Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

MATTHEW 13:46KJV
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Matthew 13:46 (KJV)

What does Matthew 13:46 mean?

Matthew 13:46 describes a person who, after finding a single pearl of extraordinary value, willingly sells everything he owns to buy it. The verse uses this image to show the immense worth of what is being found, and the total commitment it inspires in the one who discovers it.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a crowd, using a parable to illustrate what the kingdom of heaven is like. The story compares the kingdom to a merchant searching for fine pearls, who recognizes the matchless value of one pearl and gives up all he has to possess it. The verse highlights the idea of recognizing true worth and being willing to give up lesser things for something far greater.

The Greek behind Matthew 13:46

  • μαργαρίτης (margaritēs, "pearl"): This word points to something rare, beautiful, and highly prized in the ancient world. The use of a single pearl ("one pearl of great price") emphasizes uniqueness and surpassing value.
  • πολύτιμος (polytimos, "of great price"): This word means something extremely valuable or precious. The Greek here stresses that the pearl is not just valuable, but exceptionally so—worth more than everything else the man owns.
  • πωλέω (pōleō, "sold"): The verb here shows decisive, complete action. The man doesn't just consider selling; he actually goes and sells all he has, underlining the totality of his commitment.

Why Matthew 13:46 matters

  • Matthew 13:46 helps clear up the idea that the kingdom of heaven is just one good thing among many; instead, it is pictured as something so valuable that it surpasses everything else.
  • The verse emphasizes the idea of recognition and response: the merchant knows what he has found and acts decisively, showing that understanding the true worth of something leads to wholehearted action.
  • In the context of Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13, this story pairs with others to show different ways people encounter and respond to the message of the kingdom, highlighting both its hiddenness and its surpassing value.

Where else these words appear

“price” Greek G4186 · used in 2 verses

  • John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

“pearl” Greek G3135 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
  • 1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
  • Revelation 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

“sold” Greek G4097 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
  • Mark 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
  • Acts 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

“bought” Greek G59 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 13:44 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.
  • Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.