ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Mark 4.11-12

Book: Mark · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

There are ads on our codex that pay for hosting and keep the codex free. If you can, please consider whitelisting ris3n.com or allowing scripts to support the work.

Sponsored

ASV (ASV)

"9. And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables."

"11. And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: 12. that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them."

"13. And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables? 14. The sower soweth the word." (Mark 4:9-14, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"9. He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” 10. When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables."

"11. He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables, 12. that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’”"

"13. He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables? 14. The farmer sows the word." (Mark 4:9-14, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable."

"11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."

"13. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14. The sower soweth the word." (Mark 4:9-14, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"9. And he said to them, 'He who is having ears to hear, let him hear.' 10. And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile,"

"11. and he said to them, 'To you it hath been given to know the secret of the reign of God, but to those who are without, in similes are all the things done; 12. that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.'"

"13. And he saith to them, 'Have ye not known this simile? and how shall ye know all the similes? 14. He who is sowing doth sow the word;" (Mark 4:9-14, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Mark / John Mark (traditionally, on Peter's preaching) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: Gentile-Roman Christian audience (heavy explanation of Jewish customs)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); Rome (likely composition)
  • Time period: events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 55-70

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.