Mark 4:21
New International Version
He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?

New Living Translation
Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

English Standard Version
And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?

Berean Standard Bible
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?

Berean Literal Bible
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?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

New American Standard Bible
And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, or under a bed, is it? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?

NASB 1995
And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?

NASB 1977
And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a peck-measure, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?

Legacy Standard Bible
And He was saying to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be put on the lampstand?

Amplified Bible
He said to them, “A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand?

Christian Standard Bible
He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
Jesus also said: You don't light a lamp and put it under a clay pot or under a bed. Don't you put a lamp on a lampstand?

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus said to them, "Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a lamp stand?

Good News Translation
Jesus continued, "Does anyone ever bring in a lamp and put it under a bowl or under the bed? Isn't it put on the lampstand?

International Standard Version
Then Jesus told them, "A lamp isn't brought indoors to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? It's to be put on a lamp stand, isn't it?

Majority Standard Bible
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?

NET Bible
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?

New Heart English Bible
And he said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not put on a stand?

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

Weymouth New Testament
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?

World English Bible
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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?

Berean Literal Bible
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?

Young's Literal Translation
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?

Smith's Literal Translation
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.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them: “Would someone enter with a lamp in order to place it under a basket or under a bed? Would it not be placed upon a lampstand?

New American Bible
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

New Revised Standard Version
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to them, Is a lamp brought and put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not put on a lampholder?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said to them, “Does one bring a lamp to be put under a basket or under a bed? Should it not be put on a lampstand?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he said to them: Is a lamp brought in that it may be put under the measure, or under the divan? Is it not brought that it may be put on the lamp-stand?

Godbey New Testament
And He said to them; Whether does the light come, that it may be placed under a bushel, or under a bed? is it not that it may be placed on a candlestick?

Haweis New Testament
And he said unto them, Is a lamp brought out to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not to be placed on a stand?

Mace New Testament
Again he said, is a lamp ever brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? or to be set on a stand?

Weymouth New Testament
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?

Worrell New Testament
And He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under the measure, or under the bed! Is it not, that it may be put on the lampstand?

Worsley New Testament
And He said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Lesson of the Lamp
20Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.” 21 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? 22For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Luke 8:16
No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

Luke 11:33
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:5
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:20
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Isaiah 42:6-7
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, / to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.

Isaiah 49:6
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

Is a.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee…

Matthew 5:15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Luke 8:16
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

bushel.

Mark 5:15
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

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Basket Bed Bowl Bushel Candle Candlestick Close Instead Lamp Lamp-Stand Measure Order Placed Rather Stand Table Vessel
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Basket Bed Bowl Bushel Candle Candlestick Close Instead Lamp Lamp-Stand Measure Order Placed Rather Stand Table Vessel
Mark 4
1. The parable of the sower,
14. and the meaning thereof.
21. We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others.
26. The parable of the seed growing secretly;
30. and of the mustard seed.
35. Jesus stills the storm on the sea.














Jesus also said to them,
This phrase indicates a continuation of Jesus' teaching, often using parables to convey deeper spiritual truths. Jesus frequently used parables to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who were willing to listen and understand. This method of teaching was common in Jewish tradition, where rabbis used stories to illustrate moral and spiritual lessons.

“Does anyone bring in a lamp
The lamp symbolizes the light of truth and revelation. In the context of Jesus' ministry, the lamp represents the message of the Gospel and the revelation of God's Kingdom. In ancient times, lamps were essential for providing light in homes, which were often dark due to small windows. The lamp is a metaphor for the illumination that Jesus brings into the world, dispelling spiritual darkness.

to put it under a basket or under a bed?
The rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of hiding a lamp, which is meant to provide light. The basket, likely a measuring basket, and the bed are symbols of concealment. In a spiritual sense, this suggests that the truth of the Gospel is not meant to be hidden or kept private but shared openly. The cultural context emphasizes the importance of visibility and the purpose of light, which is to illuminate and reveal.

Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
The stand is the appropriate place for a lamp, ensuring that its light reaches as far as possible. This reflects the believer's responsibility to live out and proclaim the truth of the Gospel. The imagery of setting a lamp on a stand aligns with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:14-16, where believers are called to be the light of the world. The stand represents the public and visible nature of Christian witness, encouraging believers to let their light shine before others.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples and the crowd through parables. He uses everyday objects to convey spiritual truths.

2. Lamp
A common household item in ancient times, used to provide light. In this parable, it symbolizes the revelation of truth and the purpose of sharing the Gospel.

3. Bushel (or Basket)
A container used for measuring grain. In the parable, it represents anything that might obscure or hide the light.

4. Bed
A piece of furniture for rest, symbolizing complacency or neglect in sharing the light of the Gospel.

5. Disciples and Crowd
The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing both those who are close to Jesus and the broader public who hear His message.
Teaching Points
The Purpose of Light
Just as a lamp is meant to illuminate, the truth of the Gospel is meant to be shared and not hidden. Believers are called to actively share their faith.

Avoiding Complacency
The imagery of a lamp under a bed warns against spiritual complacency. Believers must be vigilant in living out and sharing their faith.

Visibility of Faith
Our faith should be evident in our actions and words, serving as a testimony to others. We are called to be visible representatives of Christ in the world.

Responsibility to Share
The light of the Gospel is not just for personal benefit but is meant to be shared with others. We have a responsibility to spread the message of Christ.

Overcoming Obstacles
Identify and remove anything in our lives that might obscure the light of Christ, such as sin, fear, or distractions.(21) Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel?--See Note on Matthew 5:15. St. Mark, it will be noted, omits all the other parables that follow in St. Matthew, and connects with that of the Sower sayings more or less proverbial, which in St. Matthew appear in a different context. Looking at our Lord's method of teaching by the repetition of proverbs under different aspects and on different occasions, it is not unlikely that this of the "candle" was actually spoken in the connection in which we find it here. Their knowledge of the meaning of the parable was not given them for themselves alone, but was to shine forth to others. We probably owe to the saying so uttered the record of this parable given in three out of the four Gospels.

Verse 21. - Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, etc.? The Greek is ὁ λύχνος, and is better rendered the lamp. The figure is recorded by St. Matthew (Matthew 5:15) as used by our Lord in his sermon on the mount. It is evident that he repeated his sayings, and used them sometimes in a different connection. The lamp is here the light of Divine truth, shining in the person of Christ. Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel? It comes to us. The light in our souls is not of our own kindling; it comes to us from God, that we may manifest it for his glory. "The bushel" (μόδιος), from the Latin medias, a measure containing flour, was the flour-bin, a part of the furniture of every house, as was the tall lampstand with its single light. St, Luke (Luke 8:16) calls it "a vessel" (καλύπτει αὐτὸν σκεύει). The light is to be set on "a lamp-stand," and in like manner the light which we have received is to shine before men. As Christians, we are Christ's light-bearers. By this illustration our Lord teaches that he was unwilling that the mysteries of this great parable of the sower and of other parables should be concealed, but that his disciples should unfold these things to others as he had to them, although at present they might not be able to receive them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Jesus] also said
ἔλεγεν (elegen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Does [anyone] bring in
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

a
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

lamp
λύχνος (lychnos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3088: A lamp. From the base of leukos; a portable lamp or other illuminator.

so
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

he can place [it]
τεθῇ (tethē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

under
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

a basket
μόδιον (modion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3426: A dry measure, nearly two English gallons. Of Latin origin; a modius, i.e. Certain measure for things dry.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

under
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

a bed?
κλίνην (klinēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2825: A couch, bed, portable bed or mat, a couch for reclining at meals, possibly also a bier. From klino; a couch.

Doesn’t he
οὐχ (ouch)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

set it
τεθῇ (tethē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

a lampstand?
λυχνίαν (lychnian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3087: A lamp-stand. From luchnos; a lamp-stand.


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NT Gospels: Mark 4:21 He said to them Is the lamp (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 4:20
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