God’s Word Translation
Mark 4:32
32However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade.”
Mark 4:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
- New International Version (NIV)Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."
- New King James Version (NKJV)but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
Context of Mark 4:32
30Jesus asked, “How can we show what God’s kingdom is like? To what can we compare it? 31It’s like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth. However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade.” 33Jesus spoke ⌞God’s⌟ word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught. 34He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
Read all of Mark 4Mark 4:32 word by word
καὶ ὅταν σπαρῇ, ἀναβαίνει καὶ γίνεται μεῖζον πάντων τῶν λαχάνων καὶ ποιεῖ κλάδους μεγάλους ὥστε δύνασθαι ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῦν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butκαίkai · andG2532
- whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- it is sownσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
- it groweth upἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
- becomethγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- greater thanμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- herbsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- herbsλάχανονlachanon · plantG3001
- shooteth outποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- branchesκλάδοςklados · branchG2798
- so thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
- the fowlsπετεινόςpeteinon · birdG4071
- of the airοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- mayδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- lodgeκατασκηνόωkataskēnoō · to dwellG2681
- underὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- the shadowσκιάskia · shadowG4639
- of itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Mark 4:32
- Proverbs 4:18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.
- Isaiah 11:9They will not hurt or destroy anyone anywhere on my holy mountain. The world will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord like water covering the sea.
- Psalms 80:9You cleared the ground for it so that it took root and filled the land.
- Ezekiel 31:3What about Assyria? It was a cedar in Lebanon with fine branches that shaded the forest. It was very tall. Its top was among the clouds.
- Daniel 4:10These are the visions I had while I was asleep: I was looking, and I saw an oak tree in the middle of the earth. It was very tall.
- Psalms 91:1Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Isaiah 32:2Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind and a hiding place from the rain. They will be like streams on parched ground and the shade of a large rock in a weary land.
- Lamentations 4:20The person the Lord anointed ⌞as king⌟, who is the breath of our life, was caught in their pits. We had thought that we would live in our king’s shadow among the nations.”
Commentaries on Mark 4:32
- 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 4:32
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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