Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
- KJV And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
- NKJV And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
- NASB And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
- NLT Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The kingdom is like a man scattering seed on the ground. It matters because it shows the kingdom grows by God's hidden power, not human effort.
Overview
This parable, unique to Mark, likens God's kingdom to seed sown that grows mysteriously. The farmer plays a part but does not control the growth. It assures believers that the kingdom advances steadily by God's own power, encouraging patient trust rather than anxious striving.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Matt 13:24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- 1 Cor 3:6–9I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
- 1 Pet 1:23–25For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
- Luke 8:11Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
- Jas 3:18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
- Luke 8:5“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.
- Isa 32:20Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely.
- Mark 4:14–20The farmer sows the word.
- Prov 11:18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
- John 12:24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
- John 4:36–38Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.
- Isa 28:24–26Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil?
- Mark 4:3–4“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
- Eccl 11:6Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
- Eccl 11:4He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
- Luke 13:18Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
- Matt 13:11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- Matt 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matt 13:33He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
- Matt 4:17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matt 13:31He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
- Matt 13:3And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 4:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.