Mark 4:29

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

But {G1161} when {G3752} the fruit {G2590} is brought forth {G3860}, immediately {G2112} he putteth in {G649} the sickle {G1407}, because {G3754} the harvest {G2326} is come {G3936}.

But as soon as the crop is ready, the man comes with his sickle, because it's harvest-time."

And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.โ€

But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Commentary

Mark 4:29 KJV is the concluding verse of the Parable of the Growing Seed, found only in Mark's Gospel. Following Jesus' explanation that the seed grows by itself, this verse highlights the decisive moment when the crop reaches maturity and is ready for gathering.

Context

This parable, sometimes called the Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly, immediately precedes the well-known Parable of the Mustard Seed. In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus describes a farmer who sows seed, then sleeps and rises, and the seed sprouts and grows without his understanding how. The growth process is mysterious and autonomous, driven by divine power, not human effort. Verse 29 brings this process to its natural and inevitable conclusion: the harvest.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Inevitable Growth: The parable emphasizes that the growth of the Kingdom of God is not dependent solely on human effort but on God's mysterious and powerful work. Once the seed (the Word of God) is sown, God ensures its growth to maturity. The "fruit" here represents the full development of the crop, symbolizing the spiritual maturity of individuals or the full manifestation of God's kingdom.
  • The Certainty of Harvest: The phrase "immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come" signifies the undeniable and timely arrival of the harvest. In biblical imagery, harvest often represents a time of culmination, judgment, or the gathering of God's people. Just as a farmer knows when a crop is ready, God knows the appointed time for the full revelation or culmination of His work. This points to a definite end-point for growth and a time of reckoning.
  • Divine Timing and Purpose: This verse underscores God's perfect timing. The sickle is not put in prematurely, nor is it delayed. It is applied "immediately" when the fruit "is brought forth," signifying that God's plans unfold precisely according to His sovereign schedule. This offers reassurance regarding the eventual triumph of God's kingdom and the completion of His purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "fruit" is karpos (ฮบฮฑฯฯ€ฯŒฯ‚), which can refer to literal agricultural produce but also to spiritual fruit, results, or outcomes. In this agricultural context, it signifies the ripened grain ready for harvest. The "sickle" (ฮดฯฮญฯ€ฮฑฮฝฮฟฮฝ - drepanon) is a common harvesting tool. The imagery is direct and powerful, drawing on familiar agricultural practices to illustrate profound spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God.

Practical Application

For believers, Mark 4:29 offers both comfort and challenge. It reassures us that God is actively at work, bringing His purposes to fruition, even when we don't fully understand the process (Philippians 1:6). We are called to sow the seed (the Word), trusting that God will bring the growth and the eventual harvest. It also serves as a reminder that a time of harvest, or divine assessment, will inevitably come. This encourages us to bear good spiritual fruit in our lives, knowing that our actions and spiritual condition will ultimately be weighed in the sight of God (Matthew 7:20).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joel 3:13

    Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great.

  • Matthew 13:30

    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  • Matthew 13:40

    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

  • Matthew 13:43

    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  • 2 Timothy 4:7

    I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:

  • 2 Timothy 4:8

    Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

  • Job 5:26

    Thou shalt come to [thy] grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
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