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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 4:26 Jesus also said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/mark/4-26.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/41_Mrk_04_26.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Mark 4:26 - The Seed Growing Secretly" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Jesus also said, The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground." /><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/4-26.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/4-26.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 26</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="/ad6.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/4-25.htm" title="Mark 4:25">◄</a> Mark 4:26 <a href="/mark/4-27.htm" title="Mark 4:27">►</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> He also said, &#8220This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. <a href="/nlt/mark/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. <a href="/esv/mark/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. <a href="/bsb/mark/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. <a href="/blb/mark/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is thus, as a man should cast the seed upon the earth, <a href="/kjv/mark/4.htm">King James Bible</a> And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; <a href="/nkjv/mark/4.htm">New King James Version</a> And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, <a href="/nasb_/mark/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; <a href="/nasb/mark/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> And He was saying, &#8220The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; <a href="/nasb77/mark/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; <a href="/lsb/mark/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; <a href="/amp/mark/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground; <a href="/csb/mark/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “The kingdom of God is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. <a href="/hcsb/mark/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220The kingdom of God is like this,&#8221 He said. &#8220A man scatters seed on the ground; <a href="/asv/mark/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; <a href="/cev/mark/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Again Jesus said: God's kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field. <a href="/erv/mark/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; <a href="/gwt/mark/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. <a href="/gnt/mark/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> Jesus went on to say, "The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. <a href="/isv/mark/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> He was also saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. <a href="/msb/mark/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Jesus also said, ?The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. <a href="/net/mark/4.htm">NET Bible</a> He also said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. <a href="/nheb/mark/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And he said, "The Kingdom of God is like someone who scatters seed on the earth, <a href="/wbt/mark/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; <a href="/wey/mark/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Another saying of His was this: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man scattered seed over the ground: <a href="/web/mark/4.htm">World English Bible</a> He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/mark/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And He said, “Thus is the Kingdom of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth, <a href="/blb/mark/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is thus, as a man should cast the seed upon the earth, <a href="/ylt/mark/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And he said, 'Thus is the reign of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth, <a href="/slt/mark/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/mark/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth, <a href="/cpdv/mark/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he said: “The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land. <a href="/nabre/mark/4.htm">New American Bible</a> He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land <a href="/nrsvce/mark/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/mark/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he said, Such is the kingdom of God, like a man who casts seed in the ground. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/mark/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And he said, “Thus is the Kingdom of God like a man who cast seed in the ground.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/mark/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should sow seed in the ground, <a href="/godbey/mark/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And He said, <FR>Thus is the kingdom of God, as a man may cast seed on the ground;<Fr> <a href="/haweis/mark/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And he said, The kingdom of heaven is of that kind, as if a man should cast seed into his field; <a href="/mace/mark/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Again, he said, the state of the gospel is like that of the grain, which a man sows in his land: <a href="/wey/mark/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Another saying of His was this: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man scattered seed over the ground: <a href="/worrell/mark/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And He said, <FR>"So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth;<Fr> <a href="/worsley/mark/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And He said, <FR>The kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed into the ground,<Fr> <a href="/parallel/mark/4-26.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=1085" 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 Seed Growing Secretly</a> 25For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” 26<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: elegen (V-IIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">Jesus also said,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- 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/932.htm" title="932: basileia (N-NFS) -- From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.">kingdom</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- 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/3779.htm" title="3779: Houtōs (Adv) -- Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).">like</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner."