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Matthew 13:51

Have you understood all these things?

Parables, Parable of the Net, Explanation

Spoken to:: Apostles
KJV issues:: 2

KJV

Matthew 13:51 Have ye understood all these things?

NIV

Matthew 13:51 Have you understood all these things?”

What His Listeners Heard

Do you put these all together?

Greek

Matthew 13:51 Συνήκατε ταῦτα πάντα;

Greek Word Order

Συνήκατε ταῦτα πάντα;
Do you put together these all ?

Jesus ideas and analogies must be put together in order to be undersstood.

Lost in Translation

The word translated as "understood" means "put together." Jesus uses it only ten times, mostly in this section explaining the parables. It is one of almost a dozen words that are translated at various times in the Bible as "understand." These words include common words for "seeing" and "hearing" as well as those referring to mental activity.

The implication of "put together" is that different things must be put together to understand the "realm of the skies," or, as it is translated "the kingdom of heaven." The word translated as "these" specifically means "the nearer" but the word is neuter, so it doesn't specifically refer to "parables," a feminine word.

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

Συνήκατε [10 verses](verb 2nd pl aor ind act) "Have ye understood" is syniemi which means "to bring together" or "to set together." It is also a metaphor for "perceive," "hear," and "understand" as we would say that we "put it all together" when figuring something out.

ταῦτα (pl neut acc ) "These things" is from tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these," "this," "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."

πάντα" (adj pl neut acc) All" is from pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether."

KJV — word by word

Have -- (WT) This word makes the tense look like the past perfect, but it is a tense indicates a point of time past, present, or future. A "do" would be more appropriate.

ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

understood - (WW) "Understood" is from a Greek verb which means "to bring together" or "to set together." It is also a metaphor for "perceive," "hear," and "understand" as we would say that we "put it all together" when figuring something out. Jesus only uses this verb ten times, but it has been used six times in this section, starting with the verse where Jesus explains why he speaks in analogies (Matthew 13:13) and ending in Matthew 13:23 , where Jesus explains the "good seed" bringing together his words.

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything."

these - The "these " is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage.

things? - This is from the neuter, plural form of the previous two words "all these."

NIV — word by word

Have -- (WT) This word makes the tense look like the past perfect, but it is a tense indicates a point of time past, present, or future. A "do" would be more appropriate.

you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything."

these - The "these " is from a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage.

things? - This is from the neuter, plural form of the previous two words "all these."

Matthew 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross

Matthew 13:19 When any one hears the word

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground