Mark 4 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 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.
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.
1 Καὶ πάλιν ἤρξατο διδάσκειν παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν· καὶ συνήχθη πρὸς αὐτὸν ὄχλος πολύς, ὥστε αὐτὸν ἐμβάντα εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καθῆσθαι ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος πρὸς τὴν θάλασσαν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἦσαν.
2 And he gave them teaching about a number of things in the form of stories, and said to them in his teaching, Give ear:
2 He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
2 καὶ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς ἐν παραβολαῖς πολλά, καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ·
3 A man went out to put seed in the earth:
3 “Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow.
3 ἀκούετε. ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι.
4 And while he was doing it, some was dropped by the wayside, and the birds came and took it for food.
4 As he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it.
4 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ σπείρειν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἦλθον τὰ πετεινὰ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτό·
5 And some went on the stones, where it had not much earth; and it came up straight away, because the earth was not deep:
5 Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
5 καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸ πετρῶδες, ὅπου οὐκ εἶχε γῆν πολλήν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐξανέτειλε διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βάθος γῆς,
6 And when the sun was high, it was burned; and because it had no root, it became dry and dead.
6 When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
6 ἡλίου δὲ ἀνατείλαντος ἐκαυματίσθη, καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη·
7 And some went among the thorns, and the thorns came up, and it had no room for growth and gave no fruit.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
7 καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ συνέπνιξαν αὐτό, καὶ καρπὸν οὐκ ἔδωκε·
8 And some, falling on good earth, gave fruit, coming up and increasing, and giving thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.
8 Others fell into the good ground and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.”
8 καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπὸν ἀναβαίνοντα καὶ αὐξάνοντα, καὶ ἔφερεν ἐν τριάκοντα καὶ ἐν ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἐν ἑκατόν.
9 And he said to them, Whoever has ears, let him give ear.
9 He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
9 καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.
10 And when he was by himself, those who were round him with the twelve put questions to him about the purpose of the stories.
10 When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
10 Ὅτε δὲ ἐγένετο κατὰ μόνας, ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα τὴν παραβολήν.
11 And he said to them, To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are given in the form of stories;
11 He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
11 καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται,
12 So that seeing they may see, and it will not be clear to them; and hearing it, they will not get the sense; for fear that they may be turned again to me and have forgiveness.
12 that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’”
12 ἵνα βλέποντες βλέπωσι καὶ μὴ ἴδωσι, καὶ ἀκούοντες ἀκούωσι καὶ μὴ συνιῶσι, μήποτε ἐπιστρέψωσι καὶ ἀφεθῇ αὐτοῖς τὰ ἁμαρτήματα.
13 And he said to them, If you are not clear about this story, how will you be clear about the others?
13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?
13 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· οὐκ οἴδατε τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην, καὶ πῶς πάσας τὰς παραβολὰς γνώσεσθε;
15 And these are they by the wayside, where the word is planted; and when they have given ear, the Evil One comes straight away and takes away the word which has been planted in them.
15 The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
15 οὗτοι δέ εἰσιν οἱ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ὅπου σπείρεται ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν, εὐθὺς ἔρχεται ὁ σατανᾶς καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον τὸν ἐσπαρμένον ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν.
16 And in the same way, these are they who are planted on the stones, who, when the word has come to their ears, straight away take it with joy;
16 These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
16 καὶ οὗτοι ὁμοίως εἰσὶν οἱ ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη σπειρόμενοι, οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσι τὸν λόγον, εὐθὺς μετὰ χαρᾶς λαμβάνουσιν αὐτόν,
17 And they have no root in themselves, but go on for a time; then, when trouble comes or pain, because of the word, they quickly become full of doubts.
17 They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
17 καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσι ῥίζαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ἀλλὰ πρόσκαιροί εἰσιν· εἶτα γενομένης θλίψεως ἢ διωγμοῦ διὰ τὸν λόγον, εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζονται.
18 And others are those planted among the thorns; these are they who have given ear to the word,
18 Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,
18 καὶ οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπειρόμενοι, οἱ τὸν λόγον ἀκούοντες,
19 And the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, and the desire for other things coming in, put a stop to the growth of the word, and it gives no fruit.
19 and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
19 καὶ αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου καὶ αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι εἰσπορευόμεναι συμπνίγουσι τὸν λόγον, καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται.
20 And these are they who were planted on the good earth; such as give ear to the word, and take it into their hearts, and give fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundred times as much.
20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.”
20 καὶ οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν σπαρέντες, οἵτινες ἀκούουσι τὸν λόγον καὶ παραδέχονται, καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν τριάκοντα καὶ ἐν ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἐν ἑκατόν.
21 And he said to them, When the light comes in, do people put it under a vessel, or under the bed, and not on its table?
21 He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?
21 Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην; οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν ἐπιτεθῇ;
22 There is nothing covered which will not be seen openly, and nothing has been made secret which will not come to light.
