10And when he was alone, those around him along with the twelve were asking him about the parables. [4:11] And he said to them: "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, everything comes in parables, [4:12] so that looking they may look and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest at any time they should turn and it be forgiven them."
MRK 4:10-12
The Purpose of Jesusʼ Parables
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, the concept of (mystery) was deeply embedded in religious and philosophical contexts. For Jewish audiences, it evoked the idea of divine secrets revealed to the righteous or the elect, particularly in apocalyptic literature. For Greco-Roman audiences, it resonated with initiation rites in mystery cults, where sacred knowledge was disclosed only to insiders. Jesus’ use of parables aligns with this cultural understanding: they function as veiled teachings, accessible only to those 'inside' the circle of discipleship. The term (outside) marks a sharp boundary between those who are privy to the 'mystery of the kingdom' and those who remain outsiders, unable to comprehend. This distinction reflects the honor-shame dynamics of the time, where inclusion or exclusion carried significant social and spiritual weight. The phrase 'looking they may look and not perceive' echoes Isaiah 6:9-10, invoking a prophetic tradition of judgment against unresponsive hearers. The mention of forgiveness ties this passage to the broader Jewish expectation of eschatological restoration and divine mercy.
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How other translations render this
MRK 4:10
- KJV
- And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
- BSB
- As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
- Koinōnos
- And when he was alone, those around him along with the twelve were asking him about the parables.
MRK 4:11
- KJV
- And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
- BSB
- He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them: "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, everything comes in parables,
MRK 4:12
- KJV
- That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
- BSB
- so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
- Koinōnos
- so that looking they may look and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest at any time they should turn and it be forgiven them.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 4:10
- utterly:The word translated 'utterly' here emphasizes exclusivity, meaning 'only' or 'alone.' It highlights that Jesus was speaking to a specific, inner circle of disciples.
MRK 4:11
- the:The term used here for 'mystery' refers to a divine secret previously hidden but now revealed through God's action, not something inherently unknowable or puzzling.
- who are:The phrase 'who are outside' literally means those who are 'outside the house' or 'outside the group,' indicating those not part of Jesus's immediate circle of disciples.
MRK 4:12
- may be forgiven:The word translated 'may be forgiven' carries the sense of 'to send away' or 'to release,' implying a complete dismissal or cancellation of sins.