And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.
- BSB Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.
- NKJV And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.
- NASB Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
- NLT Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Seed among thorns is choked as the thorns grow up with it. It pictures the word smothered by competing concerns.
Overview
The third soil yields plants that are strangled by thorns growing alongside. Jesus later identifies the thorns as the cares, riches, and pleasures of life. The image warns that a divided heart, crowded with rival affections, never brings the word to fruitfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Jer 4:3For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
- Luke 8:14And 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.
- Mark 4:7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
- Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
- Heb 6:7–8For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
- Matt 13:7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
- Mark 4:18–19And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
- Matt 13:22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
- Gen 3:18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 8:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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