Mark 4:21
New International Version
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
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
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?

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?

Berean Literal Bible
And He was saying to them, "The lamp is not brought in so that it might be put under the basket, or under the bed. Is it not that it might be put upon the lampstand?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

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

NASB 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?

NASB 1977
And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a peck-measure, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?

Legacy Standard Bible
And He was saying to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be put on the lampstand?

Amplified Bible
He said to them, “A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand?

Christian Standard Bible
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?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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?

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?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
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?”

Contemporary English Version
Jesus also said: You don't light a lamp and put it under a clay pot or under a bed. Don't you put a lamp on a lampstand?

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?

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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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?

Good News Translation
Jesus continued, "Does anyone ever bring in a lamp and put it under a bowl or under the bed? Isn't it put on the lampstand?

International Standard Version
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?

Literal Standard Version
And He said to them, “Does the lamp come that it may be put under the measure, or under the bed—not that it may be put on the lampstand?

Majority Standard Bible
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?

New American Bible
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

NET Bible
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?

New Revised Standard Version
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?

New Heart English Bible
And he said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not put on a 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 a 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?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Lesson of the Lamp
20Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.” 21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? 22For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Luke 8:16
No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

Luke 11:33
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.


Treasury of Scripture

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?

Is a.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee…

Matthew 5:15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Luke 8:16
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

bushel.

Mark 5:15
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

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Basket Bed Bowl Bushel Candle Candlestick Close Instead Lamp Lamp-Stand Measure Order Placed Rather Stand Table Vessel
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Basket Bed Bowl Bushel Candle Candlestick Close Instead Lamp Lamp-Stand Measure Order Placed Rather Stand Table Vessel
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.














(21) Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel?--See Note on Matthew 5:15. St. Mark, it will be noted, omits all the other parables that follow in St. Matthew, and connects with that of the Sower sayings more or less proverbial, which in St. Matthew appear in a different context. Looking at our Lord's method of teaching by the repetition of proverbs under different aspects and on different occasions, it is not unlikely that this of the "candle" was actually spoken in the connection in which we find it here. Their knowledge of the meaning of the parable was not given them for themselves alone, but was to shine forth to others. We probably owe to the saying so uttered the record of this parable given in three out of the four Gospels.

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.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Jesus] also said
ἔλεγεν (elegen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Does [anyone] bring in
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

a
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

lamp
λύχνος (lychnos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3088: A lamp. From the base of leukos; a portable lamp or other illuminator.

so
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

he can place [it]
τεθῇ (tethē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

under
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

a basket
μόδιον (modion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3426: A dry measure, nearly two English gallons. Of Latin origin; a modius, i.e. Certain measure for things dry.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

under
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

a bed?
κλίνην (klinēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2825: A couch, bed, portable bed or mat, a couch for reclining at meals, possibly also a bier. From klino; a couch.

Doesn’t he
οὐχ (ouch)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

set it
τεθῇ (tethē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

a lampstand?
λυχνίαν (lychnian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3087: A lamp-stand. From luchnos; a lamp-stand.


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NT Gospels: Mark 4:21 He said to them Is the lamp (Mar Mk Mr)
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