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Mark 4:10-12
New English Translation
Mark 4:10-12
New English Translation
The Purpose of Parables
10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret[a] of the kingdom of God[b] has been given[c] to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,
12 so that although they look they may look but not see,
and although they hear they may hear but not understand,
so they may not repent and be forgiven.”[d]
Footnotes
- Mark 4:11 tn Grk “the mystery.”sn The key term secret (μυστήριον, mustērion) can mean either (1) a new revelation or (2) a revealing interpretation of existing revelation as in Dan 2:17-23, 27-30. Jesus seems to be explaining how current events develop old promises, since the NT consistently links the events of Jesus’ ministry and message with old promises (Rom 1:1-4; Heb 1:1-2). The traditional translation of this word, “mystery,” is misleading to the modern English reader because it suggests a secret which people have tried to uncover but which they have failed to understand (L&N 28.77).
- Mark 4:11 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself.
- Mark 4:11 tn This is an example of a “divine passive,” with God understood to be the source of the revelation (see ExSyn 437-38).
- Mark 4:12 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10. Thus parables both conceal or reveal depending on whether one is open to hearing what they teach.
Mark 4:10-12
New International Version
Mark 4:10-12
New International Version
10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God(A) has been given to you. But to those on the outside(B) everything is said in parables 12 so that,
Footnotes
- Mark 4:12 Isaiah 6:9,10
Mark 4:10-12
New King James Version
Mark 4:10-12
New King James Version
The Purpose of Parables(A)
10 (B)But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to (C)know the [a]mystery of the kingdom of God; but to (D)those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that
(E)‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”
Footnotes
- Mark 4:11 secret or hidden truths
Mark 4:10-12
English Standard Version
Mark 4:10-12
English Standard Version
The Purpose of the Parables
10 And (A)when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, (B)“To you has been given (C)the secret of the kingdom of God, but for (D)those outside everything is in parables, 12 (E)so that
“‘they (F)may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they (G)should turn and be forgiven.’”
New English Translation (NET)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.