Focused Passage

Mark 4:26-29

The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm

Mark 4 moves from Jesus' parable of the sower to the mystery of the kingdom, from warning about hearing to promises of hidden growth, from small beginnings to great kingdom outcome, and finally from kingdom teaching to a storm where the disciples must learn who Jesus is.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.

27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.

28 All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.

29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 26

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 11:6 Classic cross-references John 3:8 Classic cross-references Matthew 13:24 Classic cross-references Isaiah 61:11 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 3:6 Classic cross-references

Original words

vvv Καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Jesus] also said ἔλεγεν G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular The ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular is ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular like Οὕτως G3779 Adverb . . . ὡς G5613 Adverb a man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who scatters βάλῃ G906 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular seed σπόρον G4703 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular ground γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Verse 27

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 11:5 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 15:37 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 8:17 Classic cross-references John 9:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction Night νύκτα G3571 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction day ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular he sleeps καθεύδῃ G2518 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction wakes ἐγείρηται G1453 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular seed σπόρος G4703 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular sprouts βλαστᾷ G985 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction grows μηκύνηται G3373 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular [though] he αὐτός G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular knows οἶδεν G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb how ὡς G5613 Adverb

Verse 28

Cross-references

Genesis 1:12 Classic cross-references Genesis 1:11 Classic cross-references Philippians 1:9 Classic cross-references Hosea 6:3 Classic cross-references Mark 4:31 Classic cross-references

Original words

All by itself αὐτομάτη G844 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular the ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular earth γῆ G1093 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular produces a crop καρποφορεῖ G2592 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular first πρῶτον G4412 Adverb - Superlative [the] stalk χόρτον G5528 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular then εἶτα* G1534 Adverb [the] head στάχυν G4719 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular then εἶτα* G1534 Adverb grain σῖτον* G4621 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [that] ripens πλήρης G4134 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular within ἐν G1722 Preposition . . . τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular . . . στάχυϊ G4719 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Verse 29

Cross-references

Joel 3:13 Classic cross-references Revelation 14:15 Classic cross-references Isaiah 57:1 Classic cross-references Matthew 13:30 Classic cross-references Matthew 13:40 Classic cross-references

Original words

And δὲ G1161 Conjunction as soon as εὐθὺς G2112 Adverb . . . ὅταν G3752 Conjunction the ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular grain καρπός G2590 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ripe παραδοῖ G3860 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular he swings ἀποστέλλει G649 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular sickle δρέπανον G1407 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular harvest θερισμός G2326 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has come παρέστηκεν G3936 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

See Joel 3:13, including LXX.

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