Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. New Living Translation As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. English Standard Version And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Berean Standard Bible And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Berean Literal Bible And in his sowing, some indeed fell along the path, and the birds, having come, devoured them. King James Bible And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: New King James Version And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. New American Standard Bible and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. NASB 1995 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. NASB 1977 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Legacy Standard Bible and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Amplified Bible and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it. Berean Annotated Bible And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Christian Standard Bible As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Holman Christian Standard Bible As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. American Standard Version and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: Contemporary English Version While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds. English Revised Version and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: GOD'S WORD® Translation Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. Good News Translation As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. International Standard Version As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. NET Bible And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. New Heart English Bible And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them. Webster's Bible Translation And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them: Weymouth New Testament As he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come and peck it up. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. World English Bible As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand in his sowing, some indeed fell by the way, and the birds having come, devoured them, Berean Literal Bible And in his sowing, some indeed fell along the path, and the birds, having come, devoured them. Young's Literal Translation and in his sowing, some indeed fell by the way, and the fowls did come and devour them, Smith's Literal Translation And in his sowing some truly fell by the way, and the flying things came and swallowed them down. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up. Catholic Public Domain Version And while he was sowing, some fell beside the road, and the birds of the air came and ate it. New American Bible And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. New Revised Standard Version And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when he had sown, some seed fell on the roadside, and the fowls came and ate it. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But as he sowed, some seed fell on the side of the road and a bird came and ate it. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way: and the birds came and ate them up. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament and as he was sowing, some seeds fell indeed by the road-side; and the birds came and ate them up: Mace New Testament and in sowing, part of the grain fell in the high-way, and the fowls light and peck'd them up: Weymouth New Testament As he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come and peck it up. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Parable of the Sower…3And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.… Cross References And as he was sowing, Mark 4:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. Ecclesiastes 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. some seed fell along the path, Mark 4:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Luke 8:5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by. and the birds came and devoured it. Ezekiel 39:17-20 And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. / You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. / At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. … Jeremiah 7:33 The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away. Deuteronomy 28:26 Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the air and beasts of the earth, with no one to scare them away. Isaiah 55:10-11 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns. Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain. John 12:24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. / He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. … 2 Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. Treasury of Scripture And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: the way. Matthew 13:18,19 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower… Jump to Previous Ate Birds Devour Devoured Dropped Falls Fell Food Fowls Grains Path Peck Road Roadside Scattering Seed Seeds Side Sowed Sowing Sows Way Wayside Way-SideJump to Next Ate Birds Devour Devoured Dropped Falls Fell Food Fowls Grains Path Peck Road Roadside Scattering Seed Seeds Side Sowed Sowing Sows Way Wayside Way-SideMatthew 13 1. The parable of the sower and the seed;18. the explanation of it. 24. The parable of the weeds; 31. of the mustard seed; 33. of the leaven; 36. explanation of the parable of the weeds. 44. The parable of the hidden treasure; 45. of the pearl; 47. of the drag net cast into the sea. 53. Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country. And as he was sowing This phrase introduces the parable of the sower, a teaching method Jesus frequently used to convey spiritual truths through everyday experiences. Sowing was a common agricultural practice in ancient Israel, where farmers scattered seed by hand. This imagery would have been familiar to Jesus' audience, many of whom were involved in agriculture. The act of sowing represents the spreading of God's Word, a theme consistent throughout Scripture, such as in Isaiah 55:10-11, where God's Word is likened to rain and snow that nourish the earth. some seed fell along the path and the birds came and devoured it Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe speaker of the parable, teaching the crowds and His disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven through parables. 2. The Sower Represents those who spread the Word of God, including Jesus Himself and His followers. 