Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
ParallelVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mark Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Mark 4 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41
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) [ref]And Yeshua told them, “Obviously no one goes and gets a lamp, and then puts it under a basket or under the bed, but rather they place it somewhere higher on a stand.
OET-LV And he_was_saying to_them:
Surely_not the lamp is_coming, in_order_that it_may_be_put under the basket or under the bed?
Not in_order_that it_may_be_put on the lampstand?
![]()
SR-GNT Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, “Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος, ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ, ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην; Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τεθῇ; ‡
(Kai elegen autois, “Maʸti erⱪetai ho luⱪnos, hina hupo ton modion tethaʸ, aʸ hupo taʸn klinaʸn; Ouⱪ hina epi taʸn luⱪnian tethaʸ;)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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, “The lamp does not come so that it might be put under the basket or under the bed, does it? Is it not so that it might be put on the lampstand?
UST Then he told the people who were there, “People do not bring an oil lamp into a house in order to cover it with a basket or a bench. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that it shines brightly.
BSB [Jesus] also said to them, “Does [anyone] bring in a lamp to put [it] under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
MSB [Jesus] also said to them, “Does [anyone] bring in a lamp to put [it] under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
BLB And He was saying to them, "The lamp is not brought in so that it might be put under the basket, or under the bed. Is it not that it might be put upon the lampstand?
AICNT And he said to them, “Is the lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be put on a lampstand?
OEB Jesus said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under the couch, instead of being put on the lamp-stand?
WEBBE He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket [fn] or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?
4:21 literally, a modion, a dry measuring basket containing about a peck (about 9 litres)
WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)
NET He also said to them, “A lamp isn’t brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn’t it to be placed on a lampstand?
LSV And He said to them, “Does the lamp come that it may be put under the measure, or under the bed—not that it may be put on the lampstand?
FBV Who puts a lamp under a bucket, or beneath a bed?” Jesus asked them. “No, you put a lamp up on a lamp-stand.
TCNT He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed? Is it not brought in to be set on a lampstand?
T4T He also told them another parable, saying, “◄People certainly do not light an oil lamp and then bring it in the house in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed./Would anyone light an oil lamp and then bring it in the house in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed?► [RHQ] ◄No, they light it in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place where it lights the house./Wouldn’t they light it in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place where it lights the house?► [RHQ]
LEB ¶ And he said to them, “Surely a lamp is not brought so that it may be put under a bushel basket or under a bed, is it?[fn] Is it not[fn] so that it may be put on a lampstand?
4:21 The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase “is it”
4:21 The negative construction in Greek anticipates a positive answer here
BBE And he said to them, When the light comes in, do people put it under a vessel, or under the bed, and not on its table?
Moff He also said to them,
⇔ "Is a lamp brought to be placed under a bowl or a bed?
⇔ Is it not to be placed upon the stand?
Wymth He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?
ASV And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand?
DRA And he said to them: Doth a candle come in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
YLT And he said to them, 'Doth the lamp come that under the measure it may be put, or under the couch — not that it may be put on the lamp-stand?
Drby And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? [Is it] not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand?
RV And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand?
SLT And he said to them, Much less the light comes that it be set under a bushel, or under a bed; that it be not set upon a candlestick.
Wbstr And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a close vessel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
KJB-1769 ¶ And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
KJB-1611 ¶ And he said vnto them, Is a candle brought to be put vnder a [fn]bushell, or vnder a bed? & not to be set on a candlesticke?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)
Bshps And he saide vnto them: Is the candle lyghted to be put vnder a busshell, or vnder the table? And not to be put on a candelsticke?
(And he said unto them: Is the candle lighted to be put under a bushel, or under the table? And not to be put on a candlestick?)
Gnva Also he saide vnto them, Commeth the candle in, to be put vnder a bushell, or vnder the bed, and not to be put on a candlesticke?
(Also he said unto them, Cometh/Comes the candle in, to be put under a bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on a candlestick? )
Cvdl And he sayde vnto the: Is a candle lighted to be put vnder a busshell, or vnder a table? Is it not lighted, to be set vpon a candelsticke?
