26And he said: "The kingdom of God is like this — as when a man casts seed upon the ground [4:27] and sleeps and rises, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows — he himself does not know how. [4:28] The ground bears fruit of itself: first a stalk, then a head, then full grain in the head. [4:29] But when the fruit has come, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has stood ready."
MRK 4:26-29
The Seed Growing Secretly
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century agrarian Galilee, the imagery of sowing and harvesting would have been immediately familiar to listeners, as most rural families relied on subsistence farming. The parable's focus on the seed growing 'of itself' reflects a common agricultural observation: once sown, the farmer has limited control over the growth process. This aligns with the Jewish understanding of God's sovereignty in creation, where growth is seen as a divine act. The mention of the sickle and harvest evokes eschatological themes, resonating with Jewish prophetic traditions where harvest symbolizes God's final judgment (e.g., Joel 3:13). The passive voice of 'he may be risen' subtly points to divine agency, suggesting that the growth of the kingdom is ultimately God's work, not human effort. The parable's emphasis on the kingdom's gradual, mysterious growth contrasts with Roman imperial ideology, which celebrated visible, immediate power and control.
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How other translations render this
MRK 4:26
- KJV
- And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
- BSB
- Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
- Koinōnos
- And he said: "The kingdom of God is like this — as when a man casts seed upon the ground
MRK 4:27
- KJV
- And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
- BSB
- Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
- Koinōnos
- and sleeps and rises, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows — he himself does not know how.
MRK 4:28
- KJV
- For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
- BSB
- All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
- Koinōnos
- The ground bears fruit of itself: first a stalk, then a head, then full grain in the head.
MRK 4:29
- KJV
- But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
- BSB
- And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
- Koinōnos
- But when the fruit has come, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has stood ready.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 4:26
- kingdom:The word translated 'kingdom' here refers to the active reign or rule of a king, not just a geographical territory. It emphasizes the dynamic exercise of royal authority.
MRK 4:27
- he may be risen:The term translated 'he may be risen' implies an active rising or awakening, often used for waking from sleep or being raised from the dead, suggesting a powerful, internal action.
MRK 4:28
- Of itself:The phrase 'Of itself' comes from a word that means 'self-acting' or 'spontaneous,' highlighting that the growth is an inherent, natural process without external intervention.
MRK 4:29
- has come:The word translated 'has come' literally means 'to stand by' or 'to be present,' suggesting that the harvest is not just arriving but is now fully at hand and ready.