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Mark 4:21-34
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Mark 4:21-34
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Using Your Light
21 He(A) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?(B) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?(C) 22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed,(D) and nothing hidden except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!”(E) 24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure(F) you use,[a](G) it will be measured and added(H) to you. 25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”(I)
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 “The kingdom of God(J) is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground; 27 he sleeps(K) and rises(L)—night(M) and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. 28 The soil produces a crop(N) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain(O) on the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,(P) because the harvest(Q) has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 And(R) He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God,(S) or what parable(T) can we use to describe it? 31 It’s like a mustard seed(U) that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground. 32 And when sown,(V) it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables,(W) and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky(X) can nest in its shade.”
Using Parables
33 He would speak the word(Y) to them with many parables(Z) like these, as they were able to understand.(AA) 34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.(AB)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 4:24 Lit you measure
Mark 4:21-34
New International Version
Mark 4:21-34
New International Version
A Lamp on a Stand
21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?(A) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(B) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(C)
24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(D) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(E)
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.(F) A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”(G)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed(H)
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,(I) or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.(J) 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable.(K) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
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