The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 Then(A) He said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable?(B) How then will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows(C) the word.(D) 15 These[a] are the ones along the path(E) where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan(F) comes and takes away the word(G) sown in them.[b] 16 And these are[c] the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.(H) 17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure(I) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.(J) 18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worries(K) of this age,(L) the seduction[d](M) of wealth,(N) and the desires(O) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.(P) 20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word,(Q) welcome it, and produce a crop:(R) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:15 Some people
  2. Mark 4:15 Other mss read in their hearts
  3. Mark 4:16 Other mss read are like
  4. Mark 4:19 Or pleasure, or deceitfulness

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word.(A) 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan(B) comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth(C) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

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13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

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The Parable of the Sower Explained

11 “This is the meaning of the parable:[a](A) The seed is the word of God.(B) 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing.(C) 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life,(D) and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who,[b] having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring,(E) bear fruit.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 8:11 Lit But this is the parable:
  2. Luke 8:15 Or these are the kind who

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.(A) 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.(B) 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches(C) and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

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11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

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