Mark 4 · Verse 28

Mark 4:28

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Mark 4:28, King James Version

Mark 4:28 in other translations

BSBAll by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
WEBFor the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
ASVThe earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
YLTfor of itself doth the earth bear fruit, first a blade, afterwards an ear, afterwards full corn in the ear;
DARBYThe earth bears fruit of itself, first the blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear.
BBEThe earth gives fruit by herself; first the leaf, then the head, then the full grain.
WebsterFor the earth bringeth forth fruit of itself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

What does Mark 4:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear--beautiful allusion to the succession of similar stages, though not definitely marked periods, in the Christian life, and generally in the kingdom of God.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself. That is, it is done without the power of man. It is done while man is engaged in other things. The scope of the place does not require us to suppose that our Saviour meant to say that the earth had any productive power of itself, but only that it produced its fruits not by the power of man. God gives it its power. It has no power of its own. So religion in the heart is not by the power of man. It grows he cannot tell how; and of course he cannot, without Divine aid, control it. It is by the power of God. At the same time, as without industry man would have no harvest, so without active effort he would have no religion. Both are connected with his effort; both are to be measured commonly by his effort, (Php 2:12) both grow he cannot tell how; both increase when the proper means are used; and both depend on God for increase.

First the blade. The green, tender shoot, that first starts out of the earth, before the stalk is formed.

Then the ear. The original means, the stalk or spire of wheat or barley, as well as the ear.

The full corn. The ripe wheat. The grain swollen to its proper size. By this is denoted, undoubtedly, that grace or religion in the heart is of gradual growth. It is at first tender, feeble, perhaps almost imperceptible, like the first shootings of the grain in the earth. Perhaps also, like grain, it often lies long in the earth before there are signs of life. Like the tender grain, also, it needs care, kindness, and culture. A light frost, a cold storm, or a burning sun, alike injure it. So tender piety, in the heart of a child, needs care, kindness, culture. It needs shelter from the frosts and storms of a cold, unfeeling world. It needs the genial dews and mild suns of heaven. In other words, it needs instruction, prayer, and friendly counsel from parents, teachers, ministers, and experienced Christians, that it may grow, and bring forth the full fruits of holiness. Like the grain also, in due time, it will grow strong; it will produce its appropriate fruit--a full and rich harvest, to the praise of God.

(d) "fruit of herself" Gen 1:11,12 (e) "first" Eccl 3:1,11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 Bringeth forth - of herself - Αυτοματη. By its own energy, without either the influence or industry of man. Similar to this is the expression of the poet: - Namque aliae, Nullis Homlnum Cogentibus, ipsae Sponte Sua veniunt. Virg. Geor. l. ii. v. 10 "Some (trees) grow of their own accord, without the labor of man." All the endlessly varied herbage of the field is produced in this way. The full corn - Πληρη σιτον, Full wheat; the perfect, full-grown, or ripe corn. Lucian uses κενος καρπος, Empty fruit, for imperfect, or unripe fruit. See Kypke. The kingdom of God, which is generated in the soul by the word of life, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is first very small; there is only a blade, but this is full of promise, for a good blade shows there is a good seed at bottom, and that the soil in which it is sown is good also. Then the ear - the strong stalk grows up, and the ear is formed at the top; the faith and love of the believing soul increase abundantly; it is justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ; it has the ear which is shortly to be filled with the ripe grain, the outlines of the whole image of God. Then the full corn. The soul is purified from all unrighteousness; and, having escaped the corruption that is in the world, it is made a partaker of the Divine nature, and is filled with all the fullness of God.

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…

Read the full comment on Mark 4:21-34 →

Mark 4:28 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.

αὐτομάτηautomatēOf itselfG844
ἡhētheG3588
γῆgēearthG1093
καρποφορεῖkarpophoreibrings forth fruit —G2592
πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413
χόρτονchortona plantG5528
εἶταeitathenG1534
στάχυνstachunan earG4719
εἶταeitathenG1534
πλήρηςplērēsfullG4134
σῖτονsitongrainG4621
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
στάχυϊ.stachuiear.G4719

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

Cross references for Mark 4:28

  • Philippians 1:9-11

    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

  • Mark 4:31-32

    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: 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.

  • Colossians 1:10

    That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

  • Matthew 13:26

    But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

  • Philippians 1:6

    Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

    And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

  • Isaiah 61:11

    For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:11

    He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1

    To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

  • Psalms 92:13-14

    Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

  • Genesis 2:9

    And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the earth.
Ge 1:11,12; 2:4,5,9; 4:11,12; Isa 61:11
first.
31,32; Ps 1:3; 92:13,14; Pr 4:18; Ec 3:1,11; Ho 6:3; Php 1:6,9-11
Col 1:10; 1Th 3:12,13
blade.
Mt 13:26

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

Context

  • Mark 4:27

    And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

  • Mark 4:28

    For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

  • Mark 4:29

    But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque de suyo fructifica la tierra, primero hierba, luego espiga, después grano lleno en la espiga;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La terre produit spontanément du fruit, premièrement l’herbe, ensuite l’épi, et puis le plein froment dans l’épi;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Erde bringt von selbst Frucht hervor, zuerst Gras, dann eine Ähre, dann vollen Weizen in der Ähre.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ultro enim terra fructificat, primum herbam, deinde spicam, deinde plenum frumentum in spica.