Mark 4:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks whether a lamp is brought into the house to be hidden under a basket or a bed rather than set on its stand.
What Does Mark 4:21 Mean?
Still teaching His circle, Jesus turns from seed to light. A small clay lamp, once lit, has one destiny: the lampstand, where it serves the whole room. To carry it in and push it under a grain basket or beneath a bed would defeat the reason it was kindled at all.
What Jesus has been giving His followers, the word and the secret of the kingdom, is light, and light is not given to be stored. The present quietness of the kingdom is not permanent concealment; the lamp is already in the house and is headed for the stand. Whoever has received understanding from Christ holds it in trust for others. Light hidden serves no one, and a lamp loses nothing by being seen.
Mark 4:21 in the Original Language
luchnos (λύχνος), 'candle' -- a small clay oil lamp, set on a stand to light the whole room.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 4:21
What does Mark 4:21 mean?
Jesus asks whether a lamp is brought into the house to be hidden under a basket or a bed rather than set on its stand.