The Meaning of Mark 4:27 Explained

Mark 4:27

KJV: And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

YLT: and may sleep, and may rise night and day, and the seed spring up and grow, he hath not known how;

Darby: and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how.

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

Discover Mark 4:27

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Mark 4:27?

MEANING: What does Mark 4:27 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Mark 4:27 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Mark 4:27?

What is the context of Mark 4:27?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Mark 4:27 Mean?

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 4:27

Should sleep and rise [κατευδηι και εγειρηται]
Present subjunctive for continued action. So also spring up and grow (βλασται και μηκυνηται blastāi kai mēkunētai) two late verbs. The process of growth goes on all night and all day (νυκτα και ημεραν nukta kai hēmeran accusative of time). [source]

He knoweth not how [ως ουκ οιδεν αυτος]
Note position of ως hōs (beginning) and αυτος autos (end) of clause: How knows not he. The mystery of growth still puzzles farmers and scientists of today with all our modern knowledge. But nature‘s secret processes do not fail to operate because we are ignorant. This secret and mysterious growth of the kingdom in the heart and life is the point of this beautiful parable given only by Mark. “When man has done his part, the actual process of growth is beyond his reach or comprehension” (Swete). [source]

How knows not he []
. The mystery of growth still puzzles farmers and scientists of today with all our modern knowledge. But nature‘s secret processes do not fail to operate because we are ignorant. This secret and mysterious growth of the kingdom in the heart and life is the point of this beautiful parable given only by Mark. “When man has done his part, the actual process of growth is beyond his reach or comprehension” (Swete). [source]

Grow [μηκύνηται]
Lit., lengthen; be extended by the seed lengthening out into blade and stalk. [source]

He knoweth not how [ὡς οὐκ οἶδεν αὐτός]
The Greek order is very lively: how knoweth not he. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 4:27

James 5:7 Waiteth [ἐκδέχεται]
With expectation. Compare Matthew 13:30; Mark 4:27. [source]

James 5:18 Brought forth [εβλαστησεν]
First aorist active of βλαστανω blastanō old verb, to sprout (intransitive as Mark 4:27), here as occasionally in later Greek transitive with accusative καρπον karpon f0). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 4:27 mean?

and should sleep rise night day the seed should sprout grow how not knows he

καὶ καθεύδῃ ἐγείρηται νύκτα ἡμέραν ὁ σπόρος βλαστᾷ μηκύνηται ὡς οὐκ οἶδεν αὐτός

καθεύδῃ	should sleep
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: καθεύδω Sense: to fall asleep, drop off to sleep.
ἐγείρηται	rise
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐγείρω Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
νύκτα	night
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: νύξ Sense: night.
ἡμέραν	day
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ἡμέρα Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
σπόρος	seed
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: σπόρος Sense: a sowing.
βλαστᾷ	should sprout
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: βλαστάνω Sense: to sprout, bud, put forth new leaves.
μηκύνηται	grow
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: μηκύνω Sense: to make long, to lengthen.
ὡς	how
Parse: Adverb Root: ὡς Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
οἶδεν	knows
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: οἶδα Sense: to see.

What are the major concepts related to Mark 4:27?

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Similar Scriptures for Mark 4:27

		Ecclesiastes 11:5 [4]
		Ecclesiastes 8:17 [3]
		1 Corinthians 15:37-38 [2]
		2 Peter 3:18 [2]
		2 Thessalonians 1:3 [2]
		John 3:7-8 [2]