3. The Seed Symbolizes the Word of God, the message of the Kingdom. 4. The Path Represents the hearts of those who hear the Word but do not understand or accept it. 5. The Birds Symbolize the evil one, who snatches away what was sown in the heart. Teaching Points Understanding the WordIt is crucial to not only hear the Word of God but to seek understanding. Without understanding, the Word is vulnerable to being taken away. Guarding the Heart Just as the path is exposed and vulnerable, so are our hearts if we do not guard them with diligence and prayer. Spiritual Warfare Recognize the active role of the evil one in trying to prevent the Word from taking root. Equip yourself with spiritual armor. The Importance of Soil Preparation Just as a farmer prepares the soil, we must prepare our hearts to receive the Word through prayer, study, and meditation. Community and Discipleship Engage in community and discipleship to help each other understand and apply the Word, preventing it from being snatched away. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 13:4?2. How can we prevent God's word from being "snatched away" in our lives? 3. What does the "path" symbolize in Matthew 13:4 for today's believers? 4. How does Matthew 13:4 connect with Ephesians 6:11 about spiritual warfare? 5. What practical steps can strengthen our hearts against spiritual attacks? 6. How can we help others avoid becoming like the seed on the path? 7. What does Matthew 13:4 reveal about the nature of spiritual receptivity and human hearts? 8. How does the parable in Matthew 13:4 relate to the spread of the Gospel today? 9. What historical context is essential to understanding the message of Matthew 13:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 13? 11. What did Jesus mean by 'mustard seed faith'? 12. Why does the Bible suggest the mustard seed is the smallest seed when it is not? 13. How do variations in the parable of the sower between Mark 4 and other Gospels not constitute contradictions in the Bible's message? 14. What does the Bible say about sowing and reaping? What Does Matthew 13:4 Mean And as he was sowing“Then He told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.’ ” (Matthew 13:3) • The sower is Jesus, faithfully scattering the pure word of God without partiality (Isaiah 55:10-11; John 1:1, 14). • Sowing is ongoing; Christ continues His work through Scripture, preaching, and personal witness (2 Timothy 4:2). • The focus lands first on the sower’s action, reminding us that spiritual life begins with God’s initiative, never ours (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). some seed fell along the path “Some fell along the path” (Matthew 13:4). • The path pictures ground packed hard by foot traffic—soil unreceptive to penetration (Hebrews 3:12-13). • Hearts become hardened by habitual sin, pride, or busyness (James 1:22-24). • Though the seed is perfect, its lodging place matters; fruitfulness always involves receptive soil (Hosea 10:12). and the birds came “…and the birds came…” (Matthew 13:4). • Jesus later explains, “the evil one comes” (Matthew 13:19). • Birds illustrate Satan and his emissaries swiftly moving to snatch away truth before it can take root (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8). • Spiritual warfare is real and immediate the moment the word is heard (Ephesians 6:11-12). and devoured it “…and devoured it.” (Matthew 13:4). • The seed is not merely displaced; it is consumed—made useless to the hearer (Luke 8:12). • This underscores urgency: to respond while the word is fresh, lest delay invite theft of truth (Hebrews 4:7). • God holds the hearer responsible: prevention of devouring comes through humility, meditation, and obedience (Psalm 119:11; James 1:21). summary Matthew 13:4 shows the unwavering generosity of Christ in sowing the word, the tragic condition of hardened hearts, the active malice of the evil one, and the total loss that results when truth is ignored. Our calling is to guard the seed, break up hard ground, and welcome the life-giving message before it is snatched away. (4) The way side--i.e., on the skirts of the broad path that crossed the field. Here the surface was hard and smooth, the grain lay on the surface, the pigeons and other birds that followed the sower reaped an immediate harvest.Verse 4. - And when (as, Revised Version) he sowed, some seeds (α} μέν). Here (cf. vers. 5, 7, 8) the seeds are, so to speak, each singled out. But in the parallel passages they are viewed as one whole (ο{ μέν). Fell by the wayside. Along the road (παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν), which evidently was at no mere corner of the field, but ran for some distance by or through it. And the fowls (birds, Revised Version, as in modern English) came and devoured them up.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Asἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. he was αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. sowing, σπείρειν (speirein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 4687: To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow. some [seeds] ἃ (ha) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that. fell ἔπεσεν (epesen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4098: A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall. along παρὰ (para) Preposition Strong's 3844: Gen: from; dat: beside, in the presence of; acc: alongside of. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. path, ὁδόν (hodon) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3598: A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. the τὰ (ta) Article - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. birds πετεινὰ (peteina) Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 4071: A bird, fowl. Neuter of a derivative of petomai; a flying animal, i.e. Bird. came ἐλθόντα (elthonta) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 2064: To come, go. [and] devoured κατέφαγεν (katephagen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2719: To eat up, eat till it is finished, devour, squander, annoy, injure. From kata and esthio; to eat down, i.e. Devour. them. αὐτά (auta) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. Links Matthew 13:4 NIVMatthew 13:4 NLT Matthew 13:4 ESV Matthew 13:4 NASB Matthew 13:4 KJV Matthew 13:4 BibleApps.com Matthew 13:4 Biblia Paralela Matthew 13:4 Chinese Bible Matthew 13:4 French Bible Matthew 13:4 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 13:4 As he sowed some seeds fell (Matt. Mat Mt) |
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