PrevMark 4:38Next

Mark 4

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

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:

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

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

The sower soweth the word.

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

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?

For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

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.

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

What does Mark 4:38 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:38 is part of the narrative where Jesus calms the storm.

In this verse, the description focuses on the human aspect of Jesus as he is sleeping on a pillow in the stern of the boat.

The disciples, who are panicked by a fierce storm, are incredulous that Jesus can be asleep at such a time and wake him with a plea that implies both desperation and a bit of an accusation: "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"

The literal meaning here is straightforward: Jesus, tired from the day's work, is asleep during a storm while the disciples are fearing for their lives.

The deeper meaning reflects themes of faith and the nature of Jesus' identity.

The disciples' question highlights their still developing understanding of who Jesus is, his power over nature, and his care for them.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark 4:38 is part of the Gospel of Mark, thought to be the earliest of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament. The gospel was likely penned around 65-70 CE.

The setting of this verse is the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake in Israel, known for its sudden and violent storms due to its location below sea level and surrounded by mountains.

The disciples, many of whom were fishermen familiar with these waters, would have understood the danger a severe storm presented.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse showcases the duality of Jesus Christ's nature as both fully human and fully divine.

His sleeping in the boat indicates his humanity and need for rest, while the later verses show his divine authority over nature as he calms the storm.

For proponents of Christology focused on Jesus' divinity, this passage serves to highlight the faith the disciples should have had in Jesus. For those focusing on his humanity, it reminds us that Jesus experienced the physical demands we do.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 4:38 can be seen as a lesson in trust during times of crisis.

The verse reminds believers to have faith in God even when He seems distant or unresponsive. It's an invitation to trust in the calm and peace that Christ can bring into the storms of life, whether those storms are literal or metaphorical.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:23-27: "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
Luke 8:22-25: "And he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm."
Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Language Study

The key words in Mark 4:38 from the original Greek provide valuable context:

"Hinder part" (ὕπνον): meaning the stern or back part of the boat.
"Asleep" (καθεύδοντα): refers to being in a state of sleep.
"Pillow" (προσκεφάλαιον): That Jesus has a pillow suggests a planned or restful sleep.
"Master" (ἐπιστάτα): a title of respect addressing Jesus as leader or teacher.
"Carest thou not" (οὐ μέλει σοι): questions whether Jesus is concerned about their well-being, with an implication of neglect.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of a deity calming a storm is not unique to Christianity.

For instance, in Greek mythology, the gods often interacted with weather, such as Zeus with his thunderbolts.

In Mesopotamian epic, the "Epic of Gilgamesh," the gods create a great storm in the flood narrative, which has parallels to the biblical Flood story.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse isn't making a scientific claim, modern meteorology would interpret the sudden storm on the Sea of Galilee as a common meteorological phenomenon for that region, caused by the geographic and climatic conditions unique to that area.

Commentaries

Experts' commentary on Mark 4:38 often emphasizes the human qualities of Jesus as contrasted with his divine power.

John Calvin remarks on the willingness of Jesus to leave himself vulnerable to the elements and the resultant assurance of his care and power that calms not only the storm but also human fears.

Craig S.

Keener notes that the question of the disciples mirrors the fear and challenges that Christians may experience when they feel God is distant in turbulent times.

Most commentators agree that this marks a pivotal teaching moment for the disciples about the person and power of Jesus Christ.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 4:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?