Mark 4:31

Mark 4:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
• New International Version (NIV)It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,
• New King James Version (NKJV)It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

Context of Mark 4:31

29And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. 32But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.” 33With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.

Mark 4:31 word by word

ὡς σινάπεως ὃς ὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μικρότερον ὂν πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.Read the interlinear

• It is likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• a mustard seedκόκκοςkokkos · seedG2848
• a mustard seedσίναπιsinapi · mustardG4615
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• smallestμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
• of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• seedsσπέρμαsperma · seed: offspringG4690
• sownσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
• sownἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• sownγῆgē · earth: soilG1093

Cross-references for Mark 4:31

• Matthew 13:31He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.
• Luke 13:18Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
• Genesis 22:17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
• Psalms 72:16May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.
• Isaiah 2:2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
• Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
• Isaiah 49:6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
• Isaiah 53:2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
• Isaiah 54:1“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.
• Isaiah 60:22The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.
• Ezekiel 17:22This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
• Daniel 2:34As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
• Amos 9:11“In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
• Micah 4:1In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.
• Zechariah 2:11“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
• Zechariah 8:20This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—

Commentaries on Mark 4:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31A grain of mustard seed - See on Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:32; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31See the notes at Matthew 13:31-32.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. 30-32Jesus contrasts a very small beginning with a large result. The mustard seed was known to be very small, almost the smallest seed people commonly used (see Matthew 17:20).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 4:31

• Church
• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Sermon
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Alone
• Care
• Cast
• Comparison
• Doctrine
• Mustard
• Games
• Jesus Christ
• Mark, the Gospel According to

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