Mark 4 · Verse 21

Mark 4:21

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?

Mark 4:21, King James Version

Mark 4:21 in other translations

BSB	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?
WEB	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?
ASV	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?
YLT	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?
DARBY	And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? Is it not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand?
BBE	And he said to them, When the light comes in, do people put it under a vessel, or under the bed, and not on its table?
Webster	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?

What does Mark 4:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

21. And he said unto them, Is a candle--or "lamp" brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?--"that they which enter in may see the light" (Lu 8:16). See on Mt 5:15, of which this is nearly a repetition.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. Is a candle brought, etc. A candle is not lit up to be put immediately under a measure, or a bed, where it can give no light. Its design is to give light. So my preaching by parables is not designed to obscure the truth, but to throw light on it. You should understand those parables; and, understanding them, should impart the truth to others also, as a candle throws its beams upon a dark world.

Bushel. In the original, a measure for grain, containing about twelve quarts.

Bed. A couch, either to sleep on at night, or to recline on at their meals. Probably the latter is here meant, and is equivalent to our saying, a candle is not brought to be put under the table, but on it. Mt 23:6.

(1) "bushel" Mt 5:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 21 Is a candle - put under a bushel! - The design of my preaching is to enlighten men; my parables not being designed to hide the truth, but to make it more manifest.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 4:21-34

These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Mark 4:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532

ἔλεγενelegenHe was sayingG3004

αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846

μήτιmētisurely not everG3385

ἔρχεταιerchetaiis brought inG2064

ὁhotheG3588

λύχνοςluchnoslampG3088

ἵναinaso thatG2443

ὑπὸhupounderG5259

τὸνtontheG3588

μόδιονmodionbasketG3426

τεθῇtethēait may be putG5087

ἢēorG2228

ὑπὸhupounderG5259

τὴνtēntheG3588

κλίνην;klinēnbed?G2825

οὐχouchSurelyG3756

ἵναinathatG2443

ἐπὶepiuponG1909

τὴνtēntheG3588

λυχνίανluchnianlampstandG3087

τεθῇ;tethēamay it be put?G5087

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 4:21

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 11:33
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
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.
Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Ephesians 5:3-15
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. …
1 Corinthians 12:7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Philippians 2:15-16
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Is a.
Isa 60:1-3; Mt 5:15; Lu 8:16; 11:33; 1Co 12:7; Eph 5:3-15
Php 2:15,16
bushel."The word in the original signifieth a less measure, as Mt 5:15, marg."

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Mark 4:20
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark 4:21
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?
Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:21 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	También les dijo: ¿Tráese la antorcha para ser puesta debajo del almud, ó debajo de la cama? ¿No es para ser puesta en el candelero?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il leur dit: La lampe vient-elle pour être mise sous le boisseau ou sous le lit? N’est-ce pas pour être mise sur le pied de lampe?
German Elberfelder 1871	Und er sprach zu ihnen: Kommt etwa die Lampe, auf daß sie unter den Scheffel oder unter das Bett gestellt werde? nicht daß sie auf das Lampengestell gestellt werde?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et dicebat illis: Numquid venit lucerna ut sub modio ponatur, aut sub lecto? nonne ut super candelabrum ponatur?