></a> <a href="/greek/444.htm" title="444: anthrōpos (N-NMS) -- A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.">a man</a> <a href="/greek/906.htm" title="906: balē (V-ASA-3S) -- (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.">who scatters</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4703.htm" title="4703: sporon (N-AMS) -- Seed for sowing. From speiro; a scattering, i.e. seed.">seed</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</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.">ground.</a> 27Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.…<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/13-24.htm">Matthew 13:24-30</a> Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. / But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. / When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. ... <a href="/luke/8-11.htm">Luke 8:11-15</a> Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. / The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. / The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. ... <a href="/isaiah/55-10.htm">Isaiah 55:10-11</a> For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. <a href="/1_corinthians/3-6.htm">1 Corinthians 3:6-9</a> I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. / He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. ... <a href="/james/5-7.htm">James 5:7-8</a> Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. <a href="/john/4-35.htm">John 4:35-38</a> Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. / Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. / For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. ... <a href="/galatians/6-7.htm">Galatians 6:7-9</a> Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. / Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 11:6</a> Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper. <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Hosea 10:12</a> Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. <a href="/psalms/126-5.htm">Psalm 126:5-6</a> Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain. <a href="/matthew/9-37.htm">Matthew 9:37-38</a> Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. / Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.” <a href="/2_corinthians/9-10.htm">2 Corinthians 9:10</a> Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. <a href="/genesis/8-22.htm">Genesis 8:22</a> As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.” <a href="/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3</a> For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns. <a href="/proverbs/11-18.htm">Proverbs 11:18</a> The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;So.<a href="/matthew/3-2.htm">Matthew 3:2</a> And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.<a href="/matthew/4-17.htm">Matthew 4:17</a> From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.<a href="/matthew/13-11.htm">Matthew 13:11,31,33</a> He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given… as.<a href="/mark/4-3.htm">Mark 4:3,4,14</a> Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: … <a href="/proverbs/11-18.htm">Proverbs 11:18</a> The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.<a href="/ecclesiastes/11-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 11:4,6</a> He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/mark/3-23.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/mark/3-22.htm">Casts</a> <a href="/mark/4-20.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/mark/4-20.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/mark/4-11.htm">Kingdom</a> <a href="/mark/4-11.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/matthew/25-26.htm">Scatter</a> <a href="/matthew/26-31.htm">Scattered</a> <a href="/matthew/12-30.htm">Scatters</a> <a href="/mark/4-20.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/mark/4-8.htm">Soil</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/mark/6-13.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/luke/11-15.htm">Casts</a> <a href="/mark/4-28.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/mark/4-31.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Kingdom</a> <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/luke/11-23.htm">Scatter</a> <a href="/mark/14-27.htm">Scattered</a> <a href="/luke/11-23.htm">Scatters</a> <a href="/mark/4-27.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/mark/4-28.htm">Soil</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'; 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Parables were a common method used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths through everyday experiences. This teaching method was effective in engaging listeners and prompting deeper reflection.The kingdom of God The kingdom of God is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, representing God's sovereign rule and reign. It is both a present reality and a future hope. In the context of Mark, the kingdom is breaking into the world through Jesus' ministry, challenging existing religious and social structures.is like a man The use of a man in the parable represents an ordinary person, emphasizing the accessibility and inclusivity of the kingdom. This imagery connects with the agrarian society of first-century Palestine, where farming was a common occupation.who scatters seed on the ground The act of scattering seed symbolizes the spreading of God's word and the message of the kingdom. The ground represents the world or the hearts of individuals who receive the message. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages, such as the Parable of the Sower earlier in <a href="/mark/4.htm">Mark 4</a>, where the seed represents the word of God. The process of growth is mysterious and not fully controlled by the sower, highlighting the divine aspect of the kingdom's growth.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is the teacher and accountteller in this passage, using parables to convey spiritual truths. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_kingdom_of_god.htm">The Kingdom of God</a> A central theme in Jesus' teachings, representing God's sovereign rule and reign, both present and future. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_man.htm">The Man</a> Represents those who spread the message of the Kingdom, akin to a sower or farmer in the parable. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_seed.htm">The Seed</a> Symbolizes the Word of God or the message of the Kingdom, which is spread among people. