Mark 4:32 But when it is sown, it grows up...

Spoken to:

Apostles

After explaining the parable of the seeds regarding what the kingdom is the Divine is like.

KJV :

Mark 4:32 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.

NIV :

Mark 4:32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Listeners Heard:

And when it is sown, it shoots up and becomes greater than all the garden plants and it makes great branches, for the winged ones of the sky to have the power to nest under the shadow of it.

My Takeaway:

A little knowledge can grow so large that it provide a home for evil.

Lost in Translation:

This is the only time that Jesus uses the word "shadow." Here, the Greek word translated "grow" means "shoots up" when applied to plant. It also means "ascend to higher knowledge," which is the continued theme of this section about the seed being a kernel of knowledge.

The Greek term translated as "herb" here is also an interesting choice. It means a cultivated plant as opposed to a wild plant. This is interesting because it infers the idea of cultivation, that is, work by people as opposed to a wild plant. Unlike, Matthew and Mark, Luke doesn't use this term, but the term for "tree." In northern climes, the mustard plant only grows to about three feet. In the Middle East, it can grow to fifteen feet with a thick central stalk. The seed itself is only about a sixteenth of an inch, which is very small compared to other trees of the region.

The last line about the birds is an interesting and unusual construction in Greek. The adverb introducing it has the specific sense of "for the purpose" when it precedes an infinitive verb, as it does here. The subject of an infinitive is in the form of an object. The Greek word translated as "may" and "can" is the first infinitive, meaning "to have power" and the second infinitive means "to nest" when it is applied to birds. The word translated as "air" in the KJV and left out of the NIV is the word meaning "sky" which is usually translated as "heaven" in the Bible.

The same non-standard word for "birds" is used, indicating angels or demons. Here, however, those same creatures seek shelter in the shade of this tree. Interestingly, however, the term used for "shade/shadow" also means a ghost or evil spirit. Birds were the symbol for "the evil one" in the Parable of the Sower.

Original Word Order:

καὶ ὅταν σπαρῇ, ἀναβαίνει καὶ γίνεται μεῖζον πάντων τῶν λαχάνων
And when it is sown, it shoots up and becomes greater than all the garden plants

καὶ ποιεῖ κλάδους μεγάλους,
and it makes branches, great

ὥστε δύνασθαι “ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῖν.”
for to have the power under the shadow of it. the winged ones of the sky to nest

WORD-BY-WORD COMPARISON OF THE GREEK TO ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS:

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

ὅταν [70 verses] (adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever (as a condition)," and "since (as a cause)." --

σπαρῇ, [31 verses]( verb 3rd sg aor subj pass) "Sown" is from speirô (speiro), which means "to sow a seed", "to beget offspring", "to scatter like a seed," and "to sow a field."

ἀναβαίνει [14 verses]( verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Groweth up" is from anabaino, which means "go up", "mount", "shoot up" [of plants], "rise" [of rivers], "ascend to higher knowledge", "come to an end," and "turn out."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you).

γίνεται [117 verses]( verb 3rd sg pres ind mp) "Becometh" is ginomai, which means "to become," "to come into being," "to happen," of things "to be produced," of events "happen," (passive) "take place," "come to pass," "to be engaged in," math "to be multiplied into," "become one of," "turn into." It means changing into a new state of being. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi) which indicates existence in the same state.

μεῖζον [22 verses] ( adj sg neut nom comp ) "Greater" is meizon which means "bigger", "higher", "longer," and "greater" and is the comparative form of megas, which means "big" and "great." The superlative form "greatest" is megistos, μέγιστος.

πάντων [212 verses] ( adj pl masc gen ) "Than all" is pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way," and "altogether." --

τῶν [821 verses](article pl neut gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

λαχάνων [3 verses]( noun pl neut gen ) "Herbs" is lachanon, which means "garden herbs," and "vegetables." It is the opposite of "wild plants."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you).

ποιεῖ [168 verses]( verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Shooteth outs" is from poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do."

κλάδους [5 verses]( noun pl masc acc) "Branches" is from klados, which means "branches", "twig", "shoot," and "branch" of a blood vessel.

μεγάλους, [47 verses](adj pl masc acc) "Great" is megas, which means "big", "full-grown", "vast", "high", "great", "mighty", "strong (of the elements)","loud" (of sounds), "over-great (with a bad sense), "impressive" (of style), and "long" ( of days).

ὥστε [9 verses](adv/conj) "So that" is hoste, which marks the power or virtue by which one does a thing, "as being", "inasmuch as," expresses the actual or intended result of the action in the principal clause: "as", "for," implying " on condition that," at the beginning of a sentence, to mark a strong conclusion, "and so", "therefore," and with subj. " in order that." Before an infinitive verb, the sense is "for" or "so as" to do something.

