The Parable of the Sower

Again(A) He began to teach(B) by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. He taught them many things in parables,(C) and in His teaching(D) He said to them: “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.(E) As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path,(F) and the birds came and ate(G) it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away,(H) since it didn’t have deep soil. When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered.(I) Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased(J) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”(K) Then He said, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”(L)

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When He was alone with the Twelve,(M) those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.(N) 11 He answered them, “The secret(O) of the kingdom of God(P) has been given to you, but to those outside,(Q) everything comes in parables 12 so that

they may look and look,
yet not perceive;
they may listen and listen,
yet not understand;(R)
otherwise, they might turn back—
and be forgiven.[a](S)[b]

The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 Then(T) He said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable?(U) How then will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows(V) the word.(W) 15 These[c] are the ones along the path(X) where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan(Y) comes and takes away the word(Z) sown in them.[d] 16 And these are[e] the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.(AA) 17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure(AB) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.(AC) 18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worries(AD) of this age,(AE) the seduction[f](AF) of wealth,(AG) and the desires(AH) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.(AI) 20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word,(AJ) welcome it, and produce a crop:(AK) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

Using Your Light

21 He(AL) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?(AM) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?(AN) 22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed,(AO) and nothing hidden except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!”(AP) 24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure(AQ) you use,[g](AR) it will be measured and added(AS) to you. 25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”(AT)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 “The kingdom of God(AU) is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground; 27 he sleeps(AV) and rises(AW)—night(AX) and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. 28 The soil produces a crop(AY) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain(AZ) on the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,(BA) because the harvest(BB) has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 And(BC) He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God,(BD) or what parable(BE) can we use to describe it? 31 It’s like a mustard seed(BF) that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground. 32 And when sown,(BG) it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables,(BH) and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky(BI) can nest in its shade.”

Using Parables

33 He would speak the word(BJ) to them with many parables(BK) like these, as they were able to understand.(BL) 34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.(BM)

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

35 On(BN) that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. 37 A fierce windstorm(BO) arose, and the waves(BP) were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But He was in the stern, sleeping(BQ) on the cushion. So they woke Him up(BR) and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”(BS)

39 He got up, rebuked(BT) the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence!(BU) Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful?(BV) Do you still have no faith?”

41 And they were terrified(BW) and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey(BX) Him!”(BY)

Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:12 Other mss read and their sins be forgiven them
  2. Mark 4:12 Is 6:9-10
  3. Mark 4:15 Some people
  4. Mark 4:15 Other mss read in their hearts
  5. Mark 4:16 Other mss read are like
  6. Mark 4:19 Or pleasure, or deceitfulness
  7. Mark 4:24 Lit you measure

· kai Again palin Jesus began archō to teach didaskō beside para the ho lake thalassa. And kai a very large polys crowd ochlos gathered synagō about pros him autos, so hōste that he autos got embainō into eis a boat ploion and sat kathēmai there out on en the ho lake thalassa while kai all pas the ho people ochlos were eimi on epi shore by pros the edge of the ho water thalassa. · ho And kai he taught didaskō them autos many things polys by en parables parabolē, and kai in en his autos teaching didachē said legō to them autos: · ho Listen akouō! A sower speirō went exerchomai out · ho to sow speirō. And kai as en he was sowing speirō, some hos seed fell piptō along para the ho path hodos, and kai birds peteinon came erchomai · ho and kai ate katesthiō it autos up. · kai Other allos seed fell piptō on epi · ho rocky ground petrōdēs where hopou it did not ou have echō much polys soil , and kai it sprang up exanatellō right away because dia · ho it had echō no depth bathos of soil . · kai When hote the ho sun hēlios came anatellō up , the plant was scorched kaumatizō, and kai because dia · ho it did not have echō a root rhiza, it withered xērainō away . · kai Other allos seed fell piptō among eis the ho thorns akantha, and kai the ho thorns akantha came anabainō up and kai choked sympnigō it autos, and kai it did didōmi not ou produce didōmi grain karpos. But kai other allos seed fell piptō into eis · ho good kalos soil · ho and kai produced didōmi grain karpos, sprouting anabainō, · kai growing auxanō, and kai bearing pherō thirty heis triakonta, · kai sixty heis hexēkonta, and kai even a hundredfold heis hekaton.” And kai he said legō, “ Whoever hos has echō ears ous to hear akouō, let him listen akouō!” 10 · kai When hote he was ginomai alone kata monos, those ho around peri him autos with syn the ho twelve dōdeka asked erōtaō him autos about erōtaō the ho parables parabolē. 11 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ To you hymeis has been given didōmi the ho mystery mystērion of the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos, but de to those ekeinos · ho outside exō, everything pas is ginomai in en parables parabolē, · ho 12 so hina that when they look blepō, they may see blepō yet kai not perceive, and kai when they listen akouō, they may hear akouō yet kai not understand syniēmi; otherwise mēpote they might turn epistrephō and kai be forgiven aphiēmi.’”

13 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ Do you not ou understand oida · ho this houtos parable parabolē? Then kai how pōs will you understand ginōskō all pas the ho parables parabolē? 14 The ho sower speirō sows speirō the ho word logos. 15 These houtos · de are eimi the ho ones on para the ho path hodos where hopou the ho word logos is sown speirō: · kai whenever hotan they hear akouō, Satan Satanas immediately comes erchomai · ho and kai carries airō off the ho word logos that ho was sown speirō in eis them autos. 16 · kai These houtos are eimi the ho ones sown speirō on epi · ho rocky ground petrōdēs: whenever hotan they hear akouō the ho word logos, they lambanō immediately receive lambanō it autos with meta joy chara. 17 But kai they have echō no ou root rhiza in en themselves heautou and alla last for eimi only a limited time proskairos. Then eita, when tribulation thlipsis or ē persecution diōgmos comes ginomai because dia of the ho word logos, immediately they fall skandalizō away . 18 · kai Others allos are eimi the ho ones sown speirō among eis the ho thorns akantha: these houtos are eimi the ho ones who hear akouō the ho word logos, 19 but kai the ho cares merimna of the ho world aiōn, · kai the ho deceitfulness apatē of ho wealth ploutos, and kai the ho desires epithumia for peri · ho many other things loipos come eisporeuomai in and choke sympnigō the ho word logos, and kai it becomes ginomai barren akarpos. 20 · kai These ekeinos are eimi the ho ones sown speirō on epi · ho good kalos soil : · ho they hostis hear akouō the ho word logos, · kai accept paradechomai it, and kai bear karpophoreō fruit thirty heis triakonta, · kai sixty heis hexēkonta, and kai even a hundredfold heis hekaton.”

21 And kai he said legō to them autos, “A lamp lychnos is not mēti brought erchomai · ho to hina be put tithēmi under hypo a ho basket modios or ē under hypo a ho bed klinē, is it? Is it not ou to hina be put tithēmi on epi a ho lampstand lychnia? 22 For gar nothing ou is eimi hidden kryptos except ean mē to hina be disclosed phaneroō; nor oude is ginomai anything concealed apokryphos, except alla to hina come erchomai to eis light phaneros. 23 If ei anyone tis has echō ears ous to hear akouō, let him listen akouō!” 24 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ Pay attention blepō to what tis you hear akouō. By en what hos measure metron you measure metreō it will be measured metreō out to you hymeis, and kai more will be added prostithēmi to you hymeis. 25 For gar whoever hos has echō, more will be given didōmi to him autos; and kai whoever hos does not ou have echō, even kai what hos he does have echō will be taken airō away from apo him autos.” 26 And kai he said legō, “ The ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos is eimi like hōs a man anthrōpos who scatters ballō · ho seed sporos on epi the ho ground . 27 · kai He goes to bed katheudō and kai gets egeirō up , night nyx and kai day hēmera, and kai the ho seed sporos sprouts blastanō and kai grows mēkynō, although he autos does not ou know oida how hōs. 28 The ho soil produces a crop karpophoreō all by itself automatos: first prōton the stalk chortos, then eita the head stachus, then eita the full plērēs grain sitos in en the ho head stachus. 29 And de when hotan the ho grain karpos is ripe paradidōmi, immediately he sends apostellō in the ho sickle drepanon, because hoti the ho harvest therismos has come paristēmi.”

30 Then kai he said legō, “To what pōs can we compare homoioō the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos, or ē what tis parable parabolē can we use tithēmi for en it autos? 31 It is like hōs a mustard sinapi seed kokkos that hos, when hotan it is sown speirō in epi the ho ground , is eimi smaller mikros than all pas of the ho seeds sperma · ho on epi · ho earth . 32 Yet kai when hotan it is sown speirō, it grows anabainō up and kai becomes ginomai larger megas than all pas the ho garden plants lachanon and kai puts poieō out large megas branches klados, so hōste that the ho birds peteinon of the ho air ouranos are able dynamai to nest kataskēnoō in hypo · ho its autos shade skia.”

33 So kai with parabolē many polys parables parabolē such as these toioutos he spoke laleō the ho word logos to them autos, as kathōs they were able dynamai to understand akouō. 34 And de without chōris a parable parabolē he did not ou speak laleō to them autos; but de privately kata idios to ho his idios own disciples mathētēs he would explain epilyō everything pas. 35 · kai On en that ekeinos same day hēmera, when ginomai evening opsia had come ginomai, he said legō to them autos, · ho Let us go dierchomai over to eis the ho other side peran.” 36 So kai after leaving aphiēmi the ho crowd ochlos, they took paralambanō him autos with them, just hōs as he was eimi, in en the ho boat ploion. And kai other allos boats ploion were eimi with meta him autos. 37 Now kai a fierce megas windstorm lailaps arose ginomai and kai the ho waves kyma began to break epiballō into eis the ho boat ploion, so hōste that the ho boat ploion was now ēdē filling gemizō. 38 But kai Jesus autos was eimi in en the ho stern prymna, sleeping katheudō on epi a ho cushion proskephalaion. · kai They woke egeirō him autos and kai said legō to him autos, “ Teacher didaskalos, do you sy not ou care melei that hoti we are perishing apollymi?” 39 So kai he got diegeirō up and rebuked epitimaō the ho wind anemos and kai said legō to the ho sea thalassa, “ Be still siōpaō! Settle phimoō down !” Then kai the ho wind anemos died kopazō down and kai there was ginomai a great megas calm galēnē. 40 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ Why tis are you eimi so fearful deilos? Have you echō still oupō no faith pistis?” 41 And kai they were filled phobeomai with great megas fear phobos and kai said legō to pros one another allēlōn, “ Who tis then ara is eimi this houtos, that hoti even kai the ho wind anemos and kai the ho sea thalassa obey hypakouō him autos?”