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_ground.htm">The Ground</a> Represents the hearts and minds of people who receive the message of the Kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_mystery_of_growth.htm">The Mystery of Growth</a> The growth of the Kingdom is often unseen and mysterious, much like the growth of a seed. We are called to trust in God's timing and methods. <a href="/topical/o/our_role_in_the_kingdom.htm">Our Role in the Kingdom</a> Like the man who scatters seed, we are called to share the message of the Kingdom. Our responsibility is to sow; God is responsible for the growth. <a href="/topical/p/patience_and_faith.htm">Patience and Faith</a> Just as a farmer waits patiently for the harvest, we must exercise patience and faith, trusting that God is at work even when we do not see immediate results. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_the_word.htm">The Power of the Word</a> The seed represents the Word of God, which has inherent power to transform lives. We should be diligent in spreading this powerful message. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_receptive_hearts.htm">The Importance of Receptive Hearts</a> The ground symbolizes the condition of human hearts. We should pray for receptive hearts and prepare our own hearts to receive God's Word.<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/how_do_god's_kingdom_and_heaven_differ.htm">How do the Kingdom of God and Heaven differ?</a> <a href="/q/what's_the_gospel_of_the_kingdom.htm">What is the Gospel of the Kingdom about?</a> <a href="/q/why_call_mustard_seed_smallest.htm">Why does Jesus say the mustard seed is the smallest when it is not?</a> <a href="/q/does_psalm_85_10-11_clash_with_science.htm">Psalm 85:10–11 – Does the poetic imagery of truth springing from the earth clash with scientific understanding or archaeological findings? </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>(26) As if a man should cast seed into the ground.--What follows has the special interest of being the only parable peculiar to St. Mark, one therefore which had escaped the manifest eagerness of St. Matthew and St. Luke to gather up all that they could find of this form of our Lord's teaching. It runs to some extent parallel with the parable of the Sower, as though it had been given as another and easier lesson in the art of understanding parables; and if we assume a connection between St. Mark and St. Peter, it may be regarded as having in this way made a special impression on the mind of the Apostle. Like many other parables, it finds an interpretation in the analogous phenomena of the growth of the Kingdom (1) in the world at large, (2) in the heart of each individual. Speaking roughly, the Sower is, as before, either the Son of Man or the preacher of His word, and the ground falls under one or other of the heads just defined in the previous parable, with, perhaps, a special reference to the good ground.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/mark/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 26-28. - This parable is recorded by St. Mark alone. It differs greatly from the parable of the sower, although both of them are founded upon the imagery of the seed cast into the ground. In both cases the seed represents the doctrine of the gospel; the field represents the hearers; the harvest the end of the world, or perhaps the death of each individual hearer. So is the kingdom of God, in its progress from its establishment to its completion. The sower casts seed upon the earth, not without careful preparation of the soil, but without further sowing. And then he pursues his ordinary business. He sleeps by night; he rises by day; he has leisure for other employment; his work as a sower is finished. Meanwhile the seed germinates and grows by its own hidden virtues, assisted by the earth, the sun, and the air, the sower knowing nothing of the mysterious process. First comes the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Such is the preaching of the gospel. Here, therefore, the sower represents human responsibility in the work. The vitality of the seed is independent of his labour. The earth develops the plant from the seed by those natural but mysterious processes through which the Creator is ever working. So in spiritual things, the sower commences the work, and the grace of God perfects it in the heart which receives these influences. The earth beareth fruit of herself. In like manner, by degrees, the faith of Christ increases through the preaching of the gospel; and the Church grows and expands. And what is true of the Church collectively is true also of each individual member of the Church. For the heart of each faithful Christian produces first the blade, when it conceives good desires and begins to put them into action; then the ear, when it brings them to good effect; and lastly the full corn in the ear, when it brings them to their full maturity and perfection. Hence our Lord in this parable intimates that they who labour for the conversion of souls ought, with much patience, to wait for the fruit of 'their labour, as the husbandman waits with much patience for the precious fruits of the earth. <a href="/commentaries/mark/4-26.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[Jesus] also said, ἔλεγεν (elegen) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “The ἡ (hē) Article - Nominative 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. kingdom βασιλεία (basileia) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_932.htm">Strong's 932: </a> From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm. of God Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. is ἐστὶν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person 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. like Οὕτως (Houtōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3779.htm">Strong's 3779: </a> Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows). a man ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_444.htm">Strong's 444: </a> A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. who scatters βάλῃ (balē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_906.htm">Strong's 906: </a> (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw. seed σπόρον (sporon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4703.htm">Strong's 4703: </a> Seed for sowing. From speiro; a scattering, i.e. seed. on 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. ground. 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/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/mark/4-26.htm">Mark 4:26 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/mark/4-26.htm">NT Gospels: Mark 4:26 He said The Kingdom of God (Mar Mk Mr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/mark/4-25.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Mark 4:25"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Mark 4:25" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/mark/4-27.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Mark 4:27"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Mark 4:27" /></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>