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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Mark 4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/mark/4-31.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/41_Mrk_04_31.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Mark 4:31 - The Parable of the Mustard Seed" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/mark/4-31.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/mark/4-31.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/mark/">Mark</a> > <a href="/mark/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 31</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/mark/4-30.htm" title="Mark 4:30">◄</a> Mark 4:31 <a href="/mark/4-32.htm" title="Mark 4:32">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/mark/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/mark/4.htm">New International Version</a> It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. <a href="/nlt/mark/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, <a href="/esv/mark/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, <a href="/bsb/mark/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. <a href="/blb/mark/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> As a grain of mustard, which, when it has been sown upon the earth, is smallest of all the seeds that are upon the earth, <a href="/kjv/mark/4.htm">King James Bible</a> 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: <a href="/nkjv/mark/4.htm">New King James Version</a> It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; <a href="/nasb_/mark/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is the smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil, <a href="/nasb/mark/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, <a href="/nasb77/mark/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, <a href="/lsb/mark/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil, <a href="/amp/mark/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, even though it is smaller than all the [other] seeds that are [sown] on the soil, <a href="/csb/mark/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. <a href="/hcsb/mark/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> It&#8217s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground. <a href="/asv/mark/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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, <a href="/cev/mark/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world. <a href="/erv/mark/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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, <a href="/gwt/mark/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth. <a href="/gnt/mark/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed, the smallest seed in the world, and plants it in the ground. <a href="/isv/mark/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. Although it's the smallest of all the seeds on earth, <a href="/msb/mark/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. <a href="/net/mark/4.htm">NET Bible</a> It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground-- <a href="/nheb/mark/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> It's like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the soil, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the soil, <a href="/wbt/mark/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth. <a href="/wey/mark/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world; <a href="/web/mark/4.htm">World English Bible</a> 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, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/mark/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth; <a href="/blb/mark/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> As a grain of mustard, which, when it has been sown upon the earth, is smallest of all the seeds that are upon the earth, <a href="/ylt/mark/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth; <a href="/slt/mark/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> As a kernel of mustard, which, when it be sown in the earth, is smaller than all seeds upon the earth:<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/mark/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth: <a href="/cpdv/mark/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth. <a href="/nabre/mark/4.htm">New American Bible</a> It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. <a href="/nrsvce/mark/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/mark/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> It is just like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/mark/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the herb seeds on the earth.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/mark/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> It is like a grain of mustard, which, when it is sown in the ground, is less than all seeds that are in the ground; <a href="/godbey/mark/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>Tis like a grain of mustard seed, which when it may be sown upon the earth, is the smallest of all seeds which are upon the earth,<Fr> <a href="/haweis/mark/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> It is like a grain of mustard, which when it is sown in the earth, is among the least of all the seeds which are upon the earth: <a href="/mace/mark/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a> it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there. <a href="/wey/mark/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world; <a href="/worrell/mark/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>It is like to a grain of mustard, which when it is sown upon the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,<Fr> <a href="/worsley/mark/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> It is<FR> like to a grain of mustard-seed, which when it is sown in the ground, is one of the lest of all the seeds on the earth:<Fr> <a href="/parallel/mark/4-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DmwDTC71zvQ?start=1122" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/mark/4.htm">The Parable of the Mustard Seed</a> 30Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? 