And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

MARK 4:13KJV
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Mark 4:13 (KJV)

What does Mark 4:13 mean?

Mark 4:13 shows Jesus asking his disciples if they understand the parable he just told, and warning them that understanding this parable is key to understanding all his parables. Jesus is stressing that this particular story is foundational for grasping the meaning of his other teachings.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking privately to his closest followers after sharing the parable of the sower with a crowd. The disciples have asked him to explain the story, and Jesus responds by highlighting the importance of truly grasping its message. He suggests that the ability to understand this parable will open the way for them to understand the rest of his teachings, which often use stories to reveal deeper truths.

The Greek behind Mark 4:13

  • The word for "know" (οἶδα, oida and γινώσκω, ginōskō) appears twice in this verse, but in Greek, two different words are used. The first ("know ye not") is οἶδα (oida), often understood as "to perceive" or "to be aware," while the second ("how then will ye know") is γινώσκω (ginōskō), which means "to come to know" or "to understand deeply." This shift suggests Jesus is asking if they even recognize the parable at a basic level, and then challenging them about their ability to truly grasp deeper meanings.
  • The word for "parable" (παραβολή, parabolē) is used twice, emphasizing that Jesus is not just talking about this one story, but about all the stories he uses to teach. He is pointing out a pattern in his teaching style that the disciples need to learn to interpret.

Why Mark 4:13 matters

  • Mark 4:13 clears up the idea that Jesus' parables are simple stories anyone can understand; instead, Jesus says that understanding requires effort and insight.
  • The verse emphasizes that the parable of the sower is a key to understanding the rest of Jesus' teachings, highlighting its foundational role in his ministry.
  • This moment connects to the wider passage by showing the disciples' need for guidance, and Jesus' willingness to teach them privately, which sets the stage for the explanations that follow.

Where else these words appear

“parable” Greek G3850 · used in 48 verses

  • Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
  • Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
  • Luke 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

“then” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
  • Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

“this” Greek G5026 · used in 119 verses

  • Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
  • Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
  • Acts 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.