ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Mark 4.31

type: passage created: 2026-05-06 updated: 2026-05-06 book: Mark chapter: 4 verses: "31" translation_default: ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT tags: [scripture] citation_count: 1 enriched: false

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Mark 4.31

Book: Mark · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"29. But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come. 30. And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?"

"31. 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,"

"32. 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. 33. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it;" (Mark 4:29-33, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"29. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30. He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?"

"31. 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,"

"32. yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.” 33. With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it." (Mark 4:29-33, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"29. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. brought: or, ripe 30. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?"

"31. 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:"

"32. 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. 33. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it." (Mark 4:29-33, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"29. and whenever the fruit may yield itself, immediately he doth send forth the sickle, because the harvest hath come.' 30. And he said, 'To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it?"

"31. 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;"

"32. 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.' 33. And with many such similes he was speaking to them the word, as they were able to hear," (Mark 4:29-33, 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

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.