Mark 4:31
◄  Mark 4:31  ►
New International Version (©2011)
It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.

New Living Translation (©2007)
It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,

English Standard Version (©2001)
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
It's like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.

International Standard Version (©2012)
It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. Although it's the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

NET Bible (©2006)
It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground--

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
“It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the herb seeds on the earth.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

American King James Version
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

American Standard Version
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,

Douay-Rheims Bible
It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:

Darby Bible Translation
As to a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth,

English Revised Version
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,

Webster's Bible Translation
It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth.

Weymouth New Testament
It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world;

World English Bible
It's like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

Young's Literal Translation
As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth;

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!

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

It is like a grain of mustard seed,.... That is, the kingdom of God spoken of in the preceding verse, is like unto a grain of mustard seed; by which is meant, either the Gospel, or the Gospel church state, or the grace of God in the hearts of his people, and it may include them all: the Gospel is so called, because it treats of the two latter; but more especially, because it brings life and immortality to light, or points to the kingdom of heaven, directs the way unto it, and shows what qualifies persons for it, and gives them a claim unto it: and the Gospel church state may be so called, because here Christ dwells, and rules as king; the members of it are his subjects, and the ordinances of it are his laws, to which they are obedient: and the grace of God in the hearts of his people may be so called, because it is a governing principle in them; it reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, and by it Christ reigns in and over them: now the kingdom of God in each of these senses, may be compared to a grain of mustard seed, for the smallness of it, as follows;

which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth. The Gospel was first preached by very few persons, and these of no figure and account, especially at their first setting out. John the Baptist came preaching the kingdom of God, clothed with a garment of camel's hair, and with a leathern girdle about his loins; our Lord himself made no pompous appearance, there was no form nor comeliness in him; he was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs, and of a mean descent and occupation; his disciples were fishermen, and illiterate persons; those to whom it was preached, and by whom it was received at first were but few, and these were the poor and the unlearned, and publicans and sinners. The Gospel church state at first, consisted of very few persons, of Christ and his twelve apostles; and at his death, the number of the disciples at Jerusalem, men and women, were but an hundred and twenty; the several Gospel churches formed in the Gentile world, rose from small beginnings; from the conversion of a very few persons, and these the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things. The grace of God in the hearts of his people at first, is very little; it can scarcely be discerned by themselves, and is ready to be despised by others; their light and knowledge, their faith and experience being so exceeding small.

Mark 4:31 Parallel Commentaries

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The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. …

Matthew 13:31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
Mark 4:30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?
Mark 4:32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade."
Luke 17:6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.