Matthew 13:48
Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Original Language Analysis
ἣν
Which
G3739
ἣν
Which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 19
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἐπληρώθη
it was full
G4137
ἐπληρώθη
it was full
Strong's:
G4137
Word #:
3 of 19
to make replete, i.e., (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute
ἐπὶ
to
G1909
ἐπὶ
to
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καθίσαντες
sat down
G2523
καθίσαντες
sat down
Strong's:
G2523
Word #:
9 of 19
to seat down, i.e., set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell)
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καλὰ
the good
G2570
καλὰ
the good
Strong's:
G2570
Word #:
12 of 19
properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e., valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
13 of 19
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Matthew 13:30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.Matthew 3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Historical Context
First-century Galilean fishing employed dragnets (σαγήνη) that indiscriminately caught all species. Fishermen would haul the catch ashore and sort the clean fish (per Leviticus 11:9-12) from unclean, illustrating a familiar economic practice to explain eschatological reality. Jesus spoke this parable after a day of kingdom parables (13:1-52), concluding His public teaching before facing increasing rejection.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the indiscriminate nature of the dragnet reveal about the visible church versus the invisible church?
- How should the certainty of final separation affect your evangelistic urgency and pastoral patience?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Which, when it was full, they drew to shore—This concludes the parable of the dragnet (vv. 47-48), illustrating final judgment. The Greek πληρόω (plēroō, 'to fill') emphasizes completion of the gospel age. Gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away (τὰ καλὰ εἰς ἀγγεῖα...τὰ δὲ σαπρὰ ἔξω ἔβαλον) depicts divine discrimination—καλός means 'beautiful, noble, useful' while σαπρός means 'rotten, worthless.'
Theshore represents the end of redemptive history where angels execute separation (v. 49). Unlike the wheat and tares parable where separation occurs at harvest, this emphasizes the fishermen's action after catching, showing both divine sovereignty and creaturely agency in God's purposes. The careful gathering into vessels (ἀγγεῖα) contrasts with the casting away, depicting the tenderness toward the elect versus the finality of judgment.