δύνασθαι [61 verses]( verb pres inf mp ) "May" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities", "to be able," and "to be strong enough." -

ὑπὸ [29 verses](prep) "Of" is hypo (hupo), which means [with genitive] "from under (of motion)," "down under," under, beneath," "by" in the sense of a cause or agency, "under," or "with," "under the cover or protection of," "of the agency of feelings, passions," "expressing subjection or dependence," "subordinate," "subject to;" [with accusative] "towards" and "under" (to express motion), "under" (without a sense of motion), "subjection," "control," "dependence," of Time, "in the course of," "during," "about," as an adverb, "under," "below," beneath, the agency or influence under which a thing is done"by," "before,' and "under," (with genitive and passive verbs of cause).

τὴν [821 verses]( article sg fem acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --

σκιὰν [1 verse]( noun sg fem acc ) "Shadows" is from skia, which means "shadow", "reflection", "image,
""shade [of dead]", "phantom", "evil spirit", "shade [of trees]," silhouette," and "profile."

αὐτοῦ [242 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Of it" is from autou, which is the adjective used as third-person pronouns in the singular, genetive form. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The form is the genitive, which usually shows possession. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his." This form is also used as the object of a preposition. A genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.

τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

πετεινὰ [13 verses]( adj pl neut acc) "Fowls" is peteinon, which as an adjective means "able to fly," "full-fledged," and "winged," and, as a noun, "winged fowl," and "a bird." There was clearly a conscious choice here not to use the Greek word for bird, which is ornis, or, in the diminutive, ornithion. All the English words referring to birds coming from Greek begin with this "ornith" prefix, including ornithology, the study of birds. This is the same word used in the parable of the sower.

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.

οὐρανοῦ [111 verses]( noun sg masc gen ) "Air" is from the Greek ouranos., which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe," and "the climate."

κατασκηνοῖν.” [3 verses] (verb pres act inf) "Lodge" is from kataskenoo, which means "taking up one's quarters", "encamp," and "rest."

KJV Analysis:

But - (WW) The Greek word translated as "but" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

when - The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since."

it - This word comes from the singular form of the following verb.

is - This word comes from the passive form of the following verb.

sown, - The Greek word translated as "sown" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds.

it - This word comes from the singular form of the following verb.

groweth up, - (CW) "Groweth up" is a Greek verb means "go up", "mount", "shoot up" [of plants], "rise" [of rivers], "ascend to higher knowledge", "come to an end," and "turn out." This is not the word usually translated as "grow."

and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

becometh - The word translated as "becometh" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. It is a verb where the subject affects itself as opposed to someone else changing it.

greater -- The word translated as "greater" means "big", "high" "great," and "impressive." It is in the comparative form so "greater."

than - This word is from the form of the next word.

all - The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether."

missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.

herbs, - The term translated as "herbs" but generally means "garden plants" as an opposite of wild plants. The point here is cultivation. "Cultivation" was a sign of civilization rather than the wild state of things. Mustard plant are one of the oldest known cultivated plants. Cultivation is also symbolic of educating children.

and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

shooteth out - (CW) The Greek word translated as "shooteth out" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.

great - The word translated as "great" means "big", "high" "great," and "impressive."

branches - The word translated as "branches" also means "twigs" or "offshoots."

; so that - "So that" is an adverb that marks the power or virtue by which one does a thing. At the beginning of a sentence, it marks a strong conclusion. When this Greek adverb comes before an infinitive, as it does here, the sense is "for" or "so as" to do something.

the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article.

fowls - The Greek word translated as "fowls" is normally an adjective means "able to fly" and "winged," but it is used as a noun here, so "those that can fly" or, more simply, "birds." Christ always uses this term when referring to birds rather than the actual Greek noun for "birds."

of - This is from the form of the next noun.

the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article.

air - (CW) The word translated as "air" is from a word that is almost always translated as "heaven" in te NT. It also means sky, the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. Though heaven is used in Christianity as the place of the afterlife, Christ never uses it that way though he does use it to mean the home of the Father.

may - (WW,WF) ) The word translated as "may" is usually translated as "can" but means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This verb is actually an infinitive, "to have the power."

lodge - (WF) The word translated as "lodge" is a verb that means "to camp" and "to take up quarters" but specifically means "to settle" when applied to birds. The description is more "nesting." The form is an infinitive, "to nest."

under - The word translated as "under" primarily means "by", "under," or "with" (with the genitive and a passive verb). Its primary meaning is "under" both in the sense of moving under, being under, and being under different forms of compulsion.

the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article.

shadow - "Shadow" is a word that Jesus only uses here. The Greek noun means "shadow", "reflection", "image," "shade [of dead]", "phantom", "evil spirit", "shade [of trees]," silhouette," and "profile."

of - This is from the form of the next word.

it. - The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."

