Mark 4:31

It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

BSB

It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.

KJV

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:

ASV

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,

BBE

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is put in the earth, is smaller than all the seeds on the earth,

Original Greek

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ὡς hōs As G5613 κόκκῳ kokkō a grain G2848 σινάπεως sinapeōs of mustard G4615 ὃς hos which G3739 ὅταν hotan when G3752 σπαρῇ sparēa it may be sown G4687 ἐπὶ epi upon G1909 τῆς tēs the G3588 γῆς gēs earth G1093 μικρότερον mikroteron smaller than G3398 ὂν on is G1510 πάντων pantōn all G3956 τῶν tōn the G3588 σπερμάτων spermatōn seeds G4690 τῶν tōn which [are] G3588 ἐπὶ epi upon G1909 τῆς tēs the G3588 γῆς gēs earth G1093

The early church

(non occ. leg. ap. Possin. Cyril.) And also because the wisdom spoken amongst the perfect expands, to an extent greater than all other sayings, that which was told to men in short discourses, for there is nothing greater than this truth.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Most brief indeed is the word of faith; Believe in God, and thou shalt be saved.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Or else, that seed is very small in fear, but great when it has grown into charity, which is greater than all herbs; for God is love, (1 John 4:16) whilst all flesh is grass. (Isa. 40:6 But the boughs which it puts forth are those of mercy and compassion, since under its shade the poor of Christ, who are meant by the living creatures of the heavens, delight to dwell.
Pseudo-Jerome · d. 9999Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 21–34

These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!

Read Matthew Henry on Mark 4 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 13:31–32Luke 13:18–19

Cross-references

27

Topics

Kingdom Of Heaven

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