Luke 13:19
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Original Language Analysis
ὃν
which
G3739
ὃν
which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
5 of 28
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἔβαλεν
and cast
G906
ἔβαλεν
and cast
Strong's:
G906
Word #:
8 of 28
to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense)
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
9 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
ἑαυτοῦ
his
G1438
ἑαυτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
11 of 28
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
12 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ηὔξησεν
it grew
G837
ηὔξησεν
it grew
Strong's:
G837
Word #:
13 of 28
to grow ("wax"), i.e., enlarge (literal or figurative, active or passive)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐγένετο
waxed
G1096
ἐγένετο
waxed
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
15 of 28
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
16 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
μέγα,
a great
G3173
μέγα,
a great
Strong's:
G3173
Word #:
18 of 28
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
19 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανοῦ
of the air
G3772
οὐρανοῦ
of the air
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
23 of 28
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
κατεσκήνωσεν
lodged
G2681
κατεσκήνωσεν
lodged
Strong's:
G2681
Word #:
24 of 28
to camp down, i.e., haunt; figuratively, to remain
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Daniel 4:12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.Daniel 4:21Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.Acts 4:4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.Zechariah 2:11And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.Ezekiel 31:6All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
Historical Context
Jesus spoke this parable during His Galilean ministry when the kingdom's manifestation seemed modest—an itinerant rabbi with a small band of disciples, opposed by religious authorities. The parable encouraged disciples not to despair at small beginnings. History vindicated Jesus' prediction: from a tiny movement in a backwater province of the Roman Empire, Christianity spread throughout the known world within three centuries. The "birds" finding shelter may represent Gentile nations finding refuge in the gospel—a shocking inclusion that scandalized first-century Jewish expectations of an ethnically exclusive kingdom.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the mustard seed parable encourage believers engaged in seemingly insignificant kingdom work?
- What does the image of birds from all nations lodging in the tree teach about the gospel's universal scope?
- How should this parable affect Christian attitudes toward small churches, modest ministries, or slow growth?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. The mustard seed parable (one of Jesus' shortest) carries profound significance. The "grain of mustard seed" (κόκκῳ σινάπεως, kokkō sinapeōs) was proverbially the smallest seed known in Palestine (Matthew 13:32, "the least of all seeds"), yet it grew into a large plant—some varieties reaching 10-12 feet tall, resembling a tree.
The phrase "cast into his garden" (ἔβαλεν εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ, ebalen eis kēpon heautou) emphasizes intentional planting—God deliberately sows the kingdom. The growth progression—"it grew, and waxed a great tree" (ηὔξησεν καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς δένδρον μέγα, ēuxēsen kai egeneto eis dendron mega)—indicates organic, inevitable expansion from small beginnings to unexpected greatness. This describes the kingdom's advance: beginning with Jesus and twelve disciples, eventually filling the earth.
The image of "fowls of the air lodged in the branches" (τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατεσκήνωσεν ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ, ta peteina tou ouranou kateskēnōsen en tois kladois autou) alludes to Old Testament prophecies where great kingdoms are depicted as trees sheltering nations (Ezekiel 17:23, 31:6, Daniel 4:12, 21). The kingdom of God, though beginning insignificantly, will ultimately provide refuge and blessing to peoples from all nations—fulfilling the Abrahamic promise that all families of earth would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 12:3, 22:18).