(And he said unto them: Is a candle lighted to be put under a bushel, or under a table? Is it not lighted, to be set upon a candlestick?)
TNT And he sayde vnto them: is the candle lighted to be put vnder a busshell or vnder the table and not rather to be put on a candelstick?
(And he said unto them: is the candle lighted to be put under a bushel or under the table and not rather to be put on a candlestick? )
Wycl And he seide to hem, Wher a lanterne cometh, that it be put vndur a buschel, or vndur a bed? nay, but that it be put on a candilstike?
(And he said to hem, Where a lantern cometh/comes, that it be put under a bushel, or under a bed? nay, but that it be put on a candlestick?)
Luth Und er sprach zu ihnen: Zündet man auch ein Licht an, daß man‘s unter einen Scheffel oder unter einen Tisch setze? Mitnichten, sondern daß man‘s auf einen Leuchter setze.
(And he spoke to/for to_them: Ignites man also a light(n) an, that man's under a bushel or under a table set/put? Not_at_all, rather that man's on/in/to a candlestick set/put.)
ClVg Et dicebat illis: Numquid venit lucerna ut sub modo ponatur, aut sub lecto? nonne ut super candelabrum ponatur?[fn]
(And he_said to_them: Is_it he_came lamp as under just/only be_placed, or under bed? isn't_it as over candlestick be_placed? )
4.21 Lucerna, etc. HIER. Lucerna verbum Dei. Modius aut lectus, auditus inobedientium. Candelabrum, apostoli, quos illuminavit verbum Dei. Absconditum et occultum, quod palam fit cum a Domino tractatur. BEDA. Modius, vita nostra divina præscientia mensurata. Lectus, caro, in qua, etc., usque ad quia ei carnis concupiscentias præponit. Nonne ut super candelabrum ponatur? ID. Ut dominetur prædicatio veritatis, subsit servitus corporis, per quam tamen excelsior appareat doctrina tanquam per candelabrum lucerna.
4.21 Lucerna, etc. HIER. Lucerna the_word/saying of_God. Modius or bed, hearing inobedientium. Candelabrum, apostles, which illuminated the_word/saying of_God. Absconditum and hidden, that openly fit when/with from Master tractatur. BEDA. Modius, life our divine beforeknowledge/skill measureta. Lectus, flesh/meat, in/into/on qua, etc., until to because to_him of_flesh desires prefers. Isn't_it as over candlestick be_placed? ID. As dominate preaching to_the_truths, subsit servitus body, through how nevertheless excelsior appear teaching/instruction as_if through candlestick lamp.
UGNT καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ, ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην? οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τεθῇ?
(kai elegen autois, maʸti erⱪetai ho luⱪnos hina hupo ton modion tethaʸ, aʸ hupo taʸn klinaʸn? ouⱪ hina epi taʸn luⱪnian tethaʸ?)
SBL-GNT Καὶ ἔλεγεν ⸀αὐτοῖς· Μήτι ⸂ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος⸃ ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην, οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν ⸀τεθῇ;
(Kai elegen ⸀autois; Maʸti ⸂erⱪetai ho luⱪnos⸃ hina hupo ton modion tethaʸ aʸ hupo taʸn klinaʸn, ouⱪ hina epi taʸn luⱪnian ⸀tethaʸ;)
RP-GNT Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, Μήτι ὁ λύχνος ἔρχεται ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην; Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν ἐπιτεθῇ;
(Kai elegen autois, Maʸti ho luⱪnos erⱪetai hina hupo ton modion tethaʸ aʸ hupo taʸn klinaʸn; Ouⱪ hina epi taʸn luⱪnian epitethaʸ;)
TC-GNT Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, [fn]Μήτι [fn]ὁ λύχνος ἔρχεται ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν [fn]κλίνην; Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν [fn]ἐπιτεθῇ;
(Kai elegen autois, Maʸti ho luⱪnos erⱪetai hina hupo ton modion tethaʸ aʸ hupo taʸn klinaʸn; Ouⱪ hina epi taʸn luⱪnian epitethaʸ; )
4:21 μητι 98.6% ¦ οτι μητι WH 0.2%
4:21 ο λυχνος ερχεται ¦ ερχεται ο λυχνος ANT CT
4:21 κλινην ¦ κλεινην TH
4:21 επιτεθη ¦ τεθη CT
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
4:21 A lamp is lighted to shine and give people light, not to remain hidden. Citizens of the Kingdom are responsible for putting the light of the Good News on a stand (4:17).
