# Matthew 13.44

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-28 | updated: 2026-05-28 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 42. <span class="rl-speech">and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.</span> 43. <span class="rl-speech">Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.</span>
>
> **44. <span class="rl-speech">The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.</span>**
>
> 45. <span class="rl-speech">Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:</span> 46. <span class="rl-speech">and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.</span> (Matthew 13:42-46, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 42. <span class="rl-speech">and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth.</span> 43. <span class="rl-speech">Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.</span>
>
> **44. <span class="rl-speech">“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.</span>**
>
> 45. <span class="rl-speech">“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,</span> 46. <span class="rl-speech">who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.</span> (Matthew 13:42-46, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 42. <span class="rl-speech">And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.</span> 43. <span class="rl-speech">Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.</span>
>
> **44. <span class="rl-speech">Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.</span>**
>
> 45. <span class="rl-speech">Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:</span> 46. <span class="rl-speech">Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.</span> (Matthew 13:42-46, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 42. <span class="rl-speech">and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.</span> 43. <span class="rl-speech">'Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who is having ears to hear, let him hear.</span>
>
> **44. <span class="rl-speech">'Again, the reign of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field, which a man having found did hide, and from his joy goeth, and all, as much as he hath, he selleth, and buyeth that field.</span>**
>
> 45. <span class="rl-speech">'Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking goodly pearls,</span> 46. <span class="rl-speech">who having found one pearl of great price, having gone away, hath sold all, as much as he had, and bought it.</span> (Matthew 13:42-46, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's parabolic teaching
- **Audience:** Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

## Theological reading

_Matthew 13:44 is one of Jesus's signature kingdom parables, featuring the *hiddenness* of the kingdom-treasure as a positive feature of the seeker's discovery. Deployed in [Divine Hiddenness](/codex/divine-hiddenness/) discussion as the parabolic counterpart to the cost-of-discipleship reading: the kingdom is found, not handed over. For full theological treatment, see [Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness](/codex/lesson-4-2-divine-hiddenness/). The book of Matthew hub ([Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/)) provides higher-level theological context._

## See also

- [Divine Hiddenness](/codex/divine-hiddenness/), the master concept hub
- [Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness](/codex/lesson-4-2-divine-hiddenness/), the Course lesson
- [Matthew 7.7](/codex/matthew-7-7/), the seek-and-find logion
- [Matthew 11.25](/codex/matthew-11-25/), the hiddenness-and-revelation logion
- [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/), book hub

<!-- BACKLINKS:START -->
## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 13](/codex/matthew-13/)
- [Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness](/codex/lesson-4-2-divine-hiddenness/)

**Passages:**

- [Matthew 11.25](/codex/matthew-11-25/)
- [Matthew 7.7](/codex/matthew-7-7/)

<!-- BACKLINKS:END -->
## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.