Mark Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.
2
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
3
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
4
And if a house be divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
5
And if Satan hath risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
6
But no one can enter into the house of the strong
7
man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong
8
man; and then he will spoil his house.
9
Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
10
but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:
11
because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
12
And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.
13
And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
14
And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?
15
And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren!
16
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
17
And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.
18
And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,
19
Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:
20
and it came to pass, as he sowed, some
21
seed fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.
22
And other fell on the rocky
23
ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:
24
and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
25
And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
26
And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.
27
And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
28
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.
29
And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:
30
that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.
31
And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?
32
The sower soweth the word.
33
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.
34
And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky
35
places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;
36
and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.
37
And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,
38
and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
39
And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.
40
And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed,
41
and not to be put on the stand?
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And again he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to him, so that going on board ship he sat in the sea, and all the crowd were close to the sea on the land.
2
And he taught them many things in parables. And he said to them in his doctrine,
3
Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow.
4
And it came to pass as he sowed, one fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it.
5
And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out [of the ground] because it had no depth of earth;
6
and when the sun arose it was burnt up, and because of its not having any root, it withered.
7
And another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8
And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and bore, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred.
9
And he said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
10
And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him [as to] the parables.
11
And he said to them, To you is given [to know] the mystery of the kingdom ofGod; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables,
12
that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven.
13
And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables?
14
The sower sows the word:
15
and these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
16
And these are they in like manner who are sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,
17
and they have no root in themselves, but are for a time: then, tribulation arising, or persecution on account of the word, immediately they are offended.
18
And others are they who are sown among the thorns: these are they who have heard the word,
19
and the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20
And these are they who have been sown on the good ground, such as hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit; one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred [fold].
21
And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? [Is it] not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand?
22
For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light.
23
If any one have ears to hear, let him hear.
24
And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be [more] added to you.
25
For whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him.
26
And he said, Thus is the kingdom ofGod, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth,
27
and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how.
28
The earth bears fruit of itself, first [the] blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear.
29
But when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come.
30
And he said, How should we liken the kingdom ofGod, or with what comparison should we compare it?
31
As to a grain of mustard [seed], which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth,
32
and when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow.
33
And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear,
34
but without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.
35
And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side:
36
and having sent away the crowd, they take him with [them], as he was, in the ship. But other ships also were with him.
37
And there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled.
38
And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing?
39
And awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm.
40
And he said to them, Why are ye [thus] fearful? how [is it] ye have not faith?
41
And they feared [with] great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Et iterum cœpit docere ad mare: et congregata est ad eum turba multa, ita ut navim ascendens sederet in mari, et omnis turba circa mare super terram erat:
2
et docebat eos in parabolis multa, et dicebat illis in doctrina sua:
3
Audite: ecce exiit seminans ad seminandum.
4
Et dum seminat, aliud cecidit circa viam, et venerunt volucres cæli, et comederunt illud.
5
Aliud vero cecidit super petrosa, ubi non habuit terram multam: et statim exortum est, quoniam non habebat altitudinem terræ:
6
et quando exortus est sol, exæstuavit: et eo quod non habebat radicem, exaruit.
7
Et aliud cecidit in spinas: et ascenderunt spinæ, et suffocaverunt illud, et fructum non dedit.
8
Et aliud cecidit in terram bonam: et dabat fructum ascendentem, et crescentem, et afferebat unum triginta, unum sexaginta, et unum centum.
9
Et dicebat: Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat.
10
Et cum esset singularis, interrogaverunt eum hi, qui cum eo erant duodecim, parabolam.
11
Et dicebat eis: Vobis datum est nosse mysterium regni Dei: illis autem, qui foris sunt, in parabolis omnia fiunt:
12
ut videntes videant, et non videant: et audientes audiant, et non intelligant: nequando convertantur, et dimittantur eis peccata.
13
Et ait illis: Nescitis parabolam hanc? et quomodo omnes parabolas cognoscetis?
14
Qui seminat, verbum seminat.
15
Hi autem sunt, qui circa viam, ubi seminatur verbum, et cum audierint, confestim venit satanas, et aufert verbum, quod seminatum est in cordibus eorum.
16
Et hi sunt similiter, qui super petrosa seminantur: qui cum audierint verbum, statim cum gaudio accipiunt illud:
17
et non habent radicem in se, sed temporales sunt: deinde orta tribulatione et persecutione propter verbum, confestim scandalizantur.
