The Meaning of Mark 4:32 Explained

Mark 4:32

KJV: 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.

YLT: and whenever it may be sown, it cometh up, and doth become greater than any of the herbs, and doth make great branches, so that under its shade the fowls of the heaven are able to rest.'

Darby: and when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow.

ASV: yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Mark 4:32 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 4:32

Groweth up [αναβαινει]
Matthew 13:32 When it is grown (οταν αυχητηι — hotan auxēthēi). [source]
Under the shadow thereof [υπο την σκιαν αυτου]
A different picture from Matthew‘s in the branches thereof But both use κατασκηνοιν — kataskēnoin to tent or camp down, make nests in the branches in the shade or hop on the ground under the shade just like a covey of birds. In Matthew 8:20 the birds have nests The use of the mustard seed for smallness seems to have been proverbial and Jesus employs it elsewhere (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6). [source]
in the branches thereof [εν τοις κλαδοις αυτου]
But both use κατασκηνοιν — kataskēnoin to tent or camp down, make nests in the branches in the shade or hop on the ground under the shade just like a covey of birds. In Matthew 8:20 the birds have nests The use of the mustard seed for smallness seems to have been proverbial and Jesus employs it elsewhere (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6). [source]
Groweth up []
Mark only. [source]
Herbs [τῶν λαχάνων]
Rev., rightly, the herbs; those which people are wont to plant in their gardens. The word denotes garden - or pot-herbs, as distinguished from wild herbs. [source]
Shooteth out great branches [ποιεῖ κλάδους μεγάλους]
Lit., maketh, etc. Rev., putteth out. Peculiar to Mark. Matthew has becometh a tree. On branches, see note on Matthew 24:32. One of the Talmudists describes the mustard-plant as a tree, of which the wood was sufficient to cover a potter's shed. Another says that he was wont to climb into it as men climb into a fig-tree. Professor Hackett says that on the plain of Akka, toward Carmel, he found a collection of mustard-plants from six to nine feet high, with branches from each side of a trunk an inch or more in thickness. Dr. Thomson relates that near the bank of the Jordan he found a mustard-tree more than twelve feet high. [source]
Lodge [κατασκηνοῦν]
See on Matthew 8:20. Lit., pitch their tents. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 4:32

