Mark 4
4
The Parable of the Sower
1 And again he began to teach beside the sea,#That is, the Sea of Galilee and a very large crowd was gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got”) has been translated as a finite verb sat on the sea, and the whole crowd was at the sea on the land. 2And he began to teach#The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to teach”) them many things in parables, and was saying to them in his teaching, 3“Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow. 4And it happened that while he was sowing, some seed#Literally “some of which” fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once, because it did not have any depth of soil. 6And when the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered. 7And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it, and it did not produce grain.#Literally “fruit,” describing here the grain harvested from the healthy plants; in contemporary English this would more naturally be expressed by terms like “grain” or “crop” 8And other seed fell on the good soil, and produced grain,#Literally “fruit,” describing here the grain harvested from the healthy plants; in contemporary English this would more naturally be expressed by terms like “grain” or “crop” coming up and increasing, and it bore a crop#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much.#The phrase “times as much” is not in the Greek text but is implied 9And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Reason for the Parables
10And when he was alone, those around him together with the twelve began asking#The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began asking”) him about the parables. 11And he said to them, “To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables, 12so that
‘they may look closely#Literally “seeing they may see” and not perceive,
and they may listen carefully#Literally “hearing they may hear” and not understand,
lest they turn and it be forgiven them.’ ”#A quotation from Isa 6:9–10
The Parable of the Sower Interpreted
13And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables? 14The sower sows the word. 15And these are the ones beside the path where the word is sown, and whenever they hear it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16And these are like#Some manuscripts omit “like” the ones sown on the rocky ground, who whenever they hear the word immediately receive it with joy. 17And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“comes”) affliction or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18And others are the ones sown among the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear the word, 19and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come in”) has been translated as a finite verb choke the word and it becomes unproductive. 20And those are the ones sown on the good soil, who hear the word and receive it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and bear fruit—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much.”#The phrase “times as much” is not in the Greek text but is implied
The Parable of the Lamp
21And he said to them, “Surely a lamp is not brought so that it may be put under a bushel basket or under a bed, is it?#The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase “is it” Is it not#The negative construction in Greek anticipates a positive answer here so that it may be put on a lampstand? 22For nothing is secret except so that it may be revealed, nor has become hidden except so that it will come to light. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 24And he said to them, “Take care what you hear! With the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you, and will be added to you. 25For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
The Parable of the Seed that Grows by Itself
26And he said, “The kingdom of God is like this: like a man scatters seed on the ground. 27And he sleeps and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he does not know how.#Literally “in such a way as he does not know” 28By itself the soil produces a crop: first the grass, then the head of grain, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the crop permits, he sends in the sickle right away, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable can we present it? 31It is like a mustard seed that when sown on the ground, although it#*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as concessive is the smallest of all the seeds that are on the ground, 32but when it is sown it grows up and becomes the largest of all the garden herbs, and sends out large branches so that the birds of the sky are able to nest in its shade.” 33And with many parables such as these he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 34And he did not speak to them without a parable, but in private he explained everything to his own disciples.
Calming of a Storm
35And on that day, when it#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”) was evening, he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd, they took him along, as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37And a great storm of wind developed, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already being filled with water.#*The words “with water” are not in the Greek text but are implied 38And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, is it not a concern to you that we are perishing?” 39And he woke up and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“woke up”) has been translated as a finite verb rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be silent!” And the wind abated and there was a great calm. 40And he said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you not yet have faith?” 41And they were terribly frightened#Literally “they feared a great fear” and began to say#The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”) to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
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Mark 4: LEB
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Mark 4
4
1And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. 2And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching, 3Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow: 4and it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it. 5And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: 6and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. 9And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables. 11And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: 12that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them. 13And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables? 14The sower soweth the word. 15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them. 16And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy; 17and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble. 18And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word, 19and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.
21And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand? 22For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. 23If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. 24And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you. 25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.
26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; 27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. 28The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, 32yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.
33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it; 34and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.
35And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. 36And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. 38And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
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