KJV Translation Issues:

WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "but" should be something more like "and."
CW --Confusing Word -- The "grow" is not the common word usually translated as "grow."
MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "herbs" is not shown in the English translation.
CW --Confusing Word -- The "shooteth out" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
CW --Confusing Word -- The "air" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "may" should be something more like "to have power."
WF - Wrong Form - The "have power" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to have power."
WF - Wrong Form - The "lodge" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to nest."

NIV Analysis:

Yet - (WW) The Greek word translated as "yet" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

when - The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since."

planted - (CW, WF)The Greek word translated as "sown" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. This is not a participle but a passive verb.

it - This word comes from the singular form of the following verb.

grows, - (CW) "Groweth up" is a Greek verb means "go up", "mount", "shoot up" [of plants], "rise" [of rivers], "ascend to higher knowledge", "come to an end," and "turn out." This is not the word usually translated as "grow."

and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

becomes - The word translated as "becomes" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. It is a verb where the subject affects itself as opposed to someone else changing it.

the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.

largest -- The word translated as "largest" means "big", "high" "great," and "impressive." It is in the comparative form so "greater."

of - This word is from the form of the next word.

garden plants - The term translated as "garden plants, " but generally means "garden plants" as an opposite of wild plants. The point here is cultivation. "Cultivation" was a sign of civilization rather than the wild state of things. Mustard plant are one of the oldest known cultivated plants. Cultivation is also symbolic of educating children.

with - (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

missing "makes" -- (MW) The untranslated word has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.

such -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "such" in the Greek source.

big - The word translated as "big" means "big", "high" "great," and "impressive."

branches - The word translated as "branches" also means "twigs" or "offshoots."

that - "That" is an adverb that marks the power or virtue by which one does a thing. At the beginning of a sentence, it marks a strong conclusion. When this Greek adverb comes before an infinitive, as it does here, the sense is "for" or "so as" to do something.

the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article.

birds - The Greek word translated as "fowls" is normally an adjective means "able to fly" and "winged," but it is used as a noun here, so "those that can fly" or, more simply, "birds." Christ always uses this term when referring to birds rather than the actual Greek noun for "birds."

of - This is from the form of the next noun.

missing "the " -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article.

missing "sky" -- (MW) The untranslated word "sky" is from a word that is almost always translated as "heaven" in te NT. It also means "sky," "the climate," and "the universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. Though heaven is used in Christianity as the place of the afterlife, Christ never uses it that way though he does use it to mean the home of the Father.

can - -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English.

perch - (CW, WF) The word translated as "perch" is a verb that means "to camp" and "to take up quarters" but specifically means "to settle" when applied to birds. The description is more "nesting."

in - (CW) The word translated as "in" primarily means "by", "under," or "with" (with the genitive and a passive verb). Its primary meaning is "under" both in the sense of moving under, being under, and being under different forms of compulsion.

its. - The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."

shade - "Shadow" is a word that Jesus only uses here. The Greek noun means "shadow", "reflection", "image," "shade [of dead]", "phantom", "evil spirit", "shade [of trees]," silhouette," and "profile."

of - This is from the form of the next word.

NIV Translation Issues:

WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "yet" should be something more like "and."
CW --Confusing Word -- The "planted" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
WF -- Wrong Form - The "planted" is not a participle, but a passive verb "is seeded."
CW --Confusing Word -- The "grows" is not the common word usually translated as "grow."
IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "with" should be something more like "and."
MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "herbs" is not shown in the English translation.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "makes" is not shown in the English translation.
IW - Inserted Word -- The word "such" doesn't exist in the source.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "the " is not shown in the English translation.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "sky" is not shown in the English translation.
CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but an infinitive.
WF - Wrong Form - The "have power" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to have power."
CW --Confusing Word -- The "perch" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
WF - Wrong Form - The "perch" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to nest."
CW --Confusing Word -- The "in" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "shade" is not shown in the English translation.

Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed,

Possible Symbolic Meaning:

The seed in knowledge and united with the earth, our relationships, we ascend to higher knowledge. Historically, mustard was not just used as flavoring for food and wine, but it was prominently used in medicine. In the sixth century B.C., Greek scientist Pythagoras used mustard as a remedy for scorpion stings. One hundred years later, Hippocrates used mustard in a variety of medicines and poultices. This makes it even better for this analogy regarding the growth of knowledge because this knowledge isn't just about flavoring food but curing disease. In this analogy, we also have those winged creatures that stole away the seeds in the parable of the sower making a reappearance. The same non-standard word for "birds" is used, indicating angels or demons. Here, however, those same creatures seek shelter in the shade of this tree. Interestingly, however, the term used for "shade" also means a ghost or evil spirit. Birds were the symbol for "the evil one" in the Parable of the Sower.What is the ghost or evil spirit of a tree of knowledge?

Front Page Date:

Apr 4 2023