Mark 12:1

Geneva Bible (1560)

And he began to speake vnto them in parables, A certaine man planted a vineyard, and copassed it with an hedge, & digged a pit for the winepresse, and built a tower in it, & let it out to husbandmen, & went into a strange countrey.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγεῖν. Ἀμπελῶνα ἐφύτευσεν ἄνθρωπος, καὶ περιέθηκεν φραγμόν, καὶ ὤρυξεν ὑπολήνιον, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν πύργον, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς, καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν.

Transliteration

And he ērxato to-them in parabolais legein. Ampelōna ephyteusen anthrōpos, and periethēken phragmon, and ōryxen hypolēnion, and ōkodomēsen pyrgon, and exedoto it to-geōrgois, and apedēmēsen.

Grammar Details

• *ērxato*: aorist middle indicative, 3rd singular - began
• *parabolais*: dative plural feminine - parables
• *legein*: present active infinitive - to speak/say
• *Ampelōna*: accusative singular masculine - vineyard
• *ephyteusen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - planted
• *anthrōpos*: nominative singular masculine - man/person
• *periethēken*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - placed around
• *phragmon*: accusative singular masculine - fence/hedge
• *ōryxen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - dug
• *hypolēnion*: accusative singular neuter - wine vat/pit under the winepress
• *ōkodomēsen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - built
• *pyrgon*: accusative singular masculine - tower
• *exedoto*: aorist middle indicative, 3rd singular - gave out/leased
• *geōrgois*: dative plural masculine - farmers/vinedressers
• *apedēmēsen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - went away/traveled abroad

Word Meanings

• *ērxato*: began/started
• *parabolais*: parables/analogies/comparisons
• *legein*: to speak/to say/to tell
• *ampelōna*: vineyard/vine-field
• *ephyteusen*: planted/established
• *anthrōpos*: man/human/person
• *periethēken*: placed around/set around/surrounded with
• *phragmon*: fence/hedge/wall
• *ōryxen*: dug/excavated
• *hypolēnion*: wine vat/pit under the winepress
• *ōkodomēsen*: built/constructed
• *pyrgon*: tower/watchtower
• *exedoto*: leased/rented out/gave out
• *geōrgois*: farmers/vinedressers/agricultural workers
• *apedēmēsen*: went away/traveled abroad/left the country

