The Meaning of Mark 4:10 Explained

Mark 4:10

KJV: And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

YLT: And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile,

Darby: And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him as to the parables.

ASV: And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.

Discover Mark 4:10

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Mark 4:10?

MEANING: What does Mark 4:10 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Mark 4:10 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Mark 4:10?

What is the context of Mark 4:10?

The Purpose of Parables (Mark 4:10-12)
The Reason for the Parables (Mark 4:10-12)
Why Jesus Used Parables (Mark 4:10-34)
The Purpose of the Parables (Mark 4:10-20)
Parable of the Sower and Soils (Mark 4:1-12)
The Parable of the Sower .( A .) .( B .) (Mark 4:1-20)
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed (Mark 4:1-20)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

What does Mark 4:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Mark alone noted that those who asked Jesus to explain the parables included the Twelve plus other disciples ( Mark 4:10). Evidently their question concerned why Jesus was using parables to teach as well as what they meant. He could have been clearer.

Context Summary

Mark 4:10-41 - Growth In God's Kingdom

How quick the Master was to observe the meaning of natural symbols! To Him all things were unfoldings of eternal mystery, and the ways of men unconsciously mirrored the unseen. Are there bushels in your life? Use them as lamp stands, not as coverings. All secrets come out; beware of what you say. All measures come back to us; take care how you mete. The mysterious co-operation of God in nature, and the gradual process of growth, are analogous to the co-working of the Holy Spirit with all faithful sowers of the Word, and the imperceptible stages through which the soul reaches maturity.

The stilling of the storm, Mark 4:35-41. They that bear Christ's company must prepare for squalls. Yet, why should we fear, when the Master is on board, who can impress His commands on wind and sea-to the wind, Peace; to the sea, Be still! "The Lord on high is mightier than the waves of the sea." A moment ago he was so weary as to sleep amid the storm, but at a word of appeal from those He loves, He shows Himself able to save to the uttermost. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 4

¹ The parable of the sower,
¹⁴ and the meaning thereof
²¹ We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others
²⁶ The parable of the seed growing secretly;
³⁰ and of the mustard seed
³⁵ Jesus stills the storm on the sea

Greek Commentary for Mark 4:10

When he was alone [οτε εγενετο κατα μονας]
Only in Mark. Vivid recollection of Peter. Mark has also “they that were about him with the twelve” (οι περι αυτον συν τοις δωδεκα hoi peri auton sun tois dōdeka), Matthew and Luke simply “the disciples.” They did not want the multitude to see that they did not understand the teaching of Jesus. [source]

When he was alone []
Mark only. [source]

They that were about him with the twelve []
Mark only. Matthew and Luke, the disciples. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 4:10

Mark 7:17 When he was entered into the house from the multitude [οτε εισηλτεν εις οικον απο του οχλου]
This detail in Mark alone, probably in Peter‘s house in Capernaum. To the crowd Jesus spoke the parable of corban, but the disciples want it interpreted (cf. Mark 4:10., Mark 4:33.). Matthew 15:15 represents Peter as the spokesman as was usually the case. [source]

Luke 8:9 Asked [επηρωτων]
Imperfect of επερωταω eperōtaō (επι epi and ερωταω erōtaō) where Mark 4:10 has ηρωτων ērōtōn (uncompounded imperfect), both the tense and the use of επι epi indicate eager and repeated questions on the part of the disciples, perhaps dimly perceiving a possible reflection on their own growth. [source]

Luke 9:18 Alone [κατα μονας]
In the N.T. only here and Mark 4:10. Perhaps χωρας chōras (places) is to be supplied with μονας monas (lonely places).Were with him (συνησαν αυτωι sunēsan autōi). This seems like a contradiction unless “alone” is to be taken with συνησαν sunēsan Westcott and Hort put συνηντησαν sunēntēsan in the margin. This would mean that as Jesus was praying alone, the disciples fell in with him. At any rate he was praying apart from them. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 4:10 mean?

And when He was with alone began asking Him those around with the Twelve about the parable

Καὶ ὅτε ἐγένετο κατὰ μόνας ἠρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα τὰς παραβολάς

ἐγένετο	He was
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular Root: γίνομαι Sense: to become, i.
μόνας	alone
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural Root: μόνος Sense: alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely.
ἠρώτων	began asking
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἐρωτάω Sense: to question.
οἱ	those
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
περὶ	around
Parse: Preposition Root: περί Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
δώδεκα	Twelve
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural Root: δώδεκα Sense: twelve.
τὰς	about the
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραβολάς	parable
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural Root: παραβολή Sense: a placing of one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition, as of ships in battle.

What are the major concepts related to Mark 4:10?

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Similar Scriptures for Mark 4:10

		Matthew 13:10-17 [4]
		Mark 4:34 [3]
		Luke 8:9-15 [2]
		Matthew 13:36 [2]
		Mark 7:17 [2]
		Proverbs 13:20 [2]