And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
- BSB Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on 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 13:24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
- 1 Cor 3:6–9I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
- 1 Pet 1:23–25Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
- Luke 8:11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
- Jas 3:18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
- Luke 8:5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
- Isa 32:20Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
- Mark 4:14–20The sower soweth the word.
- Prov 11:18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
- John 12:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
- John 4:36–38And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
- Isa 28:24–26Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
- Mark 4:3–4Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
- Eccl 11:6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
- Eccl 11:4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
- Luke 13:18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
- Matt 13:11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- Matt 3:2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matt 13:33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
- Matt 4:17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matt 13:31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
- Matt 13:3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
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.