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 Living Translation (NLT)It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,

Context of Mark 4:31

29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32but 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.” 33And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• a grainκόκκοςkokkos · seedG2848
• of mustard seedσίναπιsinapi · mustardG4615
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• it is sownσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the earthγῆgē · earth: soilG1093
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• less thanμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• the seedsσπέρμαsperma · seed: offspringG4690

Cross-references for Mark 4:31

• Matthew 13:31Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
• Luke 13:18Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
• Genesis 22:17blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
• Psalms 72:16There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
• Isaiah 2:2Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
• Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
• Isaiah 49:6Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
• Isaiah 53:2For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
• Isaiah 54:1“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
• Isaiah 60:22A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”
• Ezekiel 17:22Thus says the Lord God: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain.
• Daniel 2:34You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
• Amos 9:11“On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
• Micah 4:1Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it.
• Zechariah 2:11“Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
• Zechariah 8:20“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants 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