In this section Jesus told a parable about a lamp (4:21). He told this parable in order to encourage his disciples to share the gospel and not to hide it. Then he talked about hidden things and urged his disciples to listen carefully to what he told them.
It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The parables of the lamp and measuring
We must not hide the light/truth
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 5:15 (also Matthew 7:2) and Luke 8:16–18 (also Luke 11:33, 6:38, 8:18).
Jesus also said to them,
¶ Jesus also said to them,
¶ Jesus told another parable to the crowd,
Jesus also said to them: This verse is the beginning of a new parable. There is nothing in Greek to indicate when Jesus told this parable. There is nothing to indicate to whom the word them refers. He may have told it to the crowd immediately after the previous parable. He may have told it on a different day to only his disciples.Lane (page 164), Gundry (page 211) and TRT (page 51) support the view that Jesus is here addressing the crowds. Support for this comes from comparing 4:10 with 4:34, since 4:34 indicates that Jesus did not usually teach the intimate group with parables. However, several commentators, including Gould (page 77) and Lenski (page 179), feel that he was still addressing the inner circle.
Because of this uncertainty, you should not be specific about the time or the audience. However, you may want to indicate that Jesus was now speaking about another topic. For example:
Jesus also said (CEV)
Jesus continued (GNT)
Jesus told another parable to them
If your language requires you to specify who Jesus was talking to, you may still be able to maintain the ambiguity. For example:
Jesus said to those who were listening
“Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed?
“Does anyone bring a lamp and put it under a bowl or under a bed/couch?
“Is a lamp ever brought into the room/house and put under a clay pot or under a sofa/bed to hide its light?
“No one ever brings in a lamp and puts it under a basket or under a bed.
Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed?: This is a rhetorical question. This rhetorical question is used to emphasize something negative. It means, “Certainly no one brings in a lamp and puts it under a bowl or under a bed to hide its light.” Translate this in a way that makes it clear that no one ever does this.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
As a rhetorical question. For example:
Is a lamp ever brought in and put under a bowl or under a bed?
Can it be that you would bring in a lamp and put it under a bowl or under a bed? Of course not!
No one ever brings in a lamp and puts it under a bowl or under a bed, does he?
As a statement. For example:
No one ever brings in a lamp and puts it under a bowl or under a bed!
Does anyone bring in a lamp: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Does anyone bring in a lamp is passive. It is literally: “Surely a lamp is not brought.” This phrase refers to an action that no one would do. People do not bring in a lamp and put it where its light is hidden. The focus here is on the action and not on a specific person who does not do it. Refer to this action in the way that is most natural in your language and use a natural subject.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Is a lamp brought in…? (RSV)
Do we(incl) bring in a lamp…?
Do you(plur) bring in a lamp…? (NIV)
Does anyone bring in a lamp…?
You will probably want to translate the example in 4:21c in a similar way, as well.
bring in: The verb bring indicates that the lamp is ready to be put somewhere in the house. The GW says:
bring…into a room
a lamp: A lamp in Jesus’ time was a small clay bowl in which people put oil that burned and gave light. The bowl was shaped for a wick on one side. The exact kind of lamp is not important here, so you should use a general word for lamp.
basket: The Greek word that the BSB translates as basket refers to a bowl or clay pot. This type of container held approximately 8.8 liters of grain. You should use a common container of that size that will not let light shine out. Here are some examples:
basket (GW)
clay pot (CEV)
bed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as bed refers to a piece of furniture that people lie on to sleep. Such a piece of furniture had short legs to keep it off the ground. So it was possible to put a lamp underneath it.
