Luke 8:12 kjv
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.
Luke 8:12 nkjv
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luke 8:12 niv
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.
Luke 8:12 esv
The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Luke 8:12 nlt
The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.
Luke 8 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 13:19 | When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away... | Parallel explanation of the "path" soil in Matthew. |
| Mk 4:15 | These are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes... | Parallel explanation of the "path" soil in Mark. |
| Jn 8:44 | He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth... he is a liar and the father... | Describes Satan's murderous, deceptive nature, aligning with his destructive aim. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone... | Satan's active search to devour believers, contrasting with those easily influenced. |
| 2 Cor 4:4 | In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing... | Satan's role in preventing spiritual understanding and belief. |
| Eph 6:11-12 | Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we... | Acknowledges the reality of spiritual warfare and the devil's tactics. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Implies the possibility of resisting Satan's attempts to steal the Word. |
| Rom 10:17 | So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. | Emphasizes the crucial link between hearing the word and the emergence of faith. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | Highlights the inherent power and penetrating ability of God's Word if received. |
| Jas 1:21 | Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word... | Call to humble reception of the word so it can be implanted. |
| Acts 17:11 | Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness... | Example of receptive hearers who did not let the word be snatched. |
| Isa 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it... | God's word is inherently powerful and fruitful, if it finds receptive ground. |
| Psa 119:11 | I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. | Contrasts storing the word in the heart with having it snatched away. |
| Prov 4:23 | Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | Stresses the importance of guarding the heart against negative influences like Satan. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search... | Points to the fallen condition of the human heart, making it susceptible to spiritual theft. |
| Eph 4:18 | They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is... | Describes the condition of unbelievers whose hearts and minds are darkened. |
| Heb 3:13 | But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by... | The deceitfulness of sin can harden hearts, preventing the word from taking root. |
| Mk 16:16 | Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. | Direct consequence of the devil's action: prevention of belief and salvation. |
| Jn 3:18 | Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because... | Reiteration of the necessity of belief for avoiding condemnation. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which... | Highlights the singular means of salvation that the devil seeks to hinder. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,... | Salvation is by faith, which Satan directly attacks in this verse. |
| Lk 8:18 | For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will... | Even initial, shallow "possession" of the word can be taken away if not properly kept. |
| 1 Tim 4:1 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves... | Refers to those who will turn away from initial profession, losing their "seed." |
Luke 8 verses
Luke 8 12 Meaning
Luke 8:12 explains the meaning of the seed falling "along the path" in the Parable of the Sower. It describes those who hear the word of God superficially. The devil immediately comes and snatches the word from their hearts, preventing it from taking root. The ultimate consequence of this is that they fail to truly believe in Jesus Christ and therefore are not saved. This highlights the vulnerability of initial, shallow reception of the Gospel and the direct, malicious action of Satan in preventing faith.
Luke 8 12 Context
Luke 8:12 is part of Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower, recorded in Luke 8:4-15. Jesus had just told the parable (Lk 8:5-8), and the disciples asked Him about its meaning (Lk 8:9). Jesus explained that the parable revealed "the secrets of the kingdom of God" (Lk 8:10), but that not all would understand. The verse specifically addresses the first type of soil, the "path" or "wayside," where the seed does not penetrate. This parable serves as a foundational teaching on how different hearts respond to the word of God. The immediate cultural context involves Jesus teaching the crowds, who often responded with varied levels of commitment and understanding, reflecting the very heart conditions He described. There is no direct polemic in this specific verse, but it implicitly counters any belief that hearing alone guarantees salvation, or that Satan is a passive entity.
Luke 8 12 Word analysis
- Those along the path (οἱ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν - hoi para tēn hodon): Literally "the ones beside the road." This phrase identifies the type of soil—a hard, compacted pathway—and metaphorically, the unreceptive heart. It signifies superficial engagement where the message remains on the surface and cannot penetrate to take root.
- are the ones who hear (οἱ ἀκούσαντες - hoi akousantes): Emphasizes that there was indeed an act of hearing the word. This hearing, however, is merely auditory or intellectual, lacking depth of understanding or willingness to truly embrace.
- and then (εἶτα - eita): Indicates an immediate succession of events. There's no time lapse; Satan acts swiftly after the word is heard.
- the devil (ὁ διάβολος - ho diabolos): The specific agent of evil, identified clearly by Jesus. Diabolos means "slanderer, accuser." This reveals that the spiritual battle is not against abstract forces, but a personal, malevolent entity seeking to hinder God's purposes. He is a direct, active opponent.
- comes (ἔρχεται - erchetai): Points to his active presence and direct intervention. He is not merely waiting; he approaches with intent.
- and takes away (αἴρει - airei): A strong verb meaning "to lift, take up, carry off." It implies a complete removal or snatching away, preventing the word from remaining even superficially. It signifies a forceful appropriation.
- the word (τὸν λόγον - ton logon): Refers to God's message, the Gospel of the Kingdom. This is the seed, the divine truth, which has life-giving power if it takes root.
- from their hearts (ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν - apo tēs kardias autōn): The "heart" in biblical anthropology signifies the very core of a person – the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral consciousness. If the word is taken from the heart, it means it never genuinely settled there, or it was easily plucked out, signifying a total lack of internal transformation or commitment.
- so that they may not believe (ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες - hina mē pisteusantes): This phrase states the devil's express purpose or intent (a purpose clause). His goal is to prevent genuine faith. Belief (pisteuō) in this context means more than intellectual assent; it implies trusting in, relying upon, and committing to the word and the one it proclaims.
- and be saved (σωθῶσιν - sōthōsin): The ultimate spiritual consequence the devil aims for. Salvation (sōzō) means deliverance from sin, death, and condemnation, granting eternal life and reconciliation with God. By taking away the word and preventing belief, Satan achieves his purpose of keeping people separated from God.
Luke 8 12 Bonus section
The active and immediate role of Satan in this verse reveals the nature of spiritual warfare. It's not a passive scenario; the enemy is deeply invested in preventing spiritual growth and salvation. The verse underscores that intellectual acknowledgment of truth is insufficient; it must reside deep within the kardia (heart) to produce faith and salvation. This interpretation emphasizes personal responsibility to cultivate receptive soil in one's heart, but also acknowledges the external spiritual forces at play. It reminds believers of the continuous need for vigilance and a deep, committed understanding of the Word to withstand such attacks, echoing Paul's later admonitions about putting on the full armor of God.
Luke 8 12 Commentary
Luke 8:12 unveils the crucial first barrier to receiving the Kingdom of God: the hard heart represented by the path. This ground signifies a soul made impermeable by indifference, habitual sin, or rejection, where the powerful "word of God" (the divine seed) simply lies on the surface. While the message is heard, it is not received into the depth of the inner being. Immediately, and by design, Satan, identified as the active agent, intervenes. He doesn't just passively distract; he maliciously "takes away" the word. His aim is direct and purposeful: to extinguish any potential for genuine belief and, consequently, to deny salvation. This teaches us the urgency of a ready, humble heart to allow the word to penetrate, and the constant spiritual battle waged by the enemy against the spread of God's truth. It emphasizes that salvation is fundamentally tied to genuine belief rooted in the heart, and that Satan will tirelessly work to prevent that root from forming.