Mark 4:32

“and when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest under its shade.””
Mark 4:32 · direct translation from the Greek

Study it in the app

With the Greek beneath

andκαὶwhenὅτανit is sown,σπαρῇit grows upἀναβαίνειandκαὶbecomesγίνεταιgreaterμεῖζονthan allπάντωνthe garden plantsτῶν λαχάνωνandκαὶputs outποιεῖlargeμεγάλουςbranches,κλάδουςso thatὥστεthe birdsτὰ πετεινὰof the skyτοῦ οὐρανοῦcanδύνασθαιnestκατασκηνοῦνunderὑπὸits shade.”τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ

Allusion · Ezekiel 17:23

Go to Ezekiel 17:23

Both texts speak of a tree in whose shade the birds of the sky nest.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

κλάδουςkladousG2798עָנָףanafH6057“branch”
σκιὰνskianG4639צֵלtselH6738“shade”
πετεινὰpeteinaG4071צִפּוֹרtsiporH6833“bird”

Allusion · Daniel 4:12

Go to Daniel 4:12

Both texts speak of a tree in whose shade the birds of the sky nest; in Daniel 4:12, the tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

κλάδουςkladousG2798עַנְפוֹanfoH6056“branch”
σκιὰνskianG4639תַּטְלֵלtatlelH2927“shade”
πετεινὰpeteinaG4071צִפֲּרֵיtsipareH6853“bird”

Mark 4:32, word by word

whenὅτανhotan

when, whenever

When, whenever.

Where else “hotan” appears

it is sownσπαρῇsparēi

sow

Sow.

Where else “sparēi” appears

it grows upἀναβαίνειanabainei

spring up

To spring up, grow, or a thought to arise.

Where else “anabainei” appears

becomesγίνεταιginetai

become

To turn into something new, different from before.

Where else “ginetai” appears

greaterμεῖζονmeizon

large

Of great size, taking up much space.

Where else “meizon” appears

the garden plantsλαχάνωνlachanōn

garden plant

Vegetable, garden plant.

Where else “lachanōn” appears

puts outποιεῖpoiei

bear fruit

To produce fruit, like a tree; in life, deeds that can be seen.

Where else “poiei” appears

branchesκλάδουςkladous

branch

Branch.

Where else “kladous” appears

so thatὥστεhōste

so that

So much that, to the point that.

Where else “hōste” appears

the birdsπετεινὰpeteina

bird

Bird.

Where else “peteina” appears

of the skyοὐρανοῦouranou

sky

The vault we see above the earth, where birds fly and the stars are.

Where else “ouranou” appears

canδύνασθαιdynasthai

can, be able

Can, be able.

Where else “dynasthai” appears

nestκατασκηνοῦνkataskēnoun

nest, dwell

Nest, settle down to live.

Where else “kataskēnoun” appears

its shadeσκιὰνskian

shade, shadow

Shadow, shade.

Where else “skian” appears

Translation note

It recalls Ezekiel 17:23 and Daniel 4:12, where the birds nest in the shade of the great tree.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

The mustard seed

Matthew 13:31-32 Luke 13:18-19

See them side by side

Mark 4:30-32

³⁰And he was saying, “How shall we compare the kingdom of God, or in what parable shall we put it? ³¹It is like a grain of mustard, which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds that are on the earth; ³²and when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest under its shade.”

Matthew 13:31-32

³¹He put before them another parable, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field; ³²it is smaller than all the seeds, but when it has grown, it is greater than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

Luke 13:18-19

¹⁸So he was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹It is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and put in his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

The context

31It is like a grain of mustard, which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds that are on the earth;

32 · This verse (above)

33And with many such parables he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear;

Read all of Mark 4

To study Mark 4 in a group

1. What it says
What happened in the boat when the storm came, and what did Jesus do (vv. 37–39)?
2. What it means
What did Jesus mean by “whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” when telling the parable of the sower (vv. 3–9)?
3. How I live it
Jesus asked his disciples, “Why are you cowards?” (v. 40). What fear of today could you bring before him?

How to use it