22 For there is nothing hidden except that it should be made known, neither was anything made secret but that it should come to light.
22 οὐ γάρ ἐστι κρυπτὸν ὃ ἐὰν μὴ φανερωθῇ, οὐδὲ ἐγένετο ἀπόκρυφον ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα ἔλθῃ εἰς φανερόν.
23 If any man has ears, let him give ear.
23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”
23 εἴ τις ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν, ἀκουέτω.
24 And he said to them, Take care what you give ear to: in the same measure as you give you will get, and more will be given to you.
24 He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you; and more will be given to you who hear.
24 Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· βλέπετε τί ἀκούετε. ἐν ᾧ μέτρῳ μετρεῖτε, μετρηθήσεται ὑμῖν, καὶ προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν.
25 He who has, to him will be given: and he who has not, from him will be taken even that which he has.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”
25 ὃς γὰρ ἂν ἔχῃ, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ· καὶ ὃς οὐκ ἔχει, καὶ ὃ ἔχει ἀρθήσεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
26 And he said, Such is the kingdom of God, as if a man put seed in the earth,
26 He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
26 Καὶ ἔλεγεν· οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὡς ἂν ἄνθρωπος βάλῃ τὸν σπόρον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,
27 And went to sleep and got up, night and day, and the seed came to growth, though he had no idea how.
27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how.
27 καὶ καθεύδῃ καὶ ἐγείρηται νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν, καὶ ὁ σπόρος βλαστάνῃ καὶ μηκύνηται ὡς οὐκ οἶδεν αὐτός.
28 The earth gives fruit by herself; first the leaf, then the head, then the full grain.
28 For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
28 αὐτομάτη γὰρ ἡ γῆ καρποφορεῖ, πρῶτον χόρτον, εἶτα στάχυν, εἶτα πλήρη σῖτον ἐν τῷ στάχυϊ.
29 But when the grain is ready, he quickly sends men to get it cut, because the time for cutting has come.
29 But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
29 ὅταν δὲ παραδῷ ὁ καρπός, εὐθέως ἀποστέλλει τὸ δρέπανον, ὅτι παρέστηκεν ὁ θερισμός.
30 And he said, What picture may we give of the kingdom of God, or with what story may we make it clear?
30 He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
30 Καὶ ἔλεγε· πῶς ὁμοιώσωμεν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἢ ἐν τίνι παραβολῇ παραβάλωμεν αὐτήν;
31 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,
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,
31 ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ὃς ὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μικρότερος πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων ἐστὶ τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·
32 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.
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.”
32 καὶ ὅταν σπαρῇ, ἀναβαίνει καὶ γίνεται μείζων πάντων τῶν λαχάνων, καὶ ποιεῖ κλάδους μεγάλους, ὥστε δύνασθαι ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῦν.
33 And with a number of such stories he gave them his teaching, as they were able to take it:
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
33 Καὶ τοιαύταις παραβολαῖς πολλαῖς ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον, καθὼς ἠδύναντο ἀκούειν,
34 And without a story he said nothing to them: but privately to his disciples he made all things clear.
34 Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
34 χωρὶς δὲ παραβολῆς οὐκ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον· κατ᾽ ἰδίαν δὲ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἐπέλυε πάντα.
35 And on that day, when the evening had come, he said to them, Let us go over to the other side.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
35 Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὀψίας γενομένης· διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν.
36 And going away from the people, they took him with them, as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.
36 Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
36 καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν ὄχλον παραλαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν ὡς ἦν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ· καὶ ἄλλα δὲ πλοῖα ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
37 And a great storm of wind came up, and the waves came into the boat, so that the boat was now becoming full.
37 A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
37 καὶ γίνεται λαῖλαψ ἀνέμου μεγάλη, τὰ δὲ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, ὥστε ἤδη αὐτὸ βυθίζεσθαι.
38 And he himself was in the back of the boat, sleeping on the cushion: and they, awaking him, said, Master, is it nothing to you that we are in danger of destruction?
38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”
38 καὶ ἦν αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τῇ πρύμνῃ ἐπὶ τὸ προσκεφάλαιον καθεύδων· καὶ διεγείρουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἀπολλύμεθα;
39 And he came out of his sleep, and gave strong orders to the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be at rest. And the wind went down, and there was a great calm.
39 He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.
39 καὶ διεγερθεὶς ἐπετίμησε τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ εἶπε τῇ θαλάσσῃ· σιώπα, πεφίμωσο. καὶ ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος, καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη.
