Mark 4:22
in Mark 4For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.
KJV
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
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This verse in Mark 4
Commentary
16 notes on this verseFor there is nothing hid, etc. - Probably our Lord means, that all that had hitherto been secret, relative to the salvation of a lost world, or only obscurely pointed out by types and sacrifices, shall now be uncovered and made plain by the everlasting Gospel. See on Mat 5:15 (note); Mat 10:26 (note).
This site's exposition
bring in a lamp to put it under a basket
on Mark 4:21-23
A lamp is lit to be seen, and nobody sets it under a basket or under a bed. Jesus turns the image toward the mystery just explained to the Twelve, for there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed.
This site's exposition
nothing hidden that will not be disclosed
Adam Clarke applies the saying to the plan of salvation. What the types and sacrifices had shown only dimly would now be made plain in the gospel. Matthew Henry adds that God gives gifts and grace to be shared.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(non occ.) After the question of the disciples concerning the parable, and its explanation, He well subjoins, And he said unto them, Is a candle brought, &c. As if he said, A parable is given, not that it should remain obscure, and hidden as if under a bed or a bushel, but that it should be manifested to those who are worthy. The candle within us is that of our intellectual nature, and it shines either clearly or obscurely according to the proportion of our illumination. For if meditations which feed the light, and the recollection with which such a light is kindled, are neglected, it is presently extinguished. (in Matt. Hom. 15) Or else, There is nothing hid; as if He said, If ye conduct your life with care, accusation will not be able to obscure your light.
Why does the Lord call us the light of the world? Why has he compared us to a city on a hill? Are we not called to shine in the midst of darkness, and stand up high for those most sunk down? If you hide your lamp beneath a bushel, you will soon notice that you yourself will be in the dark. You will find others bumping into you. So what can you do to illumine the world? Let your faith produce good works. Be a reflection of God's light. The good is not preoccupied with darkness.
The Medieval Church3 voices
The hidden and secret thing is the parable of the seed, which comes forth to light, when it is spoken of by the Lord.
(in Marc. i. 20) Or, because the time of our life is contained under a certain measurement of Divine Providence, it is rightly compared to a bushel. But the bed of the soul is the body, in which it dwells and reposes for a time. He therefore who hides the word of God under the love of this transitory life, and of carnal allurements, covers his candle with a bushel or a bed. But he puts his light on a candlestick, who employs his body in the ministry of the word of God; therefore under these words He typically teaches them a figure of preaching. Wherefore it goes on, For there is nothing hidden, which shall not be revealed, nor is there any thing made secret, which shall not come abroad. As if He said, Be not ashamed of the Gospel, but amidst the darkness of persecution raise the light of the word of God upon the candlestick of your body, keeping fixedly in your mind that day, when the Lord will throw light upon the hidden places of darkness, for then everlasting praise awaits you, and everlasting punishment your adversaries.
For nothing is hidden, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. He says, do not be ashamed of the Gospel of God, but among the darkness of persecutors, raise the light of the word upon the candlestick of …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
"And nothing is hidden that will not be revealed." Whatever anyone does in secret—whether good or evil—will all be made manifest both here and especially in the age to come. What was more hidden than God? Yet even He was manifested in the flesh.
For each of us, whether he have done good or evil, is brought to light in this life, much more in that which is to come. For what can be more hidden than God, nevertheless He Himself is manifested in the flesh.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For there is nothing hid,....
There is no treasure of gifts and graces lodged in any but with design to be communicated; nor was the gospel made a secret to the apostles, to be concealed, but that it should come abroad, and be divulged to all the world.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested, &c.--See on Mt 10:26, 27; but the connection there and here is slightly different. Here the idea seems to be this--"I have privately expounded to you these great truths, but only that ye may proclaim them publicly; and if ye will not, others will. For these are not designed for secrecy.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
These verses seem intended to enforce the parable of the sower on the attention of those who heard it. They are remarkable for the succession of short, pithy, proverbial sayings which they contain. Such sayings are eminently calculated to arrest an ignorant hearer. They often strike, and stick in the memory, when the main subject of the sermon is forgotten. We learn, from these verses, that we ought not only to receive knowledge, but to impart it to others .
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
These verses seem intended to enforce the parable of the sower on the attention of those who heard it. They are remarkable for the succession of short, pithy, proverbial sayings which they contain. Such sayings are eminently calculated to arrest an ignorant hearer. They often strike, and stick in the memory, when the main subject of the sermon is forgotten. We learn, from these verses, that we ought not only to receive knowledge, but to impart it to others . A candle is not lighted in order to be hidden and concealed, but to be set on a candlestick and used. Religious light is not given to a man for himself alone, but for the benefit of others. We are to try to spread and diffuse our knowledge. We are to display to others the precious treasure that we have found; and persuade them to seek it for themselves. We are to tell them of the good news that we have heard, and endeavor to make them believe and value it themselves. We shall all have to give account of our use of knowledge one day. The books of God in the day of judgment will show what we have done. If we have buried our talent in the earth — if we have been content with a lazy, idle, do-nothing Christianity, and cared nothing what happened to others, so long as we went to heaven ourselves — there will be a fearful exposure at last — "There is nothing hidden, which shall not be manifested." It becomes all Christians to lay these things to heart. It is high time that the old tradition, that the clergy alone ought to teach and spread religious knowledge, should be exploded and cast aside forever. To do good and diffuse light is a duty for which all members of Christ's Church are responsible, whether ministers or laymen. Neighbors ought to tell neighbors, if they have found an unfailing remedy in time of plague.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
There is nothing hid ... - See the notes at Mat 10:26.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Nothing | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | there is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| κρυπτόν | krupton | hidden | G2927 → | |
| ἐὰν | ean | only | G1437 → | 352 times |
| μὴ | me | unless | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἵνα | ina | in order | G2443 → | 668 times |
| φανερωθῇ, | phanerothea | it shall be made manifest, | G5319 → | |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | has taken place | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἀπόκρυφον | apokruphon | a secret thing | G614 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἔλθῃ | elthe | it shall come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| φανερόν. | phaneron | light. | G5318 → | 18 times |
οὐNothing
ouG3756 →1664 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐστινthere is
estinG1510 →2333 times
κρυπτόνhidden
kruptonG2927 →
ἐὰνonly
eanG1437 →352 times
μὴunless
meG3361 →1066 times
ἵναin order
inaG2443 →668 times
φανερωθῇ,it shall be made manifest,
phanerotheaG5319 →
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
ἐγένετοhas taken place
egenetoG1096 →667 times
ἀπόκρυφονa secret thing
apokruphonG614 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἔλθῃit shall come
eltheG2064 →628 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
φανερόν.light.
phaneronG5318 →18 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ecclesiastes 12:14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 2:16
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
Through
Luke 8:17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:26
So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 12:2–3
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Matthew 10:26
Through
1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
it leads to
- James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- James 5:7
Where this verse is studied
About Mark
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Tertullian, ON THE APPAREL OF WOMEN 2.13; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.