MARK 4:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) And he told them, “You’ve been given understanding about God’s kingdom, but for others, they’ll get it in parables

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And he was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those, the ones outside, everything is in parables,

UST He replied, “God has revealed to you hidden things about his kingdom. However, I use only stories to instruct people who are not my apprentices.

BSB He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

MSB He replied, “To know[fn] the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

BLB And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything is done in parables,

AICNT And he said to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those outside, everything is in parables,

OEB and he said, ‘To you the hidden truth of the kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables so that –

WEBBE He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

LSV and He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the secret of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, in allegories are all the things done,

FBV He told them, “The mystery of God's kingdom has been given to you to understand. But outsiders only have the stories,

TCNT So he said to them, “To you [fn]it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is spoken in parables,

4:11 it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God ¦ it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God ANT ¦ the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given CT

T4T He said to them, “People have not understood before the new message about how God wants to rule people’s lives. It is to you that this is being made known {that I am making this known}. But I tell about this only ◄in parables/figuratively► to those who have not yet invited God to rule their lives.

LEB And he said to them, “To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables,

BBE And he said to them, To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are given in the form of stories;

Moff and he said to them: "The open secret of the Realm of God is granted to you, but these outsiders get everything by way of parables,

Wymth "To you," He replied, "has been entrusted the secret truth concerning the Kingdom of God; but to those others outside your number all this is spoken in figurative language;

ASV And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:

DRA And he said to them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all things are done in parables:

YLT and he said to them, 'To you it hath been given to know the secret of the reign of God, but to those who are without, in similes are all the things done;

Drby And he said to them, To you is given [to know] the mystery of the kingdom of [fn]God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables,

4.11 Elohim

RV And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:

SLT And he said to them, To you has it been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to those without, all are in parables:

Wbstr And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

KJB-1769 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

KJB-1611 And he said vnto them, Unto you it is giuen to know the mystery of the kingdome of God: but vnto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps And he sayde vnto them: To you it is geuen to knowe the misterie of the kingdome of God: But vnto them that are without, all thynges are done by parables,
(And he said unto them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: But unto them that are without, all things are done by parables,)

Gnva And he saide vnto them, To you it is giuen to knowe the mysterie of the kingdome of God: but vnto them that are without, all thinges bee done in parables,
(And he said unto them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things be done in parables, )

Cvdl And he sayde vnto the: Vnto you it is geuen, to knowe the mystery of the kyngdome of God: but vnto them that are without, all thinges happen by parables,
(And he said unto them: Unto you it is given, to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things happen by parables,)

TNT And he sayde vnto them. To you it is geve to knowe the mistery of the kyngdome of God. But vnto them that are with out shall all thinges be done in similitudes:
(And he said unto them. To you it is give to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But unto them that are with out shall all things be done in similitudes: )

Wycl And he seide to hem, To you it is youun to knowe the priuete of the kyngdom of God. But to hem that ben with outforth, alle thingis be maad in parablis, that thei seynge se,
(And he said to hem, To you it is given to know the priuete of the kingdom of God. But to hem that been with outforth, all things be made in parables, that they seeing see,)

Luth Und er sprach zu ihnen: Euch ist‘s gegeben, das Geheimnis des Reichs Gottes zu wissen; denen aber draußen widerfähret es alles durch Gleichnisse,
(And he spoke to/for to_them: You it_is given, the secret/mystery the kingdom God’s to/for realise; those but outside happens it all/everything through parables/allegories,)

ClVg Et dicebat eis: Vobis datum est nosse mysterium regni Dei: illis autem, qui foris sunt, in parabolis omnia fiunt:
(And he_said to_them: To_you(pl) given/present(n) it_is to_know mystery of_the_kingdom of_God: to_them however, who/which outside are, in/into/on parables everything are_made: )

UGNT καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, ὑμῖν τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς Βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω, ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται,
(kai elegen autois, humin to mustaʸrion dedotai taʸs Basileias tou Theou; ekeinois de tois exō, en parabolais ta panta ginetai,)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Ὑμῖν ⸂τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται⸃ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται,
(kai elegen autois; Humin ⸂to mustaʸrion dedotai⸃ taʸs basileias tou theou; ekeinois de tois exō en parabolais ta panta ginetai,)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, Ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὸ μυστήριον τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω, ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται·
(Kai elegen autois, Humin dedotai gnōnai to mustaʸrion taʸs basileias tou theou; ekeinois de tois exō, en parabolais ta panta ginetai;)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, Ὑμῖν [fn]δέδοται γνῶναι τὸ μυστήριον τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω, ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα [fn]γίνεται·
(Kai elegen autois, Humin dedotai gnōnai to mustaʸrion taʸs basileias tou Theou; ekeinois de tois exō, en parabolais ta panta ginetai; )

4:11 δεδοται γνωναι το μυστηριον ¦ δεδοται γνωναι τα μυστηρια ANT ¦ το μυστηριον δεδοται CT

4:11 γινεται ¦ γεινεται TH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:10–12: Jesus told why he used parables

The disciples did not understand the parables that Jesus had been teaching. Jesus first explained the reasons that he taught with parables. Then he explained the parable of the sower (4:13–20).

It is good to translate the section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus explained his reason for teaching with parables

The reason Jesus taught in parables

The purpose of parables

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 13:10–15 and Luke 8:9–10.

4:11a

He replied,

He said to them,
He/Jesus replied to them,

He replied: Since the disciples were asking questions, it may be more natural in your language to use the verb “answered” or “told” here. For example, the NIV says:

he told them

4:11b

“The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you,

“It is you^(plur) who have received the secret concerning the kingdom of God.
“As for you,^(plur) you have been told the hidden truth about God’s rule/reign.
“You^(plur) are the ones to whom God has given the opportunity to know what was not made known previously about how he rules over his people.

The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you: This is a passive clause. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and supply the subject “God.” For example:

God has given to you the mystery of the kingdom of God.

This clause means that God has revealed a mystery about his kingdom to the disciples. People did not previously know this mystery. Another way to say this is:

God has revealed to you the mystery about his kingdom.

The mystery of the kingdom of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mystery refers to a truth or secret that was previously hidden and is now revealed to certain people. The phrase kingdom of God refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that he rules over. The mystery of the kingdom of God refers to the way God’s rule works.

Here are some other ways to translate The mystery of the kingdom of God:

The hidden truth about how God rules his people…

What people have not known before about God’s rule/reign…

The secret concerning God’s chieftaincy/government…

See also kingdom of God, Context 2, in the Glossary.

God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as God refers here to the eternal being who created everything. Although he is spirit, he is more powerful than any other spirit, and he is perfectly good and wise. He deserves to be worshipped. Here are some ways to translate God:

Use a name or title for God that people in your culture already use.
Use a descriptive term that fits the truth about God that is revealed in the Bible. For example:
Creator
Great Spirit
Ruler of the universe

Choose a term that is acceptable to the believers and churches in your area. For more detailed information, see God in the Glossary.

has been given: In some languages it may be necessary to express the idea of “giving a secret” in a different way. For example:

God has revealed to you the mystery

God has made known to you the hidden truth…

You have been allowed/enabled to learn what people did not previously understand

you: The pronoun you is plural. Its position in the clause in Greek emphasizes the disciples in contrast to the outsiders mentioned in 4:11c. In some languages this contrast may be emphasized in different ways. Some ways to emphasize this contrast are:

Use a different word order. For example, the RSV says:
To you^(plur) has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God.
Use a separate phrase. For example:
As for you, you have been given the mystery of the kingdom of God.

Use a natural way in your language to emphasize the contrast between you and the other people to whom Jesus is not speaking directly, whom he calls “those on the outside.”

4:11c

but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

But to other people, everything is told using parables,
But as for those who are not my followers, I always use parables when I teach them God’s message,
But I teach everything in/using parables to those who do not believe in me.

but to those on the outside: The word outside here refers to people who are not among the group of Jesus’ followers. It refers to those who do not believe in Jesus. God does not give the mystery to them.

In languages where the word outside is only used literally, you may want to use a different expression. For example:

But to other people who are not my followers

But to those who do not believe in me

everything is expressed in parables: This clause is passive. Jesus referred here to his own use of parables. If it is more natural in your language to make this clause active, you can say:

I say everything in parables

I use parables to teach everything

everything: In this context, the word everything refers to the teachings about God and his kingdom. In some languages the idea of saying or teaching everything may need to be expressed in other ways. For example:

I only teach them by using parables

I always use parables when I teach them

parables: See the note on 4:10b.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δέδοται

˓has_been˒_given

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: [God has given]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ μυστήριον & τῆς Βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὑμῖν Τό μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς Βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκείνοις δέ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τά παντᾶ γίνεται)

Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe the mystery that is about the kingdom of God. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the mystery concerning the kingdom of God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐκείνοις & τοῖς ἔξω

˱to˲_those & who_‹are› outside

Here Jesus speaks of people who are not his disciples as if they were outside. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to those, the ones who are not my disciples]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται

in parables (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὑμῖν Τό μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς Βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκείνοις δέ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τά παντᾶ γίνεται)

Here Jesus implies that everything is what is he teaches, and he only teaches in parables. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [everything I teach is in parables] or [I use parables whenever I teach anything]

Parallel MARK 4:11

Section 4:10–12: Jesus told why he used parables

4:11a

4:11b

4:11c