Mark 4:21-25

The Parable of the Lamp

4:21 He also said to them, “A lamp ¹  isn’t brought to be put under a basket ²  or under a bed, is it? Isn’t it to be placed on a lampstand? 4:22 For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, ³  and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!” ⁴  4:24 And he said to them, “Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, ⁵  and more will be added to you. 4:25 For whoever has will be given more, but ⁶  whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” ⁷ 

[4:21]  ¹ sn The lamp is probably an ancient oil burning lamp or perhaps a candlestick. Jesus is comparing revelation to light, particularly the revelation of his ministry.

[4:21]  ² tn Or “a bowl”; this refers to any container for dry material of about eight liters (two gallons) capacity. It could be translated “basket, box, bowl” (L&N 6.151).

[4:22]  ³ tn Or “disclosed.”

[4:23]  ⁴ tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8, 14:35).

[4:24]  ⁵ tn Grk “by [the measure] with which you measure it will be measured to you.”

[4:25]  ⁶ tn Grk “and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[4:25]  ⁷ sn What he has will be taken from him. The meaning is that the one who accepts Jesus’ teaching concerning his person and the kingdom will receive a share in the kingdom now and even more in the future, but for the one who rejects Jesus’ words, the opportunity that that person presently possesses with respect to the kingdom will someday be taken away forever.