31<a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">It is like</a> <a href="/greek/2848.htm" title="2848: kokkō (N-DMS) -- A kernel, grain, seed. Apparently a primary word; a kernel of seed.">a mustard seed,</a> <a href="/greek/4615.htm" title="4615: sinapeōs (N-GNS) -- Mustard (probably the shrub, not the herb). Perhaps from sinomai; mustard."></a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hos (RelPro-NMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">which</a> <a href="/greek/3752.htm" title="3752: hotan (Conj) -- When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as."></a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: on (V-PPA-NNS) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/3398.htm" title="3398: mikroteron (Adj-NNS-C) -- Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).">the smallest</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: pantōn (Adj-GNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">of all</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4690.htm" title="4690: spermatōn (N-GNP) -- From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.">seeds</a> <a href="/greek/4687.htm" title="4687: sparē (V-ASP-3S) -- To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow.">sown</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1093.htm" title="1093: gēs (N-GFS) -- Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">upon</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1093.htm" title="1093: gēs (N-GFS) -- Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.">earth.</a> 32But 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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/13-31.htm">Matthew 13:31-32</a> He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” <a href="/luke/13-18.htm">Luke 13:18-19</a> Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? / It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” <a href="/daniel/4-10.htm">Daniel 4:10-12</a> In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great. / The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth. / Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed. <a href="/ezekiel/17-22.htm">Ezekiel 17:22-24</a> This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’” <a href="/ezekiel/31-3.htm">Ezekiel 31:3-9</a> Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ... <a href="/isaiah/2-2.htm">Isaiah 2:2-3</a> In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. <a href="/isaiah/11-1.htm">Isaiah 11:1</a> Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. <a href="/isaiah/53-2.htm">Isaiah 53:2</a> He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. <a href="/psalms/80-8.htm">Psalm 80:8-11</a> You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ... <a href="/psalms/104-16.htm">Psalm 104:16-17</a> The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted, / where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses. <a href="/genesis/1-11.htm">Genesis 1:11-12</a> Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. / The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. <a href="/genesis/2-9.htm">Genesis 2:9</a> Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. <a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a> And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17-18</a> I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” <a href="/genesis/49-10.htm">Genesis 49:10</a> The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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:like.<a href="/matthew/13-31.htm">Matthew 13:31-33</a> Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: … <a href="/luke/13-18.htm">Luke 13:18,19</a> Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? … mustard seed.is less than.<a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17,18</a> That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; … <a href="/psalms/72-16.htm">Psalm 72:16-19</a> There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth… <a href="/isaiah/2-2.htm">Isaiah 2:2,3</a> And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/mark/4-28.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/mark/4-29.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/mark/4-26.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/ezekiel/15-5.htm">Less</a> <a href="/matthew/17-20.htm">Mustard</a> <a href="/matthew/17-20.htm">Mustard-Seed</a> <a href="/matthew/15-13.htm">Plant</a> <a href="/mark/4-27.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/mark/4-8.htm">Seeds</a> <a href="/matthew/13-32.htm">Smaller</a> <a href="/matthew/13-32.htm">Smallest</a> <a href="/mark/4-28.htm">Soil</a> <a href="/mark/4-20.htm">Sown</a> <a href="/mark/4-29.htm">Whenever</a> <a href="/mark/4-19.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/mark/8-6.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/luke/6-1.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/mark/8-6.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/mark/15-40.htm">Less</a> <a href="/luke/13-19.htm">Mustard</a> <a href="/luke/13-19.htm">Mustard-Seed</a> <a href="/luke/17-6.htm">Plant</a> <a href="/mark/12-19.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/luke/12-24.htm">Seeds</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-2.htm">Smaller</a> <a href="/luke/16-17.htm">Smallest</a> <a href="/luke/7-1.htm">Soil</a> <a href="/mark/4-32.htm">Sown</a> <a href="/mark/6-10.htm">Whenever</a> <a href="/mark/8-36.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Mark 4</div>1. <a href="/mark/4-1.htm">The parable of the sower,</a> 14. <a href="/mark/4-14.htm">and the meaning thereof.</a> 21. <a href="/mark/4-21.htm">We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others.</a> 26. <a href="/mark/4-26.htm">The parable of the seed growing secretly;</a> 30. <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">and of the mustard seed.</a> 35. <a href="/mark/4-35.htm">Jesus stills the storm on the sea.