλόν: i.e. this part at least of the shore was covered with sand or pebbles. Possibly we have signs of an eyewitness, both in the exact description of the spot, and in the vividness of the ἱστήκει (comp. John 1:35, al.; and Bishop Westcott's remarks in Expositor, III. 5:248; cf., too, Introduction, p. 12.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Such]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

large
πολλοί (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

crowds
ὄχλοι (ochloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

gathered
συνήχθησαν (synēchthēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4863: From sun and ago; to lead together, i.e. Collect or convene; specially, to entertain.

around
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

Him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

that
ὥστε (hōste)
Conjunction
Strong's 5620: So that, therefore, so then, so as to. From hos and te; so too, i.e. Thus therefore.

He
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

got into
ἐμβάντα (embanta)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1684: To step in; I go onboard a ship, embark. From en and the base of basis; to walk on, i.e. Embark, reach.

a boat
πλοῖον (ploion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4143: A ship, vessel, boat. From pleo; a sailer, i.e. Vessel.

[and] sat down,
καθῆσθαι (kathēsthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 2521: To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.

while
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

all
πᾶς (pas)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people
ὄχλος (ochlos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

stood
εἱστήκει (heistēkei)
Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

shore.
αἰγιαλὸν (aigialon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 123: Sea-coast, (sandy) beach; shore (of sea or lake), land. From aisso and hals (on which the waves dash).


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NT Gospels: Matthew 13:2 Great multitudes gathered to him so that (Matt. Mat Mt)
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