Referenced Verses

• Isa 5:1-4 : 1 Nowe will I sing to my beloued a song of my beloued to his vineyarde, My beloued had a vineyarde in a very fruitefull hill, 2 And hee hedged it, and gathered out the stones of it, and he planted it with the best plants, and hee builte a towre in the middes thereof, and made a wine presse therein: then hee looked that it should bring foorth grapes: but it brought foorth wilde grapes. 3 Now therefore, O inhabitants of Ierusalem and men of Iudah, iudge, I pray you, betweene me, and my vineyarde. 4 What coulde I haue done any more to my vineyard that I haue not done vnto it? why haue I looked that it should bring foorth grapes, and it bringeth foorth wilde grapes?
• Ps 80:8-9 : 8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou madest roume for it, and didest cause it to take roote, and it filled the land. 10 The mountaines were couered with the shadowe of it, and the boughes thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11 Shee stretched out her branches vnto the Sea, and her boughes vnto the Riuer. 12 Why hast thou then broken downe her hedges, so that all they, which passe by the way, haue plucked her? 13 The wilde bore out of the wood hath destroyed it, and the wilde beastes of the fielde haue eaten it vp. 14 Returne we beseech thee, O God of hostes: looke downe from heauen and beholde and visite this vine, 15 And the vineyard, that thy right hand hath planted, and the young vine, which thou madest strong for thy selfe. 16 It is burnt with fire and cut downe: and they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
• Matt 25:14 : 14 For the kingdome of heauen is as a man that going into a strange countrey, called his seruants, and deliuered to them his goods.
• Mark 4:2 : 2 And he taught them many things in parables, and said vnto them in his doctrine,
• Mark 4:11-13 : 11 And he saide vnto them, To you it is giuen to knowe the mysterie of the kingdome of God: but vnto them that are without, all thinges bee done in parables, 12 That they seeing, may see, and not discerne: and they hearing, may heare, and not vnderstand, least at any time they should turne, and their sinnes should be forgiuen them. 13 Againe he said vnto them, Perceiue ye not this parable? howe then should ye vnderstand all other parables?
• Mark 4:33-34 : 33 And with many such parables he preached the word vnto them, as they were able to heare it. 34 And without parables spake hee nothing vnto them: but he expounded all thinges to his disciples apart.
• Mark 13:34 : 34 For the Sonne of man is as a man going into a strange countrey, & leaueth his house, & giueth authoritie to his seruaunts, and to euery man his woorke, and commandeth the porter to watch.
• Song 8:11-12 : 11 Salomon had a vine in Baal-hamon: hee gaue the vineyarde vnto keepers: euery one bringeth for ye fruite thereof a thousand pieces of siluer. 12 But my vineyarde which is mine, is before me: to thee, O Salomon appertaineth a thousand pieces of siluer, and two hundreth to them that keepe the fruite thereof.
• Luke 8:10 : 10 And he sayd, Vnto you it is giuen to know the secrets of ye kingdome of God, but to other in parables, that when they see, they shoulde not see, and when they heare, they should not vnderstand.
• Luke 13:6-9 : 6 He spake also this parable, A certaine man had a figge tree planted in his vineyard: and he came & sought fruite thereon, & found none. 7 Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, this three yeeres haue I come and sought fruite of this figge tree, and finde none: cut it downe: why keepeth it also the ground barren? 8 And he answered, and said vnto him, Lord, let it alone this yeere also, till I digge round about it, and doung it. 9 And if it beare fruite, well: if not, then after thou shalt cut it downe.
• Luke 15:13 : 13 So not many daies after, when the yonger sonne had gathered all together, hee tooke his iourney into a farre countrey, and there hee wasted his goods with riotous liuing.
• Luke 19:12 : 12 He saide therefore, A certaine noble man went into a farre countrey, to receiue for himselfe a kingdome, and so to come againe.
• Luke 20:9-9 : 9 Then began he to speake to ye people this parable, A certaine man planted a vineyarde, and let it forth to husbandmen: and went into a strange countrey, for a great time. 10 And at the time conuenient he sent a seruant to the husbandmen, that they should giue him of the fruite of the vineyard: but the husbandmen did beate him, & sent him away emptie. 11 Againe he sent yet another seruant: and they did beate him, and foule entreated him, and sent him away emptie. 12 Moreouer he sent the third, and him they wounded, and cast out. 13 Then sayd the Lord of the vineyard, What shall I doe? I will send my beloued sonne: it may be that they will doe reuerence, when they see him. 14 But when the husbandmen sawe him, they reasoned with themselues, saying, This is the heire: come, let vs kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15 So they cast him out of the vineyarde, and killed him. What shall the Lord of the vineyarde therefore doe vnto them? 16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and wil giue out his vineyard to others. But when they heard it, they sayd, God forbid. 17 And he beheld them, & said, What meaneth this then that is written, The stone that the builders refused, that is made the head of the corner? 18 Whosoeuer shall fall vpon that stone, shall be broken: and on whomsoeuer it shall fall, it will grinde him to pouder. 19 Then the hie Priests, and the Scribes the same houre went about to lay hands on him: (but they feared the people) for they perceiued that he had spoken this parable against them.
• Luke 22:9 : 9 And they saide to him, Where wilt thou, that we prepare it?
