Mark 4:10

10 And when he was by himself, the twelve that were with him asked him to expound the parable.

Mark 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 4:10

And when he was alone
After the multitude was dismissed, and he either remained in the ship, or left it, and retired to some private place, it may be to Simon's house in Capernaum. The Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "when they were alone"; meaning as follows,

they that were about him with the twelve;
that is, such disciples of his, who, besides the twelve, constantly attended him; perhaps those who now were, or hereafter were the seventy disciples. The Vulgate Latin reads, "the twelve that were with him". In Beza's most ancient copy it is read, "his disciples"; and to this agrees the Persic version; and so the other evangelists, Matthew and Luke, relate, that his disciples came and

asked of him the parable;
the meaning of it, and why he chose this way of speaking to the people, ( Matthew 13:10 ) ( Luke 8:9 ) , though that word may include others besides the twelve.

Mark 4:10 In-Context

8 And other felled down into good land, and gave fruit, springing up, and waxing; and one brought thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one an hundredfold.

9 And he said, He that hath ears of hearing, hear he. [And he said, He that hath ears to hear, hear.]

10 And when he was by himself, the twelve that were with him asked him to expound the parable.

11 And he said to them, To you it is given to know the private of the kingdom of God [To you it is given to know the mystery, or private, of the kingdom of God]. But to them that be withoutforth, all things be made in parables,

12 that they seeing see, and see not, and they hearing hear, and understand not; lest [that] sometime they be converted, and sins be forgiven to them.