Mark 4:28
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare 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 I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Read in contextHosea 6:3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Read in contextMark 4:31–32
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:
Read in contextColossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Read in contextMatthew 13:26
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Read in contextPhilippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Read in context1 Thessalonians 3:12–13
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
Read in contextIsaiah 61:11
For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Read in context