Mark 4 · Verse 30

Mark 4:30

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mark 4:30, King James Version

Mark 4:30 in other translations

BSBThen He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
WEBHe said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
ASVAnd he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?
YLTAnd he said, ‘To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it?
DARBYAnd he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it?
BBEAnd he said, What picture may we give of the kingdom of God, or with what story may we make it clear?
WebsterAnd he said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

What does Mark 4:30 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 30. Whereunto shall we liken, etc. This shows the great solicitude which Jesus had to adapt his instructions to the capacity of his disciples, he sought out the most plain and striking illustrations-- an example which should be followed by all the ministers of the gospel. At the same time that the instructions of the pulpit should be dignified--as our Saviour's always were--they should be plain, adapted to the capacity of the audience, and easily understood. To do this, the following things are necessary in a minister:

(1.) Humility. A freedom from a desire to shine, and astonish the world by the splendour of his talents, and by his learning and eloquence.

(2.) Good sense. A satisfaction in being understood.

(3.) Acquaintance with the habits of thought and manner of speaking among the people. To do this, frequent intercourse with them is necessary.

(4.) A good, sound education. It is the men of ignorance, with some smattering of learning, and with a desire to confound and astonish men by the use of unintelligible words, and by the introduction of matter that is wholly unconnected with the subject, that most often shoot over the heads of the people. Preachers of humility; good sense, and education, are content with being understood, and free from the affectation of saying things to amaze and confound their auditors.

The kingdom of God. Mt 3:2.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 30 Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? - How amiable is this carefulness of Jesus! How instructive to the preachers of his word! He is not solicitous to seek fine turns of eloquence to charm the minds of his auditors, nor to draw such descriptions and comparisons as may surprise them: but studies only to make himself understood; to instruct to advantage; to give true ideas of faith and holiness; and to find out such expressions as may render necessary truths easy and intelligible to the meanest capacities. The very wisdom of God seems to be at a loss to find out expressions low enough for the slow apprehensions of men. How dull and stupid is the creature! How wise and good the Creator! And how foolish the preacher who uses fine and hard words in his preaching, which, though admired by the shallow, convey no instruction to the multitude.

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 4:30 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
ἔλεγεν·elegenHe was saying;G3004
πῶςpōshowG4459
ὁμοιώσωμενhomoiōsōmenshall we likenG3666
τὴνtēntheG3588
βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἢēOrG2228
ἐνeninG1722
τίνιtiniwhichG5101
αὐτὴνautēnitG846
παραβολῇparabolēaparableG3850
θῶμεν;thōmenlet us presentG5087

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

Cross references for Mark 4:30

  • Matthew 13:31-32

    Another 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: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

  • Luke 13:18-21

    Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

  • Lamentations 2:13

    What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

  • Matthew 13:24

    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

  • Matthew 11:16

    But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
La 2:13; Mt 11:16; Lu 13:18,20,21

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Mark 4:31

    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:

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:30 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y decía: ¿A qué haremos semejante el reino de Dios? ¿ó con qué parábola le compararemos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il disait aussi: Comment comparerons-nous le royaume de Dieu, ou par quelle parabole le représenterons-nous?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach: Wie sollen wir das Reich Gottes vergleichen? oder in welchem Gleichnis sollen wir es darstellen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dicebat: Cui assimilabimus regnum Dei? aut cui parabolæ comparabimus illud?