Mark 4:28
26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
- KJV
- For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
- WEB
- For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
- ASV
- The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
- DARBY
- The earth bears fruit of itself, first [the] blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear.
- BLB
- Of itself, the earth bears fruit—first a plant, then an ear, then full grain in the ear.
- ÅB
- Av seg selv bærer jorden grøde: først strå, så aks, så fullt korn i akset.
- OTB
- Jorden gir avling av seg selv; først strået, så akset, så fullmoden korn i akset.
- B1930
- Av sig selv bærer jorden grøde: først strå, så aks, så fullt korn i akset.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Philippians 1:9–11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Read in contextHosea 6:3
So let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.
Read in contextMark 4:31–32
It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
Read in contextColossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Read in contextMatthew 13:26
When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.
Read in contextPhilippians 1:6
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 3:12–13
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
Read in contextIsaiah 61:11
For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Read in context