18
Et alii sunt, qui in spinas seminantur: hi sunt, qui verbum audiunt,
19
et ærumnæ sæculi, et deceptio divitiarum, et circa reliqua concupiscentiæ introeuntes suffocant verbum, et sine fructu efficitur.
20
Et hi sunt, qui super terram bonam seminati sunt, qui audiunt verbum, et suscipiunt, et fructificant, unum triginta, unum sexaginta, et unum centum.
21
Et dicebat illis: Numquid venit lucerna ut sub modo ponatur, aut sub lecto? nonne ut super candelabrum ponatur?
22
Non est enim aliquid absconditum, quod non manifestetur: nec factum est occultum, sed ut in palam veniat.
23
Si quis habet aures audiendi, audiat.
24
Et dicebat illis: Videte quid audiatis. In qua mensura mensi fueritis, remetietur vobis, et adiicietur vobis.
25
Qui enim habet, dabitur illi: et qui non habet, etiam quod habet auferetur ab eo.
26
Et dicebat: Sic est regnum Dei, quemadmodum si homo iaciat sementem in terram,
27
et dormiat, et exurgat nocte et die, et semen germinet, et increscat dum nescit ille.
28
Ultro enim terra fructificat, primum herbam, deinde spicam, deinde plenum frumentum in spica.
29
Et cum producerit fructus, statim mittit falcem, quoniam adest messis.
30
Et dicebat: Cui assimilabimus regnum Dei? aut cui parabolæ comparabimus illud?
31
Sicut granum sinapis, quod cum seminatum fuerit in terra, minus est omnibus seminibus, quæ sunt in terra:
32
et cum seminatum fuerit, ascendit, et fit maius omnibus oleribus, et facit ramos magnos, ita ut possint sub umbra eius aves cæli habitare.
33
Et talibus multis parabolis loquebatur eis verbum, prout poterant audire:
34
sine parabola autem non loquebatur eis. seorsum autem discipulis suis disserebat omnia.
35
Et ait illis in illa die, cum sero esset factum: Transeamus contra.
36
Et dimittentes turbam, assumunt eum ita ut erat in navi: et aliæ naves erant cum illo.
37
Et facta est procella magna venti, et fluctus mittebat in navim, ita ut impleretur navis.
38
Et erat ipse in puppi super cervical dormiens: et excitant eum, et dicunt illi: Magister, non ad te pertinet, quia perimus?
39
Et exurgens comminatus est vento, et dixit mari: Tace, obmutesce. Et cessavit ventus: et facta est tranquillitas magna.
40
Et ait illis: Quid timidi estis? necdum habetis fidem? et timuerunt timore magno, et dicebant ad alterutrum: Quis, putas, est iste, quia et ventus et mare obediunt ei?
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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.
2
He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
3
“Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow.
4
As he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it.
5
Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
6
When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7
Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
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.”
9
He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10
When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
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,
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.’”
13
He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?
14
The farmer sows the word.
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.
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.
17
They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
18
Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,
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.
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.”
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?
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.
23
If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”
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.
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.”
26
He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
27
and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how.
28
For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
29
But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30
He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
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,
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.”
33
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
34
Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
35
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
36
Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
37
A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
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?”
39
He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.
