Mark 4
International Children’s Bible
A Story About Planting Seed
4 Another time Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat and went out on the lake. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. 2 Jesus used many stories to teach them. He said, 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. 4 While the farmer was planting, some seed fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much dirt. The seed grew very fast there because the ground was not deep. 6 But when the sun rose, the plants withered. The plants died because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not make grain. 8 Some other seed fell on good ground. In the good ground, the seed began to grow. It grew and made a crop of grain. Some plants made 30 times more grain, some 60 times more grain, and some 100 times more grain.”
9 Then Jesus said, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”
Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories
10 Later, when Jesus was alone, the 12 apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.
11 Jesus said, “Only you can know the secret truth about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories. 12 I do this so that:
‘They will look and look, but they will not learn.
They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand,
they would come back to me and be forgiven.’” Isaiah 6:9-10
Jesus Explains the Seed Story
13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, then how will you understand any story? 14 The farmer is like a person who plants God’s teaching in people. 15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like some people. They hear the teaching of God. But Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them. 16 Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy. 17 But they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching, they quickly give up. 18 Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching. 19 But then other things come into their lives: worries, the love of money, and wanting all kinds of other things. These things stop the teaching from growing. So that teaching does not produce fruit[a] in their lives. 20 Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.”
Use What You Have
21 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. 22 Everything that is hidden will be made clear. Every secret thing will be made known. 23 Let those with ears use them and listen!
24 “Think carefully about the things you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you. But God will give you more than you give. 25 The person who has something will be given more. But the person who does not have much, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Jesus Uses a Story About Seed
26 Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground. 27 The seed comes up and grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is asleep or awake; the seed still grows. The man does not know how it grows. 28 Without any help, the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. 29 When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.”
A Story About Mustard Seed
30 Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 But when you plant this seed, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches. Even the wild birds can make nests in it and be protected from the sun.”
33 Jesus used many stories like these to teach them. He taught them all that they could understand. 34 He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone together, Jesus explained everything to them.
Jesus Stops a Storm
35 That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Come with me across the lake.” 36 He and the followers left the people there. They went in the boat that Jesus was already sitting in. There were also other boats with them. 37 A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves began coming over the sides and into the boat. It was almost full of water. 38 Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went to him and woke him. They said, “Teacher, do you care about us? We will drown!”
39 Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and the waves to stop. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm.
40 Jesus said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The followers were very afraid and asked each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Footnotes
- 4:19 produce fruit To produce fruit means to have in your life the good things God wants.
Markos 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 And again Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach began to say shiurim (Torah talks) beside the lake. And a huge multitude gathered together to him so that he got into a sirah (boat) on the lake and sat down. The whole multitude was by the lake on the shore.
2 And Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach was giving them torah with many meshalim (parables) and in the shiurim he said, he was saying to them:
3 Listen. Hinei! The Sower went out to sow (seeds).
4 And it came about that when he went to sow, that some [seeds] fell beside the road. And the birds came and devoured it.
5 And other [seeds] fell upon the rocky places where it did not have much soil, and ofen ort (immediately) it sprang up because it did not have depth of soil.
6 And when the shemesh rose, it was scorched and, because it did not have a shoresh (root), it withered.
7 And other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them, and it did not yield pri.
8 And other seed fell into the adamah tovah (good ground) and it was giving pri (fruit), rising up and growing, thirty, sixty, and one hundredfold.
9 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And when he was alone, the Shneym Asar were asking him for a hezber (explanation) of the meshalim (parables).
11 And he was saying to them, To you the raz (secret) of the Malchut Hashem has been given. But to the outsiders, everything remains in meshalim,
12 In order that YIRU they may see and not have daas VSHIMU they may hear and not have binah, lest they should turn and they should receive refuah and selicha. (YESHAYAH 6:9-10, TARGUM HASHIVIM)
13 And Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Do you not have daas of the meaning of this mashal? Then how will you have binah of all the meshalim?
14 The one sowing sows the dvar Hashem.
15 And these are the ones beside the road where the dvar Hashem is sown. And when they hear it, ofen ort Hasatan comes and takes the dvar that has been sown in them.