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/mark/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/mark/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/mark/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>It is like a mustard seed The mustard seed is often used in biblical texts to symbolize small beginnings that lead to significant outcomes. In the context of Jesus' parables, it represents the Kingdom of God starting from humble origins and growing into something vast and influential. The mustard plant, common in the region of Palestine, was known for its rapid growth and large size compared to its tiny seed. This imagery would have been familiar to Jesus' audience, who understood agriculture and the potential of seeds.which is the smallest of all seeds While not literally the smallest seed known today, the mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers in the region at the time, making it a fitting metaphor for Jesus' teaching. This phrase emphasizes the contrast between the seed's initial insignificance and its eventual impact. The use of hyperbole here serves to highlight the miraculous nature of the Kingdom's growth. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/matthew/17-20.htm">Matthew 17:20</a>, where faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.sown upon the earth The act of sowing seeds is a common biblical metaphor for spreading the word of God or the gospel. In the parable, the earth represents the world where the Kingdom of God is being established. The imagery of sowing also connects to the broader theme of spiritual growth and the spread of God's influence. This phrase can be linked to the Great Commission in <a href="/matthew/28-19.htm">Matthew 28:19-20</a>, where Jesus instructs His disciples to spread His teachings to all nations, symbolizing the sowing of the gospel across the earth.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The speaker of the parable, Jesus uses the mustard seed to illustrate a spiritual truth about the Kingdom of God. 2. <a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a> The primary audience of Jesus' teaching, who are learning about the nature of God's Kingdom. 3. <a href="/topical/m/mustard_seed.htm">Mustard Seed</a> A small seed used metaphorically by Jesus to describe the Kingdom of God. 4. <a href="/topical/k/kingdom_of_god.htm">Kingdom of God</a> The central theme of Jesus' teaching, represented by the growth of the mustard seed. 5. <a href="/topical/e/earth.htm">Earth</a> The setting for the sowing of the seed, symbolizing the world where the Kingdom of God takes root and grows.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/small_beginnings,_great_impact.htm">Small Beginnings, Great Impact</a> The Kingdom of God often starts in seemingly insignificant ways but grows to have a profound impact. This encourages believers to value and invest in small acts of faith and obedience. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_growth.htm">Faith in God's Growth</a> Just as the mustard seed grows beyond expectation, believers are called to trust in God's power to grow His Kingdom through their efforts, no matter how small they seem. <a href="/topical/p/patience_in_spiritual_growth.htm">Patience in Spiritual Growth</a> The growth of the mustard seed is a process. Believers should be patient and persistent in their spiritual journey, trusting that God is at work even when progress seems slow. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_the_gospel.htm">The Power of the Gospel</a> The mustard seed represents the Gospel's transformative power, starting small in the hearts of individuals but capable of changing lives and communities. <a href="/topical/e/encouragement_in_ministry.htm">Encouragement in Ministry</a> For those involved in ministry, this parable is a reminder that God can use their efforts, no matter how small, to bring about significant change and growth in His Kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_mark_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Mark 4</a> <a href="/q/why_is_the_mustard_seed_called_smallest.htm">In Mark 4:31–32, how can the mustard seed be described as the smallest seed when modern science identifies smaller seeds? </a> <a href="/q/what_was_jesus'_ministry_for.htm">What was the purpose of Jesus' ministry?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'overcome_by_the_blood'_mean.htm">What were the teachings of Jesus?</a> <a href="/q/did_people_live_on_'saltwort'_and_'juniper'.htm">Job 30:3-5 - Is there any historical or scientific record of people actually living off 'saltwort' and 'juniper roots,' or is this purely metaphorical language?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/mark/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31-32) It is like a grain of mustard seed.--See Notes on <a href="/context/matthew/13-31.htm" title="Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:">Matthew 13:31-32</a>. Slight variations in this report are (1) the "great branches," and (2) the birds lodging "under the shadow" of the tree. <a href="/commentaries/mark/4-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>It is like ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. a mustard seed, κόκκῳ (kokkō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2848.htm">Strong's 2848: </a> A kernel, grain, seed. Apparently a primary word; a kernel of seed. which ὃς (hos) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. is ὂν (on) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. [the] smallest μικρότερον (mikroteron) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative <a href="/greek/strongs_3398.htm">Strong's 3398: </a> Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity). of all πάντων (pantōn) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. seeds σπερμάτων (spermatōn) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4690.htm">Strong's 4690: </a> From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant. sown σπαρῇ (sparē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4687.htm">Strong's 4687: </a> To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow. upon ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. earth. γῆς (gēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1093.htm">Strong's 1093: </a> Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/mark/4-31.htm">Mark 4:31 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/mark/4-31.htm">NT Gospels: Mark 4:31 It's like a grain of mustard seed (Mar Mk Mr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/mark/4-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Mark 4:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Mark 4:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/mark/4-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Mark 4:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Mark 4:32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>