Mark 4:31 When it is sown [ὅταν σπαρῇ]
This phrase is repeated in Mark 4:32. Here the emphasis is on ὅταν , when. It is small at the time when it is sown. In Mark 4:32 the emphasis is on σπαρῇ , it is sown. It begins to grow great from the time when it is sown. [source]
Mark 4:31 When it is sown [οταν σπαρηι]
Second aorist passive subjunctive of σπειρω — speirō Alone in Mark and repeated in Mark 4:32. [source]
Luke 11:42 Every herb [παν λαχανον]
General term as in Mark 4:32. Matthew has “cummin.”Pass by (παρερχεστε — parerchesthe). Present middle indicative of παρερχομαι — parerchomai common verb, to go by or beside. Matthew 23:23 has “ye have left undone” (απηκατε — aphēkate). Luke here has “love” (αγαπην — agapēn), not in Matthew.Ought As in Matthew. Imperfect of a present obligation, not lived up to just like our “ought” Παρειναι — Pareinai as in Matthew, the second aorist active infinitive of απιημι — aphiēmi to leave off. Common verb. Luke does not have the remark about straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel (Matthew 23:34). It is plain that the terrible exposure of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 in the temple was simply the culmination of previous conflicts such as this one. [source]
John 15:2 Branch [κλημα]
Old word from κλαω — klaō to break, common in lxx for offshoots of the vine, in N.T. only here (John 15:2-6), elsewhere in N.T. κλαδος — klados (Mark 4:32, etc.), also from κλαω — klaō both words meaning tender and easily broken parts. In me Two kinds of connexion with Christ as the vine (the merely cosmic which bears no fruit, the spiritual and vital which bears fruit). The fruitless (not bearing fruit, μη περον καρπον — mē pheron karpon) the vine-dresser “takes away” Present active indicative of old verb καταιρω — kathairō (clean) as in John 15:3, only use in N.T., common in the inscriptions for ceremonial cleansing, though καταριζω — katharizō is more frequent (Hebrews 10:2). That it may bear more fruit Purpose clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of περω — pherō “that it may keep on bearing more fruit” (more and more). A good test for modern Christians and church members. [source]
Romans 14:2 Herbs [λάχανα]
From λαχαίνω todig. Herbs grown on land cultivated by digging: garden-herbs, vegetables. See on Mark 4:32; see on Luke 12:42. [source]
Hebrews 10:1 Shadow [σκιαν]
The contrast here between σκια — skia (shadow, shade caused by interruption of light as by trees, Mark 4:32) and εικων — eikōn (image or picture) is striking. Christ is the εικων — eikōn of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15). In Colossians 2:17 Paul draws a distinction between σκια — skia for the Jewish rites and ceremonies and σωμα — sōma for the reality in Christ. Children are fond of shadow pictures. The law gives only a dim outline of the good things to come (Hebrews 9:11). Continually See this phrase also in Hebrews 7:3; Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14. Nowhere else in N.T. From διηνεγκα — diēnegka This reading leaves ο νομος — ho nomos a nominativus pendens (an anacoluthon). But many MSS. read δυναται — dunatai (it - the law - can). For the idea and use of τελειωσαι — teleiōsai see Hebrews 9:9. [source]
Hebrews 8:5 Serve [λατρευουσιν]
Present active indicative of λατρευω — latreuō for which verb see note on Matthew 4:10. A copy Dative case after λατρευουσιν — latreuousin See note on John 13:15 and note on Hebrews 4:11 for this interesting word. Shadow Dative case. Old word for which see note on Matthew 4:16; note on Mark 4:32; and note on Colossians 2:17. See same idea in Hebrews 9:23. For difference between σκια — skia and εικων — eikōn see Hebrews 10:1. Here “copy and shadow” form a practical hendiadys for “a shadowy outline” (Moffatt). Is warned of God Perfect passive indicative of χρηματιζω — chrēmatizō old verb (from χρημα — chrēma business) for which see note on Matthew 2:12, note on Matthew 2:22, and note on Luke 2:26. The word “God” is not used, but it is implied as in Acts 10:22; Hebrews 12:25. So in lxx, Josephus, and the papyri. For saith he Argument from God‘s command (Exodus 25:40). See that thou make Common Greek idiom with present active imperative of οραω — horaō and the volitive future of ποιεω — poieō without ινα — hina (asyndeton, Robertson, Grammar, p. 949). The pattern The very word used in Exodus 25:40 and quoted also by Stephen in Acts 7:44. For τυπος — tupos see note on John 20:25; note on Romans 6:17, and etc. The tabernacle was to be patterned after the heavenly model. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 4:32 mean?

and when it has been sown it grows up becomes greater than all the garden plants it produces branches great so that are able under the shadow of it the birds of the air to perch
καὶ ὅταν σπαρῇ ἀναβαίνει γίνεται μεῖζον πάντων τῶν λαχάνων ποιεῖ κλάδους μεγάλους ὥστε δύνασθαι ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῦν

σπαρῇ  it  has  been  sown 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπισπείρω 
Sense: to sow, scatter, seed.
ἀναβαίνει  it  grows  up 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναβαίνω  
Sense: ascend.
γίνεται  becomes 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
μεῖζον  greater 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular, Comparative
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
πάντων  than  all 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
λαχάνων  garden  plants 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: λάχανον  
Sense: any pot herb, vegetables.
ποιεῖ  it  produces 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
κλάδους  branches 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: κλάδος  
Sense: a young tender shoot, broken off for grafting.
μεγάλους  great 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
ὥστε  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὥστε  
Sense: so that, insomuch that.
δύνασθαι  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
ὑπὸ  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπό  
Sense: by, under.
σκιὰν  shadow 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: σκιά  
Sense: shadow.
αὐτοῦ  of  it 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πετεινὰ  birds 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πετεινόν  
Sense: flying, winged.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανοῦ  air 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.
κατασκηνοῦν  to  perch 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: κατασκηνόω  
Sense: to pitch one’s tent, to fix one’s abode, to dwell.