16 And these are the ones sown upon the rocky places: when they hear the dvar, ofen ort with simcha they receive it.
17 Yet they do not have a shoresh (root) in themselves but are transitory; then when ES TZARAH comes or redifah (persecution) on account of the dvar, ofen ort they fall away, they become shmad. [YIRMEYAH 30:7; Mattityahu 24:21-22]
18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. These are the ones having heard the dvar,
19 and the worries of the Olam Hazeh and the seduction of ashires (riches) and the desires for other things come in and choke the dvar Hashem and it does not bear pri.
20 And these are the ones sown upon adamah tovah: they hear the dvar Hashem and are mekabel (receive) the dvar Hashem and bear pri, thirty, sixty and one hundredfold.
21 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying to them, Surely a menorah is not brought out in order that it may be put under a measuring bucket or under the couch? Rather, is it not brought out that it may be placed on the shulchan?
22 For there is not [anything] nistar except that it may be made nikar nor has it become concealed but that it may come into [the] open. [YIRMEYAH 16:17]
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying to them, Pay attention! By what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.
25 For whoever has, it will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
26 And he was saying, Thus is the Malchut Hashem: like a man who casts seed upon the soil,
27 And goes to sleep blailah (at night) and arises byom (at day), and the seed sprouts up and grows in such a way that he does not have daas of how it does so.
28 On its own, the soil bears pri: first the blade, then a head of grain, then full wheat in the head.
29 But when the crop is ripe, ofen ort (immediately) he puts forth the MAGGAL, KI VASHAL KATZIR (sickle, for the harvest is ripe. [YOEL 3:13]
30 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying, To what should we compare the Malchut Hashem or by what mashal (parable) may we present it?
31 The Malchut Hashem is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the soil, is smaller [than] all the seeds on the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater [than] all the plants of the garden and puts forth large branches, so that the OPH HASHOMAYIM can nest under its shade.
33 And with many such meshalim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshich was speaking to them the dvar Hashem as they were able to hear.
34 But apart from meshalim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was not speaking to them. Only privately, in a yechidus, was Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach explaining everything to his own talmidim.
35 And on that day, when erev had come, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake.
36 And leaving the multitude, they took Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, just as he was, in the sirah (boat), and other sirot (boats) were with him.
37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind and the waves were beating against the sirah (boat), so that it was already filling up.
38 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was in the stern on the cushion sleeping, and they woke him up, and they say to him, Rebbe, does it not matter to you that we are perishing?
39 And having been awakened, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach rebuked the wind, and he spoke to the lake, Sha! Be still! And there was a great calm.
40 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Why do you have morech lev (cowardliness)? Do you still not have emunah?
41 And they were afraid with a terrible pachad (terror), and they were saying to one another, Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Mark 4
King James Version
4 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 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:
32 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.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Marcos 4
Dios Habla Hoy
La parábola del sembrador(A)
4 Otra vez comenzó Jesús a enseñar a la orilla del lago. Como se reunió una gran multitud, Jesús subió a una barca que había en el lago, y se sentó, mientras la gente se quedaba en la orilla. 2 Entonces se puso a enseñarles muchas cosas por medio de parábolas.
En su enseñanza les decía: 3 «Oigan esto: Un sembrador salió a sembrar. 4 Y al sembrar, una parte de la semilla cayó en el camino, y llegaron las aves y se la comieron. 5 Otra parte cayó entre las piedras, donde no había mucha tierra; esa semilla brotó pronto, porque la tierra no era muy honda; 6 pero el sol, al salir, la quemó, y como no tenía raíz, se secó. 7 Otra parte de la semilla cayó entre espinos, y los espinos crecieron y la ahogaron, de modo que la semilla no dio grano. 8 Pero otra parte cayó en buena tierra, y creció, dando una buena cosecha; algunas espigas dieron treinta granos por semilla, otras sesenta granos, y otras cien.»
9 Y añadió Jesús: «Los que tienen oídos, oigan.»
El porqué de las parábolas(B)
10 Después, cuando Jesús se quedó solo, los que estaban cerca de él junto con los doce discípulos le preguntaron qué quería decir aquella parábola. 11 Les contestó: «A ustedes, Dios les da a conocer el secreto de su reino; pero a los que están afuera se les dice todo por medio de parábolas, 12 para que por más que miren, no vean, y por más que oigan, no entiendan, para que no se vuelvan a Dios, y él no los perdone.»
