Logos Bible Study

Mark 4:30–32

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The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30aAnd He was saying, “How shall we bcompare the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?

31“It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is 1smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil,

32yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes 1largest of all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that athe birds of the 2air can nest under its shade.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1Lit smaller
  2. 1Lit larger
  3. 2Or sky

Cross references

  1. aMark 4:30–32: Matt 13:31, 32; Luke 13:18, 19
  2. bMatt 13:24
  3. aEzek 17:23; Ps 104:12; Ezek 31:6; Dan 4:12

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it? It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable can we present it? It is like a mustard seed that when sown on the ground, although it is the smallest of all the seeds that are on the ground, but when it is sown it grows up and becomes the largest of all the garden herbs, and sends out large branches so that the birds of the sky are able to nest in its shade.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.