Mark 4:23 kjv
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark 4:23 nkjv
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
Mark 4:23 niv
If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear."
Mark 4:23 esv
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
Mark 4:23 nlt
Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."
Mark 4 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 4:9 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | Identical call after Parable of Sower. |
| Lk 8:8 | "...He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | Call to discern after Parable of Sower. |
| Lk 14:35 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | After Salt parable, need for discipleship. |
| Matt 11:15 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | Regarding John the Baptist's true identity. |
| Matt 13:9 | "He who has ears, let him hear." | After Parable of Sower in Matthew. |
| Matt 13:43 | "...He who has ears, let him hear." | Call to discern the Parable of Weeds. |
| Rev 2:7 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 2:11 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 2:17 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 2:29 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 3:6 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 3:13 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 3:22 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." | Call to churches to hear Holy Spirit. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive..." | Prophetic warning about hardened hearts. |
| Jer 5:21 | "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not..." | Reproach for spiritual deafness. |
| Ezek 12:2 | "...They have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear, but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house." | Israel's spiritual unresponsiveness. |
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | The "Shema," fundamental call to obey God. |
| Deut 28:1-2 | "If you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God... all these blessings shall come upon you..." | Link between hearing God's voice and blessing. |
| Psa 95:7-8 | "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Call against hardening one's heart to God. |
| Prov 1:5 | "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance..." | Wisdom found in heeding instruction. |
| Rom 11:8 | "...God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear..." | Spiritual blindness/deafness on Israel. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Emphasizes hearing leading to obedience. |
| Heb 4:7 | "...'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.'" | Recalls Psalm 95 regarding belief/unbelief. |
| Acts 28:27 | "...for this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear..." | Paul quoting Isaiah, explaining Gentile turning. |
Mark 4 verses
Mark 4 23 Meaning
Mark 4:23 is a direct exhortation from Jesus, immediately following the parable of the lamp and the teaching about what is hidden being revealed. It serves as a call for spiritual discernment and engagement with His teachings, particularly the profound truths of the Kingdom of God that may be conveyed in veiled or symbolic language like parables. It's not merely about physical hearing, but about an active, receptive heart that genuinely comprehends and acts upon the divine revelation being presented. It signifies that understanding Jesus' words requires spiritual readiness and intentional application, separating those who genuinely grasp His message from those who only hear superficially.
Mark 4 23 Context
Mark 4:23 is embedded within Jesus' significant teachings on the Kingdom of God through parables. Specifically, it follows the exposition of the Parable of the Lamp (Mk 4:21-22), which itself highlights that the mysteries of the Kingdom are intended for revelation, not concealment. This verse echoes Mark 4:9, which appears immediately after the Parable of the Sower, serving as a similar urgent call to understand the depth of Jesus' message. The historical context involves Jesus teaching large crowds by the Sea of Galilee, where His use of parables served to both reveal truths to those receptive and, paradoxically, obscure them from those with hardened hearts (as elaborated in Mk 4:11-12, referencing Isa 6:9-10). The call "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear" acts as a recurring prompt, indicating that His words carry profound spiritual weight and demand a spiritual rather than just an intellectual response. It implies a discerning quality is required to truly grasp the nature and demands of the Kingdom.
Mark 4 23 Word analysis
- If (εἴ - ei): This is a conditional particle, suggesting a potential or assumed condition. It doesn't question the existence of ears but rather the readiness of them for spiritual perception. It sets up a challenge or invitation to anyone present who possesses the physical means but also implies a spiritual capacity or willingness to engage.
- anyone (τις - tis): An indefinite pronoun, meaning "someone" or "anyone." It broadens the call beyond specific individuals to include everyone in the audience, indicating the universal accessibility of the message, but also implying individual responsibility for reception.
- has (ἔχει - echei): This verb indicates possession. It means to have or possess, literally implying physical ears. However, in this context, it goes beyond mere physical anatomy to denote the spiritual capacity or potential to comprehend. It refers to an innate human faculty that can be activated or stifled.
- ears (ὦτα - ōta): Literally "ears," the physical organs of hearing. Yet, Biblically, "ears" are frequently used metaphorically for the capacity to listen, understand, and obey God's word (e.g., Jer 5:21). The implication here is that merely having physical ears is insufficient; what's crucial is a heart receptive to spiritual truth.
- to hear (ἀκούειν - akouein): The infinitive form of the verb "to hear." This word is significant because it encompasses more than just auditory reception. In the biblical sense, "hearing" often implies not just perceiving sound, but also understanding, giving heed, obeying, and acting upon what is heard (as in the Shema, Deut 6:4, "Hear, O Israel," implying obedience).
- let him hear (ἀκουέτω - akouetō): This is the third person singular imperative of "to hear," a direct command. It transforms the potential into a necessary action. It is an urgent exhortation for active listening and spiritual comprehension. It means, "let him truly listen and understand, and let it impact him." This imperative underscores the personal responsibility each individual bears to genuinely engage with and respond to the truth of God's Word.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- If anyone has ears: This phrase acknowledges that all people have physical ears, but not all have the spiritual inclination or openness to truly process what is heard. It’s an immediate filter: are you just a spectator, or are you ready to engage at a deeper level? It hints at a spiritual condition beyond mere physical capability.
- ears to hear: This seemingly redundant phrase clarifies the deeper meaning. It's not just about auditory reception but about the purpose and function of hearing: to truly grasp spiritual truth. It indicates the prerequisite for understanding Jesus’ message, namely, a heart that is teachable and responsive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. This kind of hearing enables spiritual revelation.
- let him hear: This imperative underscores the active responsibility required. It's not passive reception but an active, decisive commitment to heed, understand, and apply the teaching. This phrase acts as a call to self-assessment, urging the listener to discern their own spiritual posture towards the proclaimed Word of God. It signifies a pivotal moment of choice for the audience.
Mark 4 23 Bonus section
This recurring phrase serves as a narrative marker, indicating moments where Jesus is conveying particularly important or profound truths that demand deep spiritual attention. Its repetition in the Gospels and Revelation links Jesus' teachings to the very nature of spiritual discernment needed to understand God's purposes, both then and throughout the history of the church. It subtly implies that the Kingdom of God is an "open secret" – available for those who genuinely seek and are willing to embrace it, yet remaining obscure to those who are unwilling or spiritually dull. The phrase serves as an invitation to move beyond casual listening to transformative understanding, emphasizing that the ability to truly hear is a divine gift, but also demands a human choice and openness.
Mark 4 23 Commentary
Mark 4:23 is a profound call to spiritual receptivity. Following Jesus' teachings in parables, it stresses that the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are not grasped superficially. Merely possessing physical ears is insufficient; true hearing involves a heart prepared to perceive, understand, and respond to the divine truth being unveiled. It highlights the distinction between outward listeners and genuine disciples who internally discern and embrace His words. This verse is both an invitation and a challenge, underscoring personal responsibility in apprehending spiritual reality, which requires more than just intellectual assent, but active spiritual engagement. It's a reminder that God's truth, while available to all, requires a humble and open spirit to be fully known and acted upon.