Bible Strands
Mark 4:30
Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus poses a direct question to his listeners immediately after describing the wheat harvest and immediately before introducing the mustard seed. He frames the inquiry with "Then He asked," directing attention to the nature of God's kingdom.
The words — The Greek verb ὁμοιώσωμεν (homoiōsōmen) means "shall we liken," paired with βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ (basileian tou theou), literally "the kingdom of God."
The thread — This comparative question structure echoes Luke 13:18 and Matthew 13:31, where Jesus introduces the mustard seed parable, and mirrors the rhetorical lament in Lamentations 2:13.
Why it lands — The text demands a direct comparison for the kingdom of God, requiring the listener to identify a concrete parable that explains its nature.
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
King James Version
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Cross-references
- Matthew 13:31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.
- Luke 13:18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
- Lamentations 2:13 What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?
- Matthew 13:24 Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Matthew 11:16 To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: