Mark 4:1

Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea.

BSB

Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.

KJV

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.

ASV

And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.

BBE

And again he was teaching by the seaside. And a very great number of people had come to him, so that he got into a boat on the sea and took his seat; and all the people were on the land by the seaside.

Original Greek

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Καὶ Kai And G2532 πάλιν palin again G3825 ἤρξατο ērxato He began G757 διδάσκειν didaskein to teach G1321 παρὰ para beside G3844 τὴν tēn the G3588 θάλασσαν thalassan sea G2281 καὶ kai And G2532 συνάγεται sunagetai are gathered together G4863 πρὸς pros to G4314 αὐτὸν auton Him G846 ὄχλος ochlos a crowd G3793 πλεῖστος pleistos greatest G4118 ὥστε hōste so that G5620 αὐτὸν auton He G846 εἰς eis into G1519 πλοῖον ploion a boat G4143 ἐμβάντα embanta having climbed G1684 τὸ to (the) G3588 καθῆσθαι kathēsthai sitting G2521 ἐν en in G1722 τῇ tēa the G3588 θαλάσσῃ thalassē sea G2281 καὶ kai and G2532 πᾶς pas all G3956 ὁ ho the G3588 ὄχλος ochlos crowd G3793 πρὸς pros close to G4314 τὴν tēn the G3588 θάλασσαν thalassan sea G2281 ἐπὶ epi on G1909 τῆς tēs the G3588 γῆς gēs land G1093 ἦσαν ēsan was G1510

The early church

(Hom. in Matt. 44) Which we must understand was not done without a purpose, but that He might not leave any one behind Him, but have all His hearers before His face.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Now this ship showed in a figure the Church, to be built in the midst of the nations, in which the Lord consecrates for Himself a beloved dwelling-place. It goes on: And he taught them many things by parables.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(in Marc. i. 18) For if we look into the Gospel of Matthew, it appears that this same teaching of the Lord at the sea, was delivered on the same day as the former. For after the conclusion of the first sermon, Matthew immediately subjoins, saying, The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side. (ubi sup.) After leaving the house also, He began to teach at the sea, because, quitting the synagogue, He came to gather together the multitude of the Gentile people by the Apostles. Wherefore it continues: And there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Although the Lord appears in the transactions mentioned above to neglect His mother, nevertheless He honours her; since on her account He goes forth about the borders of the sea: wherefore it is said, And Jesus began to teach again by the sea-side, &c.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
But He began to teach at the sea, that the place of His teaching might point out the bitter feelings and instability of His hearers.
Pseudo-Jerome · d. 9999Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–20

This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. In the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all. Of the many that hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, so as to bring forth fruit. Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit. The word does not leave abiding impressions upon the minds of men, because their hearts are not duly disposed to receive it. The devil is very busy about careless hearers, as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground. Many continue in a barren, false profession, and go down to hell. Impressions that are not deep, will not last. Many do not mind heart-work, without which religion is nothing. Others are hindered from profiting by the word of God, by abundance of the world. And those who have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by indulging the body. God expects and requires fruit from those who enjoy the gospel, a temper of mind and Christian graces daily exercised, Christian duties duly performed. Let us look to the Lord, that by his new-creating grace our hearts may become good ground, and that the good seed of the word may produce in our lives those good words and works which are through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God the Father.

Read Matthew Henry on Mark 4 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 13:1–3Luke 8:4

Cross-references

5

Topics

Jesus, The Christ

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.