Devine Scripture

Mark 4:28

What does Mark 4:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 4:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 4:28 means

The parable explains that the earth brings forth fruit on its own, progressing through distinct stages: first a tender blade, then a fuller stalk with an ear, and finally, the mature, full grain within the ear. This illustrates the natural, gradual, and incremental growth of the Kingdom of God. It signifies that spiritual development, much like agricultural growth, is a process that unfolds over time, with each stage building upon the last.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The earth gives fruit by herself; first the leaf, then the head, then the full grain.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for of itself doth the earth bear fruit, first a blade, afterwards an ear, afterwards full corn in the ear;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the full corn in the ear.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The earth bears fruit of itself, first [the] blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear.

Context

This verse describes the progressive, natural stages of growth within the Parable of the Growing Seed. It directly follows the farmer's unknowing observation of the seed's growth, providing detail on *how* that mysterious growth unfolds. This progression from blade to full grain sets up the readiness for harvest, which is the subject of the next verse, completing the agricultural cycle and its spiritual application.

v.27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.

v.28This passage

v.29But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Cross references

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

  • Proverbs 4:18

    But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

  • Isaiah 61:11

    For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

  • Genesis 1:11

    And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so.

  • Hosea 6:3

    And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.

  • Colossians 1:10

    to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

  • Philippians 1:6

    being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

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