Bible Strands
Matthew 13:33
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the gathered crowds, delivering this parable immediately after the mustard seed illustration as part of his sequential teaching. He speaks to them in parables, withholding direct exposition as his established pattern for this moment.
The words — Ἄλλην (Allēn) means "another," signaling a continuation of the preceding parabolic series. ὁμοία (homoia) translates "like," establishing the comparative framework that defines the kingdom illustration.
The thread — The identical leaven metaphor appears in Luke 13:21 and reappears in Paul’s letters at Galatians 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 5:6. These references show the same agricultural image tracking pervasive influence across different New Testament contexts.
Why it lands — The text states that a woman mixes leaven into three measures of flour until the entire batch is leavened, describing a hidden agent producing complete transformation. It requires the reader to identify what internal influence is quietly reshaping their conduct or community.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Galatians 5:9 A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
- Luke 13:21 It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
- Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- Genesis 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
- Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
- Job 17:9 Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
- Matthew 13:24 Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- Hosea 6:3 So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.