Mark 4:30 kjv
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mark 4:30 nkjv
Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?
Mark 4:30 niv
Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?
Mark 4:30 esv
And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
Mark 4:30 nlt
Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?
Mark 4 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 13:31-32 | "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed... largest of garden plants..." | Parallel parable of mustard seed, Kingdom's growth. |
| Lk 13:18-19 | "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed..." | Parallel parable and question. |
| Dan 2:34-35 | "a stone was cut out, but not by human hands... became a great mountain..." | Humble beginning, massive growth of God's Kingdom. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | "In the latter days the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established..." | God's dominion grows to encompass all nations. |
| Ez 17:22-24 | "I myself will take a sprig... plant it on a high and lofty mountain... will produce branches and bear fruit..." | Image of small shoot growing into mighty tree, sheltering. |
| Ez 31:3-6 | "A cedar in Lebanon... mighty of branch and tall of stature... All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs..." | Ancient motif of a great tree sheltering many, kingdom's breadth. |
| Mt 13:11 | "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven..." | Kingdom's mysteries revealed through parables. |
| Mk 4:11 | "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God..." | Exclusive understanding of the Kingdom. |
| Lk 17:20-21 | "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed... is in your midst." | Kingdom's hidden, internal, present reality. |
| Jn 3:3 | "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." | Spiritual transformation to perceive Kingdom. |
| Acts 1:6-8 | "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?... You will receive power..." | Kingdom's timing and means are divine, not political. |
| Rom 14:17 | "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." | Kingdom's spiritual nature and essence. |
| 1 Cor 4:20 | "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." | Kingdom demonstrated by divine power. |
| Zech 4:10 | "Who despises the day of small things?" | God uses humble beginnings for great works. |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | "born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." | The imperishable 'seed' of God's word. |
| Isa 55:10-11 | "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth..." | Word of God as productive and fruitful seed. |
| Ps 72:16 | "May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave..." | Image of abundant, pervasive growth. |
| Ps 89:36-37 | "His offspring shall endure forever... like the sun before me, like the moon established forever..." | Everlasting nature of God's kingdom/covenant. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | "And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him..." | Universal, everlasting dominion of the Son of Man. |
| Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." | Ultimate, visible triumph of God's Kingdom. |
| Mt 6:10 | "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." | Prayer for the coming and manifestation of God's Kingdom. |
| Col 1:13 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son..." | Present spiritual reality of being in the Kingdom. |
Mark 4 verses
Mark 4 30 Meaning
Mark 4:30 presents Jesus posing a rhetorical question, inviting His disciples and listeners to consider how the "Kingdom of God" might best be described or depicted through a parable. This question serves as an introduction to the parable of the Mustard Seed, emphasizing the Kingdom's humble, unnoticeable origins and its ultimate, magnificent, and pervasive growth. It highlights the divine, organic nature of the Kingdom's expansion, which transcends human efforts.
Mark 4 30 Context
Mark chapter 4 is largely dedicated to Jesus' parabolic teaching, particularly concerning the Kingdom of God. Prior to verse 30, Jesus has delivered the Parable of the Sower (4:1-9), explaining its meaning privately to His disciples (4:10-20), followed by the Parable of the Lamp (4:21-25) and the Parable of the Growing Seed (4:26-29). This series of parables collectively describes the nature, growth, and mystery of the Kingdom. Mark 4:30 introduces another perspective on the Kingdom's growth, serving as a preamble to the Parable of the Mustard Seed. It underscores Jesus' consistent method of teaching by analogy, engaging listeners in contemplation about spiritual realities. Historically, people often expected a Messiah who would establish an immediate, powerful, earthly political kingdom, thereby setting up a potential polemic as Jesus subtly countered this by teaching about the Kingdom's quiet, internal, and organic development.
Mark 4 30 Word analysis
- And again: kai palin (καὶ πάλιν).
- Again: Signals a continuation or resumption of teaching, connecting this parable to previous lessons on the Kingdom of God. Implies a pattern or habit in Jesus' instruction.
- He said: elegen (ἔλεγεν).
- He said: Imperfect tense, suggesting repeated or ongoing action. Jesus frequently taught by parables, indicating this was a characteristic method. His pronouncements carried divine authority.
- "To what shall we liken": Poia homoiōsōmen (Ποίᾳ ὁμοιώσωμεν).
- To what: An interrogative, rhetorical question inviting deep consideration. It engages the audience in the process of understanding.
- Shall we liken: Homoioō (ὁμοιόω). Means "to make like, compare, resemble." Implies finding a fitting analogy, not a literal equivalent. Highlights the illustrative nature of parables.
- the kingdom of God: tēn basileian tou theou (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ).
- Kingdom: Basileia (βασιλεία). Not just a geographical territory, but primarily the sovereign reign, rule, and authority of God. It is God's active, dynamic dominion, both present and future.
- Of God: Denotes its divine origin and nature, distinguishing it from earthly kingdoms.
- Significance: This is the central theme of Jesus' ministry. Understanding its nature is crucial to discipleship. It's often misunderstood in first-century Judaism as a political liberation.
- or by what parable shall we present it?: ē en tini parabolē autēn thōmen (ἢ ἐν τίνι παραβολῇ αὐτὴν θῶμεν).
- Or: Offers an alternative framing of the same question, reinforcing the desire to find the most apt comparison.
- By what parable: Parabolē (παραβολή). Literally "a setting alongside, a comparison." A narrative that conveys spiritual truth through earthly imagery, often with an element of enigma, requiring divine revelation or spiritual insight.
- Shall we present it: Thōmen (θῶμεν). From tithēmi (τίθημι), meaning "to put, place, lay, set forth." Suggests putting forth an illustration, to lay it down for examination. The emphasis is on clear, comprehensible presentation through analogy.
Mark 4 30 Bonus section
The double rhetorical question in Mark 4:30—"To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or by what parable shall we present it?"—serves not only to introduce the Mustard Seed parable but also to underscore the challenge of conveying such a profound spiritual reality in human terms. It highlights the divine nature of the Kingdom which often defies conventional human descriptions. This interrogative style fosters engagement, making the listeners active participants in seeking understanding rather than passive recipients of information. Furthermore, Jesus' frequent use of parables drawn from everyday life (seeds, lamps, farming) would have been incredibly accessible to His largely agrarian audience, making abstract theological concepts relatable and memorable, subtly inviting a spiritual revolution through common experiences. This method subtly challenges established religious conventions, demonstrating a new way of encountering and experiencing the divine, far removed from the complex legalistic discussions of the scribes and Pharisees.
Mark 4 30 Commentary
Mark 4:30 is a pivotal setup for the parable of the Mustard Seed. Jesus uses a rhetorical query, drawing His listeners into the quest for the most fitting imagery to convey the essence of God's reign. This reflects His teaching genius: rather than simply declaring, He prompts reflection. The phrase "the kingdom of God" encapsulates the very core of Jesus' message—God's dynamic, sovereign rule over all creation, enacted through Christ. This Kingdom's growth, often unseen and humble at its outset, will ultimately transcend all earthly measures and become universal, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of a pervasive divine dominion. It emphasizes that while its arrival might seem inconspicuous, its inherent divine life guarantees an unstoppable, expansive reality that eventually provides refuge and prominence for many. The question implicitly counters immediate, grand expectations of a visible political kingdom, subtly asserting its initial modest and spiritual nature, which later expands with remarkable, undeniable force.