Mark 4:21

Mark 4:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
• New International Version (NIV)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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

Context of Mark 4:21

19but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.” He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? 22For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”

Mark 4:21 word by word

Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην; οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τεθῇ;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Isμήτιmēti · surely notG3385
• a candleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a candleλύχνοςluchnos · lampG3088
• broughtἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• be putτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
• bushelμόδιοςmodios · bucketG3426
• orἤē · orG2228
• a bedκλίνηklinē · bedG2825
• and notοὐou · noG3756
• be setἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• a candlestickλυχνίαluchnia · lampstandG3087

Cross-references for Mark 4:21

• Isaiah 60:1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you.
• Matthew 5:15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.
• Luke 8:16“No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light.
• Luke 11:33“No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light.
• 1 Corinthians 12:7A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:
• Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.
• Philippians 2:15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,
• Mark 5:15They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Commentaries on Mark 4:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Is a candle - put under a bushel! - The design of my preaching is to enlighten men; my parables not being designed to hide the truth, but to make it more manifest.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Is a candle brought … - A candle is not lit up to be put immediately under a measure or a bed, where it can give no light. Its design is to give light. So my preaching by parables is not designed to obscure the truth, but to throw light on it. You should understand those parables, and, understanding them, should impart the truth to others also, as a candle throws its beams upon a dark world. Bushel - The word here used in the original means a measure for…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. 21A lamp is lit to shine and provide light, not to stay hidden. Citizens of the kingdom of God must display the light of the good news about Jesus (4:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. And he said unto them, Is a candle--or "lamp" brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?--"that they which enter in may see the light" (Lu 8:16). See on Mt 5:15, of which this is nearly a repetition.Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 4:21

• Bushel
• Influence
• Jesus, the Christ
• Measure
• Sermon
• Testimony
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Alone
• Care
• Cast
• Comparison
• Doctrine
• Lamp
• Bed; Bedchamber; Bedstead
• Bushel
• Candle; Candlestick
• Jesus Christ

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