• John 15:1-8 : 1 I Am that true vine, and my Father is that husband man. 2 Euery branch that beareth not fruite in me, he taketh away: and euery one that beareth fruite, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruite. 3 Nowe are ye cleane through the worde, which I haue spoken vnto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you: as the branche cannot beare fruite of it selfe, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am that vine: ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, & I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruite: for without me can ye doe nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branche, and withereth: and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they burne. 7 If ye abide in me, and my wordes abide in you, aske what ye wil, & it shalbe done to you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye beare much fruite, and be made my disciples.
• Acts 7:38 : 38 This is he that was in the Congregation, in the wildernes with the Angell, which spake to him in mount Sina, and with our fathers, who receiued the liuely oracles to giue vnto vs.
• Acts 7:46-47 : 46 Who found fauour before God, and desired that hee might finde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob. 47 But Solomon built him an house.
• Rom 3:1-2 : 1 What is then the preferment of the Iewe? Or what is the profite of circumcision? 2 Much euery maner of way: for chiefly, because vnto them were of credite committed the oracles of God.
• Rom 9:4-5 : 4 Which are the Israelites, to whome perteineth the adoption, and the glory, and the Couenants, and the giuing of the Lawe, and the seruice of God, and the promises. 5 Of whome are the fathers, and of whome concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is God ouer all, blessed for euer, Amen.
• Rom 11:17-24 : 17 And though some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wilde Oliue tree, wast graft in for them, and made partaker of the roote, and fatnesse of the Oliue tree. 18 Boast not thy selfe against the branches: and if thou boast thy selfe, thou bearest not the roote, but the roote thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches are broken off, that I might be graft in. 20 Well: through vnbeliefe they are broken off, and thou standest by faith: bee not hie minded, but feare. 21 For if God spared not the naturall branches, take heede, least he also spare not thee. 22 Beholde therefore the bountifulnesse, and seueritie of God: towarde them which haue fallen, seueritie: but toward thee, bountifulnesse, if thou continue in his bountifulnesse: or els thou shalt also be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in vnbeliefe, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graffe them in againe. 24 For if thou wast cut out of the Oliue tree, which was wilde by nature, & wast graffed contrary to nature in a right Oliue tree, how much more shall they that are by nature, bee graffed in their owne Oliue tree?
• Mark 12:1-9 : 1 And he began to speake vnto them in parables, A certaine man planted a vineyard, and copassed it with an hedge, & digged a pit for the winepresse, and built a tower in it, & let it out to husbandmen, & went into a strange countrey. 2 And at the time, he sent to the husbandmen a seruant, that he might receiue of the husbandmen of the fruite of the vineyard. 3 But they tooke him, and beat him, & sent him away emptie. 4 And againe he sent vnto them another seruant, and at him they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And againe he sent another, and him they slew, & many other, beating some, & killing some. 6 Yet had he one sonne, his deare beloued: him also he sent the last vnto them, saying, They will reuerence my sonne. 7 But ye husbandmen said among themselues, This is the heire: come, let vs kill him, and the inheritance shalbe ours. 8 So they tooke him, & killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall then the Lord of the vineyard doe? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and giue the vineyard to others. 10 Haue ye not read so much as this Scripture? The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the head of the corner. 11 This was done of the Lord, and it is marueilous in our eyes. 12 Then they went about to take him, but they feared the people: for they perceiued that he spake that parable against them: therefore they left him, and went their way.
• Ps 147:19-20 : 19 He sheweth his word vnto Iaakob, his statutes and his iudgements vnto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with euery nation, neither haue they knowen his iudgements. Prayse ye the Lord.
• Neh 9:13-14 : 13 Thou camest downe also vpon mount Sinai, and spakest vnto them from heauen, and gauest them right iudgements, and true lawes, ordinances and good commandements, 14 And declaredst vnto them thine holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, and ordinances, and lawes, by the hande of Moses thy seruant:
• Ps 78:68-69 : 68 But chose the tribe of Iudah, and mount Zion which he loued. 69 And he built his Sanctuarie as an high palace, like the earth, which he stablished for euer.
• Isa 7:23 : 23 And at the same day euery place, wherein shalbe a thousand vines, shalbe at a thousand pieces of siluer: so it shalbe for the briers and for the thornes.
• Jer 2:21 : 21 Yet I had planted thee, a noble vine, whose plants were all natural: howe then art thou turned vnto me into the plants of a strange vine?
• Ezek 20:11-12 : 11 And I gaue them my statutes, and declared my iudgements vnto them, which if a man doe, he shall liue in them. 12 Moreouer I gaue them also my Sabbaths to be a signe betwene me & them, that they might knowe that I am the Lord, that sanctifie them.