Jesús explica la parábola del sembrador(C)
13 Les dijo: «¿No entienden ustedes esta parábola? ¿Cómo, pues, entenderán todas las demás? 14 El que siembra la semilla representa al que anuncia el mensaje. 15 Hay quienes son como la semilla que cayó en el camino: oyen el mensaje, pero después de oírlo viene Satanás y les quita el mensaje sembrado en su corazón. 16 Otros son como la semilla sembrada entre las piedras: oyen el mensaje y lo reciben con gusto, 17 pero como no tienen suficiente raíz, no se mantienen firmes; por eso, cuando por causa del mensaje sufren pruebas o persecución, pierden la fe. 18 Otros son como la semilla sembrada entre espinos: oyen el mensaje, 19 pero los negocios de la vida presente les preocupan demasiado, el amor por las riquezas los engaña, y quisieran poseer todas las cosas. Todo esto entra en ellos, y ahoga el mensaje y no lo deja dar fruto. 20 Pero hay otros que oyen el mensaje y lo aceptan, y dan una buena cosecha, como la semilla sembrada en buena tierra. De ésos, algunos rinden treinta, otros sesenta, y otros ciento por uno.»
La parábola de la lámpara(D)
21 También les dijo: «¿Acaso se trae una lámpara para ponerla bajo un cajón o debajo de la cama? No, una lámpara se pone en alto, para que alumbre. 22 De la misma manera, no hay nada escondido que no llegue a descubrirse, ni nada secreto que no llegue a ponerse en claro. 23 Los que tienen oídos, oigan.»
24 También les dijo: «Fíjense en lo que oyen. Con la misma medida con que ustedes den a otros, Dios les dará a ustedes; y les dará todavía más. 25 Pues al que tiene, se le dará más; pero al que no tiene, hasta lo poco que tiene se le quitará.»
La parábola del crecimiento de la semilla
26 Jesús dijo también: «Con el reino de Dios sucede como con el hombre que siembra semilla en la tierra: 27 que lo mismo da que esté dormido o despierto, que sea de noche o de día, la semilla nace y crece, sin que él sepa cómo. 28 Y es que la tierra produce por sí misma: primero el tallo, luego la espiga y más tarde los granos que llenan la espiga. 29 Y cuando ya el grano está maduro, lo recoge, porque ha llegado el tiempo de la cosecha.»
La parábola de la semilla de mostaza(E)
30 También dijo Jesús: «¿A qué se parece el reino de Dios, o con qué podremos compararlo? 31 Es como una semilla de mostaza que se siembra en la tierra. Es la más pequeña de todas las semillas del mundo, 32 pero una vez sembrada, crece y se hace mayor que todas las otras plantas del huerto, con ramas tan grandes que hasta las aves pueden posarse bajo su sombra.»
El uso que Jesús hacía de las parábolas(F)
33 De esta manera les enseñaba Jesús el mensaje, por medio de muchas parábolas como éstas, según podían entender. 34 Pero no les decía nada sin parábolas, aunque a sus discípulos se lo explicaba todo aparte.
Jesús calma la tormenta(G)
35 Al anochecer de aquel mismo día, Jesús dijo a sus discípulos:
—Vamos al otro lado del lago.
36 Entonces dejaron a la gente y llevaron a Jesús en la barca en que ya estaba; y también otras barcas lo acompañaban. 37 En esto se desató una tormenta, con un viento tan fuerte que las olas caían sobre la barca, de modo que se llenaba de agua. 38 Pero Jesús se había dormido en la parte de atrás, apoyado sobre una almohada. Lo despertaron y le dijeron:
—¡Maestro! ¿No te importa que nos estemos hundiendo?
39 Jesús se levantó y dio una orden al viento, y dijo al mar:
—¡Silencio! ¡Quédate quieto!
El viento se calmó, y todo quedó completamente tranquilo. 40 Después dijo Jesús a los discípulos:
—¿Por qué están asustados? ¿Todavía no tienen fe?
41 Ellos se llenaron de miedo, y se preguntaban unos a otros:
—¿Quién será éste, que hasta el viento y el mar lo obedecen?
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