Luke 8 8

Luke 8:8 kjv

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:8 nkjv

But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Luke 8:8 niv

Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

Luke 8:8 esv

And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Luke 8:8 nlt

Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!" When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 8 Meaning

Luke 8:8 describes the positive outcome when the Word of God falls upon a receptive heart, likening it to a seed sown on good soil that yields an extraordinary harvest. It concludes with an emphatic call from Jesus for spiritual discernment and a deep understanding of His teachings, emphasizing that true hearing involves obedience and fruitfulness.

Luke 8 8 Context

Luke 8:8 concludes the illustrative section of Jesus' Parable of the Sower, recounted immediately after He began His public ministry with renewed zeal. The broader context of Luke 8 highlights Jesus teaching large crowds (v.4) and later privately explaining the parables to His disciples (v.9-10). The parable itself describes various responses to the "word of God" (v.11), symbolized by different types of soil. This particular verse focuses on the most favorable outcome, the "good ground," which represents hearts that receive, hold fast to, and produce fruit from the Word. Jesus’ emphatic cry at the end underscores the critical importance of actively and spiritually discerning His teachings. Agriculturally, the hundredfold yield was exceptional, illustrating the divine power within the seed (the Word) and the immense spiritual fruit that results from a genuinely receptive heart.

Luke 8 8 Word analysis

• And other: Connects this positive outcome with the preceding three negative or unfruitful outcomes of the seed in the parable (on the path, on the rock, among thorns). It highlights the distinct fourth category.
• fell: (Greek: epesen) Implies the passive reception of the seed. The sower's action is done; the quality of the ground determines the outcome. This emphasizes the divine agency in sowing the Word, and the human responsibility in the heart's receptivity.
• on good ground: (Greek: kalēn gēn) More than just fertile, kalos implies "beautiful," "noble," "ideal," "good" in quality or character. This refers to a heart that is well-prepared, receptive, open, honest, and truly willing to receive and embrace the Word of God.
• and sprang up: (Greek: anaphyon) Denotes the initial growth or sprouting. It signifies that the Word takes root and begins to manifest life, indicating genuine internal response, not just superficial understanding.
• and bare fruit: (Greek: karpon epoiēsen) Signifies the ultimate purpose and evidence of the seed's life and the soil's quality. "Bearing fruit" in biblical terms consistently refers to changed character, righteous living, acts of obedience, and reproduction of faith.
• an hundredfold: (Greek: hekatontaplasiōna) This represents an extraordinarily abundant harvest. While agricultural yields in ancient Palestine varied (e.g., 7-10 fold), a "hundredfold" indicates an exceptional, overflowing return, symbolizing supernatural spiritual productivity and transformation that far exceeds natural expectation. Luke here focuses solely on the highest yield, emphasizing God's boundless blessing on faithful reception.
• And when he had said these things: A transitional phrase, indicating a pause in the narrative and drawing attention to the imminent concluding, emphatic statement. It marks a shift from illustration to a direct, imperative call.
• he cried: (Greek: ebōa) A strong verb meaning to "shout" or "cry out loudly." This indicates the intensity, urgency, and public nature of Jesus' declaration, designed to arrest the attention of all hearers and stress the crucial importance of His words.
• He that hath ears to hear, let him hear: An idiomatic call to spiritual attention and discernment. It implies that while many hear physically, only those with "spiritual ears"—a heart prepared to understand and respond to God's truth—will truly comprehend and be transformed. It serves as a challenge and an invitation for self-examination regarding one's receptivity to God's Word.

Words-group analysis

• And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold: This phrase illustrates the transformative power of God's Word when it encounters a responsive heart. The sequence – reception, internal growth, and outward manifestation of abundant fruit – portrays the journey of genuine conversion and spiritual maturity. The "hundredfold" emphasizes the incredible divine blessing and effectiveness of the Word.
• And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear: This powerful conclusion emphasizes the critical importance of hearing with spiritual discernment. Jesus' cry elevates the message, challenging listeners to move beyond mere physical hearing to deep spiritual comprehension and responsive action. It sets a condition for true understanding and places responsibility squarely on the individual to prepare their "ears" or heart to receive God's truth.

Luke 8 8 Bonus section

• The kalēn gēn (good ground) is not naturally so, but implies a heart cultivated by God's grace and human readiness to obey.
• While Mark's account includes 30- and 60-fold yields, Luke's singular focus on the "hundredfold" emphasizes the maximal potential and the ultimate goal of abundant spiritual fruitfulness for every truly receptive heart.
• The passive nature of "fell" for the seed indicates that the power resides in the Word itself, but its effectiveness is contingent on the disposition of the soil (the hearer's heart).
• The "fruit" encompasses spiritual growth, Christlike character, evangelism, service, and acts of righteousness, demonstrating the Word's impact and glorifying God.
• The closing phrase "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" often appears after key parables or difficult teachings from Jesus, acting as a personal imperative for deep reflection and spiritual commitment. It stresses that hearing is not just an auditory act, but an act of spiritual engagement leading to transformation.

Luke 8 8 Commentary

Luke 8:8 is the climax of Jesus' Parable of the Sower, highlighting the desired and ultimate outcome of God's Word encountering humanity. It depicts the profound spiritual fruit borne when the "seed"—the Word of God—finds a receptive "good ground"—a heart that is prepared, honest, and obedient. This good ground is not naturally occurring but often reflects a humble, pliable spirit that acknowledges sin and submits to divine truth, allowing the Word to take deep root, germinate, and flourish. The "hundredfold" harvest symbolizes not only quantitative growth (like conversion of many) but also qualitative transformation within the individual, leading to abundant righteousness, faithfulness, and ministry that brings glory to God. Jesus’ emphatic closing cry, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," serves as a universal and timeless call to all listeners. It is a direct challenge, separating those who passively hear from those who actively and spiritually receive, internalize, and obey the divine message. It signifies that genuine spiritual truth requires active discernment and a willingness to be transformed by what is heard.