Amplified Bible
Mark 4:28
28The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head [of grain], then the mature grain in the head.
Mark 4:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
- New International Version (NIV)All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
Context of Mark 4:28
26Then He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground; 27and he goes to bed at night and gets up every day, and [in the meantime] the seed sprouts and grows; how [it does this], he does not know. The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head [of grain], then the mature grain in the head. 29But when the crop ripens, he immediately puts in the sickle [to reap], because [the time for] the harvest has come.” 30And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it?
Read all of Mark 4Mark 4:28 word by word
αὐτομάτη ἡ γῆ καρποφορεῖ πρῶτον χόρτον εἶτα στάχυν εἶτα πλήρης σῖτον ἐν τῷ στάχυϊ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- the earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the earthγῆgē · earth: soilG1093
- bringeth forth fruitκαρποφορέωkarpophoreō · to bear fruitG2592
- of herselfαὐτόματοςautomatos · by itselfG844
- firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
- the bladeχόρτοςchortos · grassG5528
- thenεἶταeita · thenG1534
- the earστάχυςstachus · head of grainG4719
- theσῖτοςsitos · grainG4621
- fullπλήρηςplērēs · fullG4134
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for Mark 4:28
- Genesis 1:11So God said, “Let the earth sprout [tender] vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind, whose seed is in them upon the earth”; and it was so.
- Genesis 2:4This is the history of [the origin of] the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [that is, days of creation] that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens—
- Genesis 4:11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s [shed] blood from your hand.
- Isaiah 61:11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, So the Lord God will [most certainly] cause righteousness and justice and praise To spring up before all the nations [through the power of His word].
- Mark 4:31It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, even though it is smaller than all the [other] seeds that are [sown] on the soil,
- Psalms 1:3And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].
- Psalms 92:13Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God.
- Proverbs 4:18But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
- Hosea 6:3So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
- Philippians 1:6I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].
- Colossians 1:10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12And may the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
- Matthew 13:26So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also.
Commentaries on Mark 4:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Bringeth forth - of herself - . By its own energy, without either the influence or industry of man. Similar to this is the expression of the poet: - Namque aliae, Nullis Homlnum Cogentibus, ipsae Sponte Sua veniunt. Virg. Geor. l. ii. v. 10 "Some (trees) grow of their own accord, without the labor of man." All the endlessly varied herbage of the field is produced in this way. The full corn - , Full wheat; the perfect, full-grown, or ripe corn. Lucian uses…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself - That is, it is done without the power of man. It is done while man is engaged in other things. The scope of this passage does not require us to suppose that our Saviour meant to say that the earth had any productive power of itself, but only that it produced its fruits not by the “power of man.” God gives it its power. It has no power of its own. So religion in the heart is not by the power of man. It grows…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-34Verses 21-34 These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-29This parable focuses on the seed and how it grows over time. Just as the earth produces crops on its own, the completion (final coming) of God’s kingdom does not depend on human effort. first the stalk, then the head, then the grain that ripens within: These describe the normal stages of a seed’s growth.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear--beautiful allusion to the succession of similar stages, though not definitely marked periods, in the Christian life, and generally in the kingdom of God.Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 4:28
In the dictionaries
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
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