The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

MATTHEW 13:38KJV
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Matthew 13:38 (KJV)

What does Matthew 13:38 mean?

Matthew 13:38 explains that in Jesus’ parable, the “field” represents the world, the “good seed” stands for the children of God’s kingdom, and the “tares” (weeds) symbolize the children of the wicked one. Jesus is drawing a clear line between those who belong to God’s kingdom and those who belong to evil.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking privately to his disciples, explaining the meaning of the Parable of the Weeds. He uses everyday farming images to help his listeners understand spiritual truths. By identifying the field as the world and the seeds as people, Jesus makes it clear that the parable is about real people living among each other, not just plants in a field.

The Greek behind Matthew 13:38

  • “Field” (ἀγρός, agros, G68) is used here to mean the whole world, not just a piece of land. This shows that Jesus’ teaching is about all people everywhere, not just a local group.
  • “World” (κόσμος, kosmos, G2889) often means the whole created order or humanity. Here, it broadens the parable’s scope beyond Israel to everyone.
  • “Good” (καλός, kalos, G2570) describes the seed as not just healthy but genuinely valuable and upright, emphasizing the positive character of the “children of the kingdom.”
  • “Tares” (ζιζάνια, zizanion, G2215) refers to a specific kind of weed that looks like wheat but is harmful. This highlights how the children of the wicked one can appear similar to the children of the kingdom, at least for a time.

Why Matthew 13:38 matters

  • Matthew 13:38 clarifies that the parable is not about the church alone but about the whole world, correcting a common misunderstanding.
  • The verse emphasizes that good and evil people live side by side in the world, which sets up the rest of Jesus’ explanation about judgment and separation.
  • By using the language of “children of the kingdom” and “children of the wicked one,” Jesus underlines the reality of two spiritual families, making the stakes of the parable clear.

Where else these words appear

“tares” Greek G2215 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
  • Matthew 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
  • Matthew 13:30 Let 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.

“field” Greek G68 · used in 34 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Matthew 27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
  • Luke 8:34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

“seed” Greek G4690 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
  • John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
  • Romans 9:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

“wicked” Greek G4190 · used in 71 verses

  • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  • Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
  • 1 Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.