Bible Strands
Matthew 13:48
When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus delivers this parable in Matthew 13 to his gathered audience, positioning it between the net illustration and the explanation of the end of the age.
The words — ἐπληρώθη (eplērōthē) literally means "it was filled," describing the net's capacity, while ἀναβιβασαντες (anabibasantes) means "having drawn up," indicating the men's action of hauling the net onto the shore.
The thread — The theme of final separation appears in Matthew 13:30 and Matthew 13:40 with the harvesting of weeds, and in Matthew 3:12 with the winnowing of wheat from chaff.
Why it lands — The text states that men sort caught fish into containers and discard the bad, establishing a literal sequence of collection followed by deliberate division. It asks the reader to recognize the necessity of distinguishing between what is kept and what is rejected before any final judgment occurs.
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
Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Cross-references
- Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
- Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
- Matthew 13:40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.