Mark 4:32

yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”

BSB

But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

KJV

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.

ASV

yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.

BBE

But when it is planted, it comes up, and becomes taller than all the plants, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of heaven are able to take rest in its shade.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai and G2532 ὅταν hotan when G3752 σπαρῇ sparēa it may be sown G4687 ἀναβαίνει anabainei it grows up G305 καὶ kai and G2532 γίνεται ginetai becomes G1096 μεῖζον meizon greater G3173 πάντων pantōn than all G3956 τῶν tōn the G3588 λαχάνων lachanōn garden plants G3001 καὶ kai and G2532 ποιεῖ poiei it produces G4160 κλάδους kladous branches G2798 μεγάλους megalous great G3173 ὥστε hōste so that G5620 δύνασθαι dunasthai to be able G1410 ὑπὸ hupo under G5259 τὴν tēn the G3588 σκιὰν skian shadow G4639 αὐτοῦ autou of it G846 τὰ ta the G3588 πετεινὰ peteina birds G4071 τοῦ tou of the G3588 οὐρανοῦ ouranou air G3772 κατασκηνοῦν.¶ kataskēnoun to perch G2681

The early church

But the preaching of it has been spread far and wide over the earth, and increased so, that the birds of heaven, that is, contemplative men, sublime in understanding and knowledge, dwell under it. For how many wise men among the Gentiles, quitting their wisdom, have found rest in the preaching of the Gospel! Its preaching then is greater than all. Again, it put forth great boughs, for the Apostles were divided off as the boughs of a tree, some to Rome, some to India, some to other parts of the world.

Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(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)

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

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 13:31–32 Luke 13:18–19

Cross-references

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