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?
• 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?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

Context of Mark 4:21

19but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 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? 22For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

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 has risen upon you.
• Matthew 5:15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
• Luke 8:16"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
• Luke 11:33"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
• 1 Corinthians 12:7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
• Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
• Philippians 2:15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
• Mark 5:15And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed 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