40 And he said to them, Why are you full of fear? have you still no faith?
40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
40 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί δειλοί ἐστε οὕτω; πῶς οὐκ ἔχετε πίστιν;
41 And their fear was great, and they said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea do his orders?
41 They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
41 καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἀλλήλους· τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν, ὅτι καὶ ὁ ἄνεμος καὶ ἡ θάλασσα ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ;
Cross references (41)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 2:13; Luke 5:1–3; Luke 8:4–10; Matthew 13:1–15; Mark 3:7
- 2 Matthew 13:34–35; Mark 3:23; Mark 4:11; Matthew 13:10; Matthew 13:3
- 3 James 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:6–9; John 4:35–38; Matthew 13:26; Mark 4:26–29
- 4 Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Matthew 13:4; Luke 8:12; Genesis 15:11
- 5 Ezekiel 36:26; Luke 8:6; Luke 8:13; Hosea 10:12; Matthew 13:5–6
- 6 Jeremiah 17:5–8; James 1:11; Jonah 4:8; Isaiah 25:4; Colossians 2:7
- 7 Jeremiah 4:3; 1 John 2:15–16; Genesis 3:17–18; Luke 12:15; Luke 21:34
- 8 John 15:5; Colossians 1:6; Genesis 26:12; Mark 4:20; Philippians 1:11
- 9 Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:23–24; Revelation 3:22; Revelation 3:13; Revelation 3:6
- 10 Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–15; Mark 7:17; Matthew 13:36; Mark 4:34
- 11 Matthew 11:25; Luke 8:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; James 1:16–18; 1 Corinthians 5:12–13
- 12 Isaiah 6:9–10; Isaiah 44:18; Matthew 13:14–15; Jeremiah 5:21; Deuteronomy 29:4
- 13 Revelation 3:19; Luke 8:11–15; Matthew 13:51–52; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Hebrews 5:11–14
- 14 Acts 8:4; Matthew 13:19; 1 Peter 1:23–25; Luke 8:11; Matthew 13:37
- 15 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 13:19; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Luke 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:3–4
- 16 Luke 8:13; Matthew 13:20–21; Mark 6:20; John 5:35; Ezekiel 33:31–32
- 17 Matthew 11:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:3–5; Revelation 2:10; Matthew 12:31; John 15:2–7
- 18 Luke 8:14; Jeremiah 4:3; Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:7
- 19 1 John 2:15–17; 1 Timothy 6:9–10; 1 Timothy 6:17; 1 Peter 4:2–3; Philippians 4:6
- 20 Colossians 1:10; Luke 8:15; John 15:4–5; Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:8
- 21 Matthew 5:15; Luke 11:33; Luke 8:16; Isaiah 60:1–3; Ephesians 5:3–15
- 22 Luke 8:17; Ecclesiastes 12:14; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Psalm 78:2–4; Matthew 10:26–27
- 23 Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9; Revelation 2:29; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:17
- 24 Hebrews 2:1; Luke 8:18; Matthew 7:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Acts 17:11
- 25 Matthew 13:12; Luke 8:18; Matthew 25:28–29; John 15:2; Luke 16:9–12
- 26 Matthew 13:24; 1 Corinthians 3:6–9; 1 Peter 1:23–25; Luke 8:11; Luke 8:5
- 27 Ecclesiastes 11:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Ecclesiastes 8:17; 1 Corinthians 15:37–38; John 3:7–8
- 28 Philippians 1:9–11; Hosea 6:3; Mark 4:31–32; Colossians 1:10; Matthew 13:26
- 29 Joel 3:13; Matthew 13:30; Isaiah 57:1–2; Matthew 13:40–43; Job 5:26
- 30 Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–21; Lamentations 2:13; Matthew 13:24; Matthew 11:16
- 31 Acts 19:20; Genesis 22:17–18; Luke 13:18–19; Daniel 2:44–45; Malachi 1:11
- 32 Daniel 4:20–22; Daniel 4:10–14; Ezekiel 31:3–10; Psalm 80:9–11; Psalm 91:1
- 33 Matthew 13:34–35; John 16:12; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Hebrews 5:11–14
- 34 John 16:25; Luke 24:27; Mark 4:10; Matthew 13:36–43; Matthew 15:15–20
- 35 Matthew 8:18; Luke 8:25; Luke 8:22; Matthew 8:23–27; Matthew 14:22
- 36 Mark 4:1; Mark 3:9; Mark 5:2; Mark 5:21
- 37 Matthew 8:23–24; Job 1:19; Luke 8:22–23; Jonah 1:4; Psalm 107:23–31
- 38 1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 8:25; Isaiah 54:6–8; Luke 8:24
- 39 Psalm 107:29; Psalm 89:9; Psalm 29:10; Psalm 65:7; Jeremiah 5:22
- 40 Luke 8:25; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 14:31; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 16:8
- 41 Luke 8:25; Job 38:11; 1 Samuel 12:18–20; Jonah 1:9–10; Jonah 1:15–16
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… if they do not call Himself the Son of the Creator of the world, that is, His Word, through whom the wood fructifies, and the fountains gush forth, and the earth gives "first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear."
Therefore also another evangelist saith that He reproved them, because they do not understand; saying, "How knew ye not the parable?" But not for this cause only doth He speak in parables, but that He may also make His discourse more vivid, and fix the memory of it in them more perfectly, and bring the things before their sight.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)