40
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
41
They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
και παλιν ηρξατο διδασκειν παρα την θαλασσαν και συναγεται προς αυτον οχλος πλειστος ωστε αυτον εις πλοιον εμβαντα καθησθαι εν τη θαλασση και πας ο οχλος προς την θαλασσαν επι της γης ησαν
2
και εδιδασκεν αυτους εν παραβολαις πολλα και ελεγεν αυτοις εν τη διδαχη αυτου
3
ακουετε ιδου εξηλθεν ο σπειρων σπειραι
4
και εγενετο εν τω σπειρειν ο μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ηλθεν τα πετεινα και κατεφαγεν αυτο
5
και αλλο επεσεν επι το πετρωδες [και] οπου ουκ ειχεν γην πολλην και ευθυς εξανετειλεν δια το μη εχειν βαθος γης
6
και οτε ανετειλεν ο ηλιος εκαυματισθη και δια το μη εχειν ριζαν εξηρανθη
7
και αλλο επεσεν εις τας ακανθας και ανεβησαν αι ακανθαι και συνεπνιξαν αυτο και καρπον ουκ εδωκεν
8
και αλλα επεσεν εις την γην την καλην και εδιδου καρπον αναβαινοντα και αυξανομενα και εφερεν εις τριακοντα καιεν εξηκοντα καιεν εκατον
9
και ελεγεν ος εχει ωτα ακουειν ακουετω
10
και οτε εγενετο κατα μονας ηρωτων αυτον οι περι αυτον συν τοις δωδεκα τας παραβολας
11
και ελεγεν αυτοις υμιν το μυστηριον δεδοται της βασιλειας του θεου εκεινοις δε τοις εξω εν παραβολαις τα παντα γινεται
12
ινα βλεποντες βλεπωσιν και μη ιδωσιν και ακουοντες ακουωσιν και μη συνιωσιν μηποτε επιστρεψωσιν και αφεθη αυτοις
13
και λεγει αυτοις ουκ οιδατε την παραβολην ταυτην και πως πασας τας παραβολας γνωσεσθε
14
ο σπειρων τον λογον σπειρει
15
ουτοι δε εισιν οι παρα την οδον οπου σπειρεται ο λογος και οταν ακουσωσιν ευθυς ερχεται ο σατανας και αιρει τον λογον τον εσπαρμενον εις αυτους
16
και ουτοι εισιν ομοιως οι επι τα πετρωδη σπειρομενοι οι οταν ακουσωσιν τον λογον ευθυς μετα χαρας λαμβανουσιν αυτον
17
και ουκ εχουσιν ριζαν εν εαυτοις αλλα προσκαιροι εισιν ειτα γενομενης θλιψεως η διωγμου δια τον λογον ευθυς σκανδαλιζονται
18
και αλλοι εισιν οι εις τας ακανθας σπειρομενοι ουτοι εισιν οι τον λογον ακουσαντες
19
και αι μεριμναι του αιωνος και η απατη του πλουτου και αι περι τα λοιπα επιθυμιαι εισπορευομεναι συμπνιγουσιν τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται
20
και εκεινοι εισιν οι επι την γην την καλην σπαρεντες οιτινες ακουουσιν τον λογον και παραδεχονται και καρποφορουσινεν τριακοντα και [εν] εξηκοντα και [εν] εκατον
21
και ελεγεν αυτοις οτι μητι ερχεται ο λυχνος ινα υπο τον μοδιον τεθη η υπο την κλινην ουχ ινα επι την λυχνιαν τεθη
22
ου γαρ εστιν κρυπτον εαν μη ινα φανερωθη ουδε εγενετο αποκρυφον αλλ ινα ελθη εις φανερον
23
ει τις εχει ωτα ακουειν ακουετω
24
και ελεγεν αυτοις βλεπετε τι ακουετε εν ω μετρω μετρειτε μετρηθησεται υμιν και προστεθησεται υμιν
25
ος γαρ εχει δοθησεται αυτω και ος ουκ εχει και ο εχει αρθησεται απ αυτου
26
και ελεγεν ουτως εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου ως ανθρωπος βαλη τον σπορον επι της γης
27
και καθευδη και εγειρηται νυκτα και ημεραν και ο σπορος βλαστα και μηκυνηται ως ουκ οιδεν αυτος
28
αυτοματη η γη καρποφορει πρωτον χορτον ειτεν σταχυν ειτεν πληρη σιτον εν τω σταχυι
29
οταν δε παραδοι ο καρπος ευθυς αποστελλει το δρεπανον οτι παρεστηκεν ο θερισμος
30
και ελεγεν πως ομοιωσωμεν την βασιλειαν του θεου η εν τινι αυτην παραβολη θωμεν
31
ως κοκκω σιναπεως ος οταν σπαρη επι της γης μικροτερον ον παντων των σπερματων των επι της γης
32
και οταν σπαρη αναβαινει και γινεται μειζον παντων των λαχανων και ποιει κλαδους μεγαλους ωστε δυνασθαι υπο την σκιαν αυτου τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνοιν
33
και τοιαυταις παραβολαις πολλαις ελαλει αυτοις τον λογον καθως ηδυναντο ακουειν
34
χωρις δε παραβολης ουκ ελαλει αυτοις κατ ιδιαν δε τοις ιδιοις μαθηταις επελυεν παντα
35
και λεγει αυτοις εν εκεινη τη ημερα οψιας γενομενης διελθωμεν εις το περαν
36
και αφεντες τον οχλον παραλαμβανουσιν αυτον ως ην εν τω πλοιω και αλλα πλοια ην μετ αυτου
37
και γινεται λαιλαψ μεγαλη ανεμου και τα κυματα επεβαλλεν εις το πλοιον ωστε ηδη γεμιζεσθαι το πλοιον
38
και αυτος ην εν τη πρυμνη επι το προσκεφαλαιον καθευδων και εγειρουσιν αυτον και λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε ου μελει σοι οτι απολλυμεθα
39
και διεγερθεις επετιμησεν τω ανεμω και ειπεν τη θαλασση σιωπα πεφιμωσο και εκοπασεν ο ανεμος και εγενετο γαληνη μεγαλη
40
και ειπεν αυτοις τι δειλοι εστε ουπω εχετε πιστιν
41
και εφοβηθησαν φοβον μεγαν και ελεγον προς αλληλους τις αρα ουτος εστιν οτι και ο ανεμος και η θαλασσα υπακουει αυτω
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And again he began to teach by the sea, and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he, having gone into the boat, sat in the sea, and all the multitude was near the sea, on the land,
