Mark 4:34

Mark 4:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
• New International Version (NIV)He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Context of Mark 4:34

32but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.” 33Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. 35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

Mark 4:34 word by word

χωρὶς δὲ παραβολῆς οὐκ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς· κατ᾽ ἰδίαν δὲ τοῖς ἰδίοις μαθηταῖς ἐπέλυεν πάντα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• a parableπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
• spake heλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• notοὐou · noG3756
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκατάkata · according toG2596
• they were aloneἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• he expoundedἐπιλύωepiluō · to explainG1956
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• toὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• toμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101

Cross-references for Mark 4:34

• Mark 4:10Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
• Mark 7:17Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used.
• Matthew 13:36Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”
• Matthew 15:15Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”
• Luke 8:9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
• Luke 24:27Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Commentaries on Mark 4:34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34He expounded all things to his disciples - That they might be capable of instructing others. Outside hearers, those who do not come into close fellowship with the true disciples of Christ, have seldom more than a superficial knowledge of Divine things. In the fellowship of the saints, where Jesus the teacher is always to be found, every thing is made plain, - for the secret of the Lord is with them who fear him.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34Without a parable spake he not unto them - That is, the things pertaining to his kingdom. On other subjects he spake without parables. On these, such was their prejudice, so many notions had they contrary to the nature of his kingdom, and so liable would plain instructions have been to give offence, that he employed this method to “insinuate” truth gradually into their minds, and to prepare them fully to understand the nature of his kingdom. They were…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. 33-34Mark’s summary of this section shows that 4:3–32 is a collection of parables. It is not a record of what Jesus taught on one specific day in the order in which he taught it. Jesus privately explained the parables to the disciples. This shows that they were not outsiders, even though they sometimes did not understand (compare 4:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. But without a parable spake he not unto them--See on Mt 13:34. and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples--See on Mr 4:22. Mr 4:35-5:20. Jesus Crossing the Sea of Galilee, Miraculously Stills a Tempest--He Cures the Demoniac of Gadara. ( = Mt 8:23-34; Lu 8:22-39). The time of this section is very definitely marked by our Evangelist, and by him alone, in the opening words. Jesus Stills a Tempest on the Sea of Galilee (Mr…Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 4:34

• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Alone
• Care
• Cast
• Comparison
• Doctrine
• 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