• Ezek 20:18-20 : 18 But I said vnto their children in the wildernes, Walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers, neither obserue their maners, nor defile your selues with their idoles. 19 I am the Lord your God: walke in my statutes, and keepe my iudgements and doe them, 20 And sanctifie my Sabbaths, and they shall bee a signe betweene mee and you, that ye may knowe that I am the Lord your God.
• Ezek 20:49 : 49 Then saide I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doeth not he speake parables?
• Matt 13:10-15 : 10 Then the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables? 11 And he answered, & said vnto them, Because it is giuen vnto you, to know the secretes of the kingdome of heauen, but to the it is not giue. 12 For whosoeuer hath, to him shalbe giuen, and he shall haue abundance: but whosoeuer hath not, from him shalbe taken away, euen that he hath. 13 Therefore speake I to them in parables, because they seeing, doe not see: and hearing, they heare not, neither vnderstand. 14 So in them is fulfilled the prophecie of Esaias, which prophecie saieth, By hearing, ye shall heare, and shall not vnderstand, and seeing, ye shal see, and shall not perceiue. 15 For this peoples heart is waxed fat, & their eares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes they haue winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, & should vnderstand with their hearts, & should returne, that I might heale them.
• Matt 13:34-35 : 34 All these thinges spake Iesus vnto the multitude in parables, and without parables spake he not to them, 35 That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, and will vtter the thinges which haue beene kept secrete from the foundation of the worlde.
• Matt 21:28-22:14 : 28 But what thinke ye? A certaine man had two sonnes, and came to the elder, and saide, Sonne, goe and worke to day in my vineyarde. 29 But he answered, and said, I will not: yet afterward he repented himselfe, and went. 30 Then came he to the second, and said likewise; he answered, and said, I will, Syr: yet he went not. 31 Whether of them twaine did the will of the father? They saide vnto him, The first. Iesus saide vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, that the Publicanes and the harlots goe before you into the kingdome of God. 32 For Iohn came vnto you in the way of righteousnes, and yee beleeued him not: but the Publicanes, and the harlots beleeued him, and ye, though ye sawe it, were not mooued with repentance afterward, that ye might beleeue him. 33 Heare another parable, There was a certaine housholder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, & made a winepresse therein, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange countrey. 34 And when the time of the fruite drewe neere, hee sent his seruants to the husbandmen to receiue the fruites thereof. 35 And ye husbandmen tooke his seruants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Againe hee sent other seruants, moe then the first: and they did the like vnto them. 37 But last of all he sent vnto them his owne sonne, saying, They will reuerence my sonne. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the sonne, they saide among themselues, This is the heire: come, let vs kil him, & let vs take his inheritance. 39 So they tooke him, and cast him out of the vineyarde, and slewe him. 40 When therefore the Lorde of the vineyarde shall come, what will hee doe to those husbandmen? 41 They saide vnto him, Hee will cruelly destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard vnto other husbandmen, which shall deliuer him the fruites in their seasons. 42 Iesus saide vnto them, Read ye neuer in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders refused, the same is made the head of the corner? This was the Lordes doing, and it is marueilous in our eyes. 43 Therefore say I vnto you, The kingdome of God shalbe taken from you, and shalbe giuen to a nation, which shall bring foorth the fruites thereof. 44 And whosoeuer shall fall on this stone, he shalbe broken: but on whomsoeuer it shal fall, it will dash him a pieces. 45 And when the chiefe Priestes and Pharises had heard his parables, they perceiued that hee spake of them. 46 And they seeking to laye handes on him, feared the people, because they tooke him as a Prophet. 1 Then Iesus answered, and spake vnto them againe in parables, saying, 2 The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a certaine King which maried his sonne, 3 And sent foorth his seruants, to call them that were bidde to the wedding, but they woulde not come. 4 Againe hee sent foorth other seruants, saying. Tell them which are bidden, Beholde, I haue prepared my dinner: mine oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all thinges are readie: come vnto the mariage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their wayes, one to his farme, and another about his marchandise. 6 And the remnant tooke his seruants, and intreated them sharpely, and slewe them. 7 But when the King heard it, he was wroth, and sent foorth his warriers, and destroyed those murtherers, and burnt vp their citie. 8 Then saide hee to his seruants, Truly the wedding is prepared: but they which were bidden, were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore out into the high wayes, and as many as ye finde, bid them to the mariage. 10 So those seruantes went out into the hie wayes, and gathered together all that euer they found, both good and bad: so the wedding was furnished with ghestes. 11 Then the King came in, to see the ghestes, and sawe there a man which had not on a wedding garment. 12 And he sayd vnto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, and hast not on a wedding garment? And he was speachlesse. 13 Then sayd the King to the seruants, Binde him hand and foote: take him away, and cast him into vtter darkenes: there shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but fewe chosen.