Devine Scripture

Mark 4:27

What does Mark 4:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 4:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 4:27 means

The parable continues, describing the farmer's routine: he sleeps and rises, day and night, while the seed he has sown mysteriously sprouts and grows. The farmer himself doesn't fully understand *how* this process occurs. This highlights the automatic, self-propagating nature of the seed (the Word) and the Kingdom of God. God's work, once initiated, has an intrinsic power to grow independently of constant human intervention or comprehension.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And went to sleep and got up, night and day, and the seed came to growth, though he had no idea how.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and may sleep, and may rise night and day, and the seed spring up and grow, he hath not known how;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the seed should spring, and grow up whilst he knoweth not.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how.

Context

This verse continues the Parable of the Growing Seed, describing the farmer's passive role after sowing. It elaborates on the mysterious, natural growth process introduced in the previous verse. This detail is crucial for emphasizing that the Kingdom's development is ultimately God's work, operating with an unseen power, a theme further developed by the stages of growth mentioned in the next verse.

v.26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;

v.27This passage

v.28The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 3:7

    Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:37

    and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind;

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;

  • Ecclesiastes 11:5

    As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:17

    then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

  • 2 Peter 3:18

    But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

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