Mark 4:34 Meaning and Explanation
“But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus speaks to the crowds only in parables, but privately He explains everything to His disciples.
What Does Mark 4:34 Mean?
The pattern of the whole chapter is stated plainly. Publicly, parables; privately, explanations. When the crowds disperse and His own remain, Jesus unties every knot, expounding all things to those who stayed to ask. The stories sift the hearers, and the explanations reward the seekers.
The deeper things of God are still learned in the private room. Reading, hearing sermons, walking through the public crowd of words is the beginning; understanding comes when a person gets alone with the Lord and asks. He has lost none of His patience for explaining. The promise hidden in this verse is that Jesus wants to be understood, and to those who keep company with Him He opens what the casual never see.
Mark 4:34 in the Original Language
epiluo (ἐπιλύω), 'expounded' -- literally to untie or unloose; to loosen the knots of meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 4:34
What does Mark 4:34 mean?
Jesus speaks to the crowds only in parables, but privately He explains everything to His disciples.