2
and he taught them many things in similes, and he said to them in his teaching:
3
`Hearken, lo, the sower went forth to sow;
4
and it came to pass, in the sowing, some fell by the way, and the fowls of the heaven did come and devour it;
5
and other fell upon the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang forth, because of not having depth of earth,
6
and the sun having risen, it was scorched, and because of not having root it did wither;
7
and other fell toward the thorns, and the thorns did come up, and choke it, and fruit it gave not;
8
and other fell to the good ground, and was giving fruit, coming up and increasing, and it bare, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred.'
9
And he said to them, `He who is having ears to hear--let him hear.'
10
And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile,
11
and he said to them, `To you it hath been given to know the secret of the reign of God, but to those who are without, in similes are all the things done;
12
that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.'
13
And he saith to them, `Have ye not known this simile? and how shall ye know all the similes?
14
He who is sowing doth sow the word;
15
and these are they by the way where the word is sown: and whenever they may hear, immediately cometh the Adversary, and he taketh away the word that hath been sown in their hearts.
16
`And these are they, in like manner, who on the rocky ground are sown: who, whenever they may hear the word, immediately with joy do receive it,
17
and have not root in themselves, but are temporary; afterward tribulation or persecution having come because of the word, immediately they are stumbled.
18
`And these are they who toward the thorns are sown: these are they who are hearing the word,
19
and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20
`And these are they who on the good ground have been sown: who do hear the word, and receive, and do bear fruit, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred.'
21
And he said to them, `Doth the lamp come that under the measure it may be put, or under the couch--not that it may be put on the lamp-stand?
22
for there is not anything hid that may not be manifested, nor was anything kept hid but that it may come to light.
23
If any hath ears to hear--let him hear.'
24
And he said to them, `Take heed what ye hear; in what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you; and to you who hear it shall be added;
25
for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever hath not, also that which he hath shall be taken from him.'
26
And he said, `Thus is the reign of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth,
27
and may sleep, and may rise night and day, and the seed spring up and grow, he hath not known how;
28
for of itself doth the earth bear fruit, first a blade, afterwards an ear, afterwards full corn in the ear;
29
and whenever the fruit may yield itself, immediately he doth send forth the sickle, because the harvest hath come.'
30
And he said, `To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it?
31
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;
32
and whenever it may be sown, it cometh up, and doth become greater than any of the herbs, and doth make great branches, so that under its shade the fowls of the heaven are able to rest.'
33
And with many such similes he was speaking to them the word, as they were able to hear,
34
and without a simile he was not speaking to them, and by themselves, to his disciples he was expounding all.
35
And he saith to them on that day, evening having come, `We may pass over to the other side;'
36
and having let away the multitude, they take him up as he was in the boat, and other little boats also were with him.
37
And there cometh a great storm of wind, and the waves were beating on the boat, so that it is now being filled,
38
and he himself was upon the stern, upon the pillow sleeping, and they wake him up, and say to him, `Teacher, art thou not caring that we perish?'
39
And having waked up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, `Peace, be stilled;' and the wind did lull, and there was a great calm:
40
and he said to them, `Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?'
41
and they feared a great fear, and said one to another, `Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea do obey him?'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).