Mark 4:21
◄  Mark 4:21  ►
New International Version (©2011)
He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then Jesus asked them, "Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand?

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then Jesus told them, "A lamp isn't brought indoors to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? It's to be put on a lamp stand, isn't it?

NET Bible (©2006)
He also said to them, "A lamp isn't brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn't it to be placed on a lampstand?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And he said to them, “Does one bring a lamp to be put under a basket or under a bed? Should it not be put on a lampstand?”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jesus said to them, "Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a lamp stand?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said unto them, Is a lamp brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a lampstand?

American King James Version
And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

American Standard Version
And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: Doth a candle come in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

Darby Bible Translation
And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? Is it not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand?

English Revised Version
And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a close vessel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

Weymouth New Testament
He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?

World English Bible
He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a stand?

Young's Literal Translation
And he said to them, 'Doth the lamp come that under the measure it may be put, or under the couch -- not that it may be put on the lamp-stand?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:21-34 These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, etc.? The Greek is ὁ λύχνος, and is better rendered the lamp. The figure is recorded by St. Matthew (Matthew 5:15) as used by our Lord in his sermon on the mount. It is evident that he repeated his sayings, and used them sometimes in a different connection. The lamp is here the light of Divine truth, shining in the person of Christ. Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel? It comes to us. The light in our souls is not of our own kindling; it comes to us from God, that we may manifest it for his glory. "The bushel" (μόδιος), from the Latin medias, a measure containing flour, was the flour-bin, a part of the furniture of every house, as was the tall lampstand with its single light. St, Luke (Luke 8:16) calls it "a vessel" (καλύπτει αὐτὸν σκεύει). The light is to be set on "a lamp-stand," and in like manner the light which we have received is to shine before men. As Christians, we are Christ's light-bearers. By this illustration our Lord teaches that he was unwilling that the mysteries of this great parable of the sower and of other parables should be concealed, but that his disciples should unfold these things to others as he had to them, although at present they might not be able to receive them.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said unto them,.... At the same time, after he had explained the parable of the sower; for though the following parabolical and proverbial expressions were delivered by Christ at other, and different times, and some of them twice, as related by other evangelists; yet they might be all of them expressed or repeated at this time, by our Lord, showing why he explained the above parable to his disciples; and that though he delivered the mysteries of the Gospel in parables to them that were without, yet it was not his design that these things should be always kept a secret, and that from all men: for as the Gospel might be compared to seed, so likewise to a candle, the design and use of which is to give light to men: wherefore he asks,

is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick? when a candle is brought into a room, in the night, where company are together, to converse, or read, or work; is it proper that it should be covered with a bushel, or any other hollow vessel? or when brought into a bedchamber, is it right to put it under the bed? is it not most fitting and convenient, that it should be set in a candlestick, and then it will be of use to all in the room? so the Gospel, which is the candle of the Lord, he had lighted up in the evening of the Jewish world, in the land of Judea; it was not his will that it should be always, and altogether, and from all men, covered with parables, and dark sayings, without any explanation of them; but that the light of it should be communicated, especially to them his; disciples, who were to be the lights of the world, and which were to shine openly before men, for their good, and the glory of his heavenly Father; see Matthew 5:14.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. And he said unto them, Is a candle—or "lamp"

brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?—"that they which enter in may see the light" (Lu 8:16). See on [1427]Mt 5:15, of which this is nearly a repetition.

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The Lesson of the Lamp
21And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. …

Matthew 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Luke 8:16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
Luke 11:33 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.