If beds in your culture are flat on the floor, you may need to translate this with the name of another piece of furniture. You should use a word that refers to something with short legs under which you could put a small lamp.Something with short legs would block more light than something with long legs. This could be a couch, a chair, a low bench, or a cabinet with short legs.
Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
On the contrary, doesn’t he put it on a stand?
No! It is put/placed on its stand.
Indeed, he puts it on its shelf!
Doesn’t he set it on a stand?: This is a rhetorical question. It is an emphatic positive statement that means: “Of course you put a lamp on its stand.” A lamp is put on a stand so that everyone can see its light. Translate this in a way that emphasizes this positive idea. Here are some examples:
As a rhetorical question. For example:
Isn’t a lamp placed in a stand?
Is it not true that you put it on its stand?
Instead, you put it on its stand, don’t you?
As a statement. For example:
Indeed, you put it on its stand!
Jesus’ example here is similar to the one in 4:21b. See the examples there. Translate it a natural way in your language.
Doesn’t he: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Doesn’t he introduces another rhetorical question that is in direct contrast to the previous one. Some English versions do not translate this phrase, but indicate that 4:21b expects the answer “no” and 4:21c expects the answer “yes.” Some other translations make the contrast more explicit. For example, the NIV says “Instead.” Indicate the contrast in a way that is natural in your language.
stand: A stand was a stone or wooden shelf inside the house where people normally put a lamp so that it would give light to the room.
Here are some other ways to translate stand:
an elevated place
lamp-support
lampstand (GNT)
If 4:21b is translated as a question, it may be more natural in some languages to translate 4:21c as part of the answer to the question. For example, the NCV says:
Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand.
In other languages, it may be necessary or helpful to state the purpose of the lamp and the reason someone put it under a basket. This may also help to make the connection between 4:21b–c and 4:22a more clear. For example, the NLT96 says:
Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed to shut out the light? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.
Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns
αὐτοῖς
˱to˲_them
The pronoun them could refer to: (1) all the people who were nearby, including both the disciples and the crowds. Alternate translation: [to the disciples and the crowds] or [everyone who was with him] (2) just the disciples. Alternate translation: [to the disciples]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ, ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην? οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τεθῇ?
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
Jesus is using the question form to teach his disciples. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate these as statements or exclamations. Alternate translation: [The lamp does not come so that it might be put under a basket or under the bed but so that it might be put on the lampstand.] or [The lamp certainly does not come so that it might be put under a basket or under the bed! No, it comes so that it might be put on the lampstand!]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun
μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον τεθῇ, ἢ ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην? οὐχ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τεθῇ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
The words The lamp, the basket, the bed, and the lampstand represent lamps, baskets, beds, and lampstands in general, not one particular lamp, basket, bed, or lampstand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [Lamps do not come so that they might be put under baskets or under beds, do they? Is it not so that they might be put on lampstands]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
Here Jesus speaks as if the lamp were a person who could come. He means that someone lights the lamp and brings it into a house. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [The lamp is not lit … is it] or [The lamp is not brought into a house … is it]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τεθῇ & οὐχ ἵνα & τεθῇ
˱it˲_˓may_be˒_put & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
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, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [someone might put it … Is it not so that someone might put it]
Note 6 topic: translate-unknown
ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
A basket is a large circular container that stores food or other items. If someone put a lamp under this kind of container, it would completely hide the light from the lamp. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of container, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [in a box] or [under a container that hides its light]
Note 7 topic: translate-unknown
ὑπὸ τὴν κλίνην
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
A bed is a piece of furniture that people would lie on when they were eating or sleeping. Most likely, this kind of bed had short legs that raised it off the floor. If someone put a lamp under this kind of furniture, it would hide the light from the lamp. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of container, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [under a couch] or [under furniture]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ λύχνος ἵνα ὑπό τόν μόδιον τεθῇ ἤ ὑπό τήν κλίνην Οὐχ ἵνα ἐπί τήν λυχνίαν τεθῇ)
Here Jesus implies that the lamp can illuminate a large area when it is on a lampstand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [on the lampstand to that it illuminates the whole room] or [on the lampstand where it lights up the area]