Mark 4 · Verse 29

Mark 4:29

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Mark 4:29, King James Version

Mark 4:29 in other translations

BSBAnd as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
WEBBut when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
ASVBut when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.
YLTand whenever the fruit may yield itself, immediately he doth send forth the sickle, because the harvest hath come.'
DARBYBut when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come.
BBEBut when the grain is ready, he quickly sends men to get it cut, because the time for cutting has come.
WebsterBut when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

What does Mark 4:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. But when the fruit is brought forth--to maturity immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come--This charmingly points to the transition from the earthly to the heavenly condition of the Christian and the Church. Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mr 4:30-32). For the exposition of this portion, see on Mt 13:31, 32.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29. Immediately he putteth in the sickle. This is the way with the husbandman. As soon as the grain is ripe, it is cut down. So it is often with the Christian. As soon as he is prepared for heaven, he is taken there. But we are not to press this part of the parable, as if it meant that all are removed as soon as they are fit for heaven. Every parable contains circumstances thrown in to fill up the story, which cannot be literally interpreted. In this, the circumstance of sleeping and rising cannot be applied to Christ; and in like manner the harvest, I suppose, is not to be literally interpreted. Perhaps the whole parable may be differently interpreted. The seed sown may mean the gospel which he was preaching. In Judea its beginnings were small. Yet he would leave it; commit it to his disciples; and return to his Father. The gospel in the meantime, left by him, would take root, spring up, and produce an abundant harvest. In due time he would return, send forth the angels, and gather in the harvest, and save his people for ever.

(1) "brought forth" or, "ripe" (f) "putteth in the sickle" Rev 14:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 He putteth in the sickle - ΑποϚελλει, he sendeth out the sickle, i.e. the reapers; the instrument, by a metonomy, being put for the persons who use it. This is a common figure. It has been supposed that our Lord intimates here that, as soon as a soul is made completely holy, it is taken into the kingdom of God. But certainly the parable does not say so. When the corn is ripe, it is reaped for the benefit of him who sowed it; for it can be of little or no use till it be ripe: so when a soul is saved from all sin, it is capable of being fully employed in the work of the Lord: it is then, and not till then, fully fitted for the Master's use. God saves men to the uttermost, that they may here perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his name. To take them away the moment they are capable of doing this, would be, so far, to deprive the world and the Church of the manifestation of the glory of his grace. "But the text says, he immediately sendeth out the sickle; and this means that the person dies, and is taken into glory, as soon as he is fit for it." No, for there may be millions of cases, where, though to die would be gain, yet to live may be far better for the Church, and for an increase of the life of Christ to the soul. See Phi 1:21, Phi 1:24. Besides, if we attempt to make the parable speak here what seems to be implied in the letter, then we may say, with equal propriety, that Christ sleeps and wakes alternately; and that his own grace grows, he knows not how, in the heart in which he has planted it. On these two parables we may remark: - 1. That a preacher is a person employed by God, and sent out to sow the good seed of his kingdom in the souls of men. 2. That it is a sin against God to stay in the field and not sow. 3. That it is a sin to pretend to sow, when a man is not furnished by the keeper of the granary with any more seed. 4. That it is a high offense against God to change the Master's seed, to mix it, or to sow bad seed in the place of it. 5. That he is not a seeds-man of God who desires to sow by the way side, etc., and not on the proper ground, i.e. he who loves to preach only to genteel congregations, to people of sense and fashion, and feels it a pain and a cross to labor among the poor and the ignorant. 6. That he who sows with a simple, upright heart, the seed of his Master, shall (though some may be unfruitful) see the seed take deep root; and, notwithstanding the unfaithfulness and sloth of many of his hearers, he shall doubtless come with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. See Quesnel.

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 4:29 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.

ὅτανhotanWhenG3752
δὲdethenG1161
παραδοῖparadoiit may produceG3860
ὁhotheG3588
καρπός,karposfruit,G2590
εὐθὺςeuthusimmediatelyG2112
ἀποστέλλειapostelleihe sendsG649
τὸtotheG3588
δρέπανονdrepanonsickleG1407
ὅτιhotiforG3754
παρέστηκενparestēkenhas comeG3936
ὁhotheG3588
θερισμός.¶therismosharvest.G2326

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

Cross references for Mark 4:29

  • Joel 3:13

    Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

  • Matthew 13:30

    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  • Isaiah 57:1-2

    The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

  • Matthew 13:40-43

    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  • Job 5:26

    Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

  • Revelation 14:13-17

    And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. …

  • 2 Timothy 4:7-8

    I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
brought forth. or, ripe.
Job 5:26; 2Ti 4:7,8
he putteth.
Isa 57:1,2; Joe 3:13; Mt 13:30,40-43; Re 14:13-17

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Mark 4:30

    And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cuando el fruto fuere producido, luego se mete la hoz, porque la siega es llegada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et quand le fruit est produit, on y met aussitôt la faucille, parce que la moisson est arrivée.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber die Frucht sich darbietet, so schickt er alsbald die Sichel, denn die Ernte ist da.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cum produxerit fructus, statim mittit falcem, quoniam adest messis.