Mark 4:13

Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples immediately after quoting Isaiah 6:9–10 about spiritual hardness. He uses the question to establish their grasp of the sower’s story before moving forward.

The words — οἴδατε (oidate) translates literally as "you know" or "you understand." Jesus pairs it with παραβολὴν ταύτην (parabolēn tautēn), meaning "this parable," to anchor the disciples’ attention on the agricultural imagery just given.

The thread — Jesus issues a parallel challenge in Matthew 13:51 after a series of kingdom teachings. The passage aligns with Revelation 3:19 in framing correction as a necessary step toward spiritual clarity.

Why it lands — The text states that comprehension of the foundational story is required before any other parable can be grasped. It asks readers to prioritize careful study over casual listening.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΚαὶKaiAnd λέγειlegeiHe says αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;οὐκoukNot οἴδατεoidateunderstand you τὴνtēn<the>παραβολὴνparabolēnparable ταύτην;tautēnthis?καὶkaiAnd πῶςpōshow πάσαςpasasall τὰςtasthe παραβολὰςparabolasparables γνώσεσθε;gnōsesthewill you understand?

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Revelation 3:19 Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
Matthew 13:18 Consider, then, the parable of the sower:
Matthew 13:51 Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
Matthew 15:15 Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
Matthew 16:8 Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?
Mark 7:17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.
Luke 8:11 Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.
Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.