A Lamp, Measure, and the Principle of Growth
Mark 4:21-25
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Mark.4.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ελεγεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Μητι: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λυχνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- υπο: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- μοδιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τεθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- υπο: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κλινην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ουχ: PART,neg
- ινα: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- λυχνιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τεθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 8:16 (verbal): Near-identical saying: lamp is not brought to be put under a vessel but set on a lampstand; same teaching in parallel narrative context.
- Luke 11:33 (verbal): Repeated teaching in Luke: a lamp is not hidden under a bushel but placed on a stand so those who enter may see the light — same imagery and purpose.
- Matthew 5:15 (verbal): Jesus' Beatitude discourse uses the same lamp/stand metaphor: neither is a lamp lit to be put under a basket but on a lampstand, highlighting visibility of good works.
- Matthew 6:22 (thematic): Uses related light imagery (the eye as the lamp of the body) to teach about inner purity and how light/vision shapes conduct — thematically linked to light revealing and guiding.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them: Is a lamp brought to be placed under a basket, or under a bed? Is it not set on a lampstand?
- And he said to them, Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, and not set on a lampstand?
Mark.4.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κρυπτον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- ινα: CONJ
- φανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αποκρυφον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- αλλ᾽ινα: CONJ
- ελθη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- φανερον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 8:17 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke's account of the same teaching: nothing hidden that will not be revealed; same wording and placement in the parable context.
- Matthew 10:26 (verbal): Matthew uses nearly identical language ('nothing covered that will not be revealed'), applied in an exhortation not to fear—verbal parallel of the same axiom.
- Luke 12:2-3 (verbal): Repeats the saying almost word-for-word and extends it to the disclosure of private speech and deeds—same motif of hidden things coming to light.
- Mark 4:21 (structural): Immediately preceding verse in Mark's narrative (lamp and bushel image) frames 4:22 as the concluding statement of the parable, providing the immediate literary context.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 (thematic): Paul appeals to the future revelation of hidden things when the Lord comes to 'bring to light the things hidden in darkness'—theologically echoes Mark's claim about ultimate disclosure.
Alternative generated candidates
- For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything concealed that will not come to light.
- For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be made known and come to light.
Mark.4.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ωτα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ακουειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ακουετω: VERB,pres,act,imp,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 4:9 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same chapter: the exact formula "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" appears earlier (4:9) as a refraining admonition.
- Matthew 13:9 (verbal): Verbal parallel in Matthew's Parable-discourse: the identical saying concludes a parable ("Who hath ears to hear, let him hear"), functioning as the same exhortation to attentive listening.
- Luke 8:8 (verbal): Luke's version of the Parable of the Sower uses the same formula ("Who hath ears to hear, let him hear"), reflecting the Synoptic repetition of the admonition.
- Matthew 11:15 (verbal): Another Matthean instance of the saying used as a summative exhortation ("He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"), emphasizing the need for perceptive reception of Jesus' message.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.
- And he said, Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark.4.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ελεγεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Βλεπετε: PRON,dat,pl,3+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ακουετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μετρω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- μετρειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- μετρηθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- προστεθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Luke 8:18 (verbal): Very close parallel: both warn to ‘consider/see how you hear’ and state the principle that what one has will be given more and what one lacks will be taken away (same proverb-like saying).
- Matthew 13:12 (verbal): Same teaching in the parables context: ‘Whoever has will be given more… and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away,’ paralleling Mark’s measure/gain principle.
- Matthew 25:29 (thematic): Parable of the talents expresses the same law of increase and loss—faithfulness/ability results in more being given; unfruitfulness results in loss—echoing Mark’s measurement principle.
- Matthew 7:2 (verbal): Uses the identical measuring imagery: ‘For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged’/‘with the measure you use it will be measured to you,’ applying the reciprocal-measure motif to judgment rather than hearing.
- Luke 6:38 (thematic): Similar reciprocal/measurement principle in the context of giving—‘give, and it will be given to you… with the measure you use it will be measured to you’—shares the same moral logic of recompense.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them, Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use it will be measured to you; and to those who hear, more will be given.
- And he said to them, Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use it will be measured to you, and more will be added to you.
Mark.4.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- δοθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·και: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αρθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- απ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,3,m
Parallels
- Matthew 13:12 (verbal): Nearly identical wording ('to the one who has will be given...'); Jesus explains the purpose of the parables (context of the sower/parable teaching).
- Luke 8:18 (verbal): Direct parallel in Luke's version of the sower explanation; repeats the same maxim about having and losing what one has.
- Matthew 25:29 (thematic): Parable of the talents applies the same principle of increase and loss as a criterion of stewardship and judgment ('to everyone who has, more will be given').
- Luke 19:26 (verbal): In the parable of the minas Jesus uses virtually the same wording to teach that those who use what they have will receive more, while those who do not will lose even what they have.
Alternative generated candidates
- For to the one who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what they have will be taken away.
- For to the one who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
And he said to them, Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket, or under a bed? Is it not set on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not come to light.
If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear. And he said to them, Take care what you hear; with the measure you use it will be measured to you, and to those who hear more will be given.
For to the one who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what they have will be taken away.