And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to overlook that "they that were about him" refers to a group beyond just the Twelve disciples. This subtle distinction highlights Jesus' inner circle included others who, like the Twelve, were seeking deeper understanding, not just the general crowd. This shows Jesus was building a community of learners, not isolating his teaching to only a select few.
And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus finishes teaching a large crowd by the sea, he retreats with his closest followers. The Twelve Apostles, along with other devoted companions, recognize the profound mystery in his teachings and privately ask him to explain the parables they just heard. This private moment allows Jesus to begin revealing the deeper meaning of his words to those who are ready to receive it, contrasting them with the general crowd who heard but did not fully comprehend.
After a crowd has heard Jesus teach, something shifts when the audience thins. What makes the disciples, even the inner twelve, uniquely positioned to ask about the parables?
This verse highlights a special moment of intimacy and inquiry. Jesus had just finished teaching the crowds using parables, a method that often left people with more questions than answers. When the crowds dispersed and Jesus was in a more private setting, 'those around him with the twelve' approached Him.
Who's 'About Him'?
The phrasing 'those around him with the twelve' suggests a distinction. While the Twelve were his closest apostles, this verse implies there were other disciples or followers who were also part of this inner circle, privy to His private teachings. This wasn't just the apostles asking; it was a broader group of committed followers who sought deeper understanding.
A Desire for Revelation
Their question isn't just about the meaning of a specific parable, but about the method itself. Why parables? This shows a hunger to grasp the 'mystery of the kingdom of God,' not just as a public spectacle, but as a personal revelation. They recognized that these stories held profound truths meant to be unlocked.
Jesus used parables, but not always for simple clarification. What was the dual purpose of this teaching method, and how did it serve both insiders and outsiders?
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Jesus’ use of parables wasn't accidental; it served a divine purpose that had different effects on different people.
For Those Within:
To His disciples – the 'inner circle' – the parables were meant to reveal the mysteries of God's kingdom. They were given the privilege not just to hear the stories, but to understand their deeper spiritual meaning. This understanding was a gift, enabling them to grasp truths others couldn't.
For Those Without:
For the crowds, and those outside this inner circle, the parables often had a baffling effect. Jesus quotes Isaiah, stating that seeing they would see but not perceive, and hearing they would hear but not understand. This wasn't about God hiding truth maliciously, but about a consequence for those who stubbornly refused to engage with Jesus' message. The parables exposed their lack of genuine desire to know, making their spiritual blindness and hardness of heart more evident.
Understand the original words
parabolē · Greek Noun
A short, simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus used them to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those with receptive hearts while concealing them from those who were spiritually hardened or antagonistic.
dōdeka · Greek Noun/Number
The inner group of Jesus' disciples chosen for special training and leadership. They represent the faithful remnant who are given deeper insight into the mysteries of the Kingdom.
This passage shows the disciples asking Jesus why He teaches in parables, mirroring the specific question the disciples ask in Mark 4:10 after Jesus' teaching.
Luke 8:9Luke's account also notes the disciples' confusion about Jesus' parables, highlighting their need for further explanation and their seeking Jesus' guidance.
John 16:25Jesus speaks of a future time when He will no longer speak to His disciples in parables but will reveal the Father plainly, showing a progression in their understanding that begins with questions like those in Mark 4:10.
1 Corinthians 2:14This verse explains that the natural person cannot understand spiritual things, which helps illuminate why Jesus used parables for the crowds but explained them to His disciples, who were seeking deeper understanding.
expositorsMark 4:10: "And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable."
elete_me Mark 4:10-13 Chapter 4CHAPTER 4:1-2, 10-13 (Mark 4:1-2; Mark 4:10-13)THE PARABLES "And again He began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto Him a very great multitude, so that He entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. And He taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in His teaching. . . . "And when He wa…
gillMark 4:10: "And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable."
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…
It's easy to overlook that "they that were about him" refers to a group beyond just the Twelve disciples. This subtle distinction highlights Jesus' inner circle included others who, like the Twelve, were seeking deeper understanding, not just the general crowd. This shows Jesus was building a community of learners, not isolating his teaching to only a select few.
After Jesus finishes teaching a large crowd by the sea, he retreats with his closest followers. The Twelve Apostles, along with other devoted companions, recognize the profound mystery in his teachings and privately ask him to explain the parables they just heard. This private moment allows Jesus to begin revealing the deeper meaning of his words to those who are ready to receive it, contrasting them with the general crowd who heard but did not fully comprehend.
After Jesus finishes teaching a large crowd by the sea, he retreats with his closest followers. The Twelve Apostles, along with other devoted companions, recognize the profound mystery in his teachings and privately ask him to explain the parables they just heard. This private moment allows Jesus to begin revealing the deeper meaning of his words to those who are ready to receive it, contrasting them with the general crowd who heard but did not fully comprehend.
"And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables." — It's easy to overlook that "they that were about him" refers to a group beyond just the Twelve disciples. This subtle distinction highlights Jesus' inner circle included others who, like the Twelve,…
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Last reviewed October 2026