Mark 4:17

Mark 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
• New International Version (NIV)But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
• New King James Version (NKJV)and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

Context of Mark 4:17

15These [in the first group] are the ones along the road where the word is sown; but when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16In a similar way these [in the second group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy [but accept it only superficially]; and they have no real root in themselves, so they endure only for a little while; then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they [are offended and displeased at being associated with Me and] stumble and fall away. 18And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:17 word by word

καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ῥίζαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀλλὰ πρόσκαιροί εἰσιν. εἶτα γενομένης θλίψεως ἢ διωγμοῦ διὰ τὸν λόγον, εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζονται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• noοὐou · noG3756
• rootῥίζαrhiza · rootG4491
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• and soἀλλάalla · butG235
• endureεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• for a timeπρόσκαιροςproskairos · temporaryG4340
• afterwardεἶταeita · thenG1534
• whenγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• orἤē · orG2228
• persecutionδιωγμόςdiōgmos · persecutionG1375
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the word’s sakeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the word’s sakeλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• immediatelyεὐθέωςeutheōs · immediatelyG2112
• they are offendedσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624

Cross-references for Mark 4:17

• Mark 4:5Other seed fell on rocks where there was not much soil; and immediately a plant sprang up because the soil had no depth.
• Job 19:28If you say, ‘How shall we [continue to] persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find [since we claim the root of these afflictions is found in him]?’
• Job 27:8For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world], When God takes his life?
• Matthew 12:31“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy [every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things] will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven.
• Luke 12:10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is, whoever intentionally discredits the Holy Spirit by attributing the authenticating miracles done by Me to Satan], it will not be forgiven him [for him there is no forgiveness].
• John 8:31So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.
• John 15:2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].
• 2 Timothy 1:15You are aware of the fact that all who are in [the province of] Asia turned away and deserted me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among them.
• 2 Timothy 2:17and their teaching will spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus,
• 2 Timothy 4:10for Demas, having loved [the pleasures of] this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
• 1 John 2:19They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.
• Matthew 11:6And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”
• Matthew 13:21yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation].
• Matthew 24:9“Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
• 1 Corinthians 10:12Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation].
• Galatians 6:12Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ.

Commentaries on Mark 4:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 See the notes at Matthew 13:18-23.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-20The explanation of the parable of the four soils uses an allegory (a story where each part has a deeper meaning). The farmer represents someone who shares God’s word (4:14). The four types of soil represent different ways people respond to that message. The main point of the parable is that people should be like good soil and listen to God’s word (4:9). Only those who produce a crop (show a changed life) and continue faithfully to the end will be saved…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-341. And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude--or, according to another well-supported reading, "a mighty" or "immense multitude." so that he entered into a ship--rather, "the ship," meaning the one mentioned in Mr 3:9. (See on Mt 12:15). and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land--crowded on the seashore to listen to Him. (See on Mt 13:1, 2.)Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 4:17

• Apostasy
• Backsliders
• Character
• Instability
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Sermon
• Sower
• Temptation
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Alone
• Care
• Cast
• Comparison
• Doctrine
• Jesus Christ
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Persecution
• Tribulation
• sow, sower, plant, planted, replanted, transplanted

Commentaries on Mark 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings