Mark 4:3 kjv
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
Mark 4:3 nkjv
"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
Mark 4:3 niv
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 4:3 esv
"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
Mark 4:3 nlt
"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.
Mark 4 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Parallels | ||
| Mt 13:3 | Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow." | Matthew's parallel account of the parable. |
| Lk 8:5 | “A sower went out to sow his seed..." | Luke's parallel account of the parable. |
| The Call to Listen & Hear | ||
| Deut 6:4 | “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | The "Shema," fundamental call to listen and obey God. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding...'" | Foreshadows spiritual dullness and hardening of hearts. |
| Ezek 12:2 | “Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but do not see, who have ears to hear, but do not hear..." | Highlights spiritual blindness and deafness. |
| Ps 95:7-8 | "...Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Emphasizes the urgency of responsive hearing. |
| Prov 1:5 | “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance..." | Encourages receptive wisdom. |
| Jer 5:21 | “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not..." | Reproach for failure to discern God's word. |
| Jn 8:47 | “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." | Connects hearing God's words to belonging to God. |
| Rev 2:7 | “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Repeated command for spiritual discernment. |
| Rom 10:17 | So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. | Directly links hearing God's Word to salvation. |
| Sowing the Word / Gospel | ||
| Mk 4:14 | The sower sows the word. | Jesus' own interpretation of the "seed." |
| Isa 55:10-11 | “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth." | God's word always accomplishes its purpose. |
| Jas 1:21 | "...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." | Describes the "seed" as the word received. |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | For you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. | The "imperishable seed" is God's living Word. |
| Acts 8:4 | Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. | Disciples carrying on the "sowing" mission. |
| The Act of Sowing | ||
| Ps 126:5-6 | Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. He who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing, will come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. | Spiritual labor and eventual harvest. |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Principles of spiritual investment. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Spiritual consequence of one's actions. |
| Hos 10:12 | Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. | Encouragement to cultivate receptive hearts. |
| Christ as the Sower / Source | ||
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory... | The ultimate Sower and His Word personified. |
| Jn 3:16-17 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son... | God sending forth His Son (the ultimate Sower) into the world. |
Mark 4 verses
Mark 4 3 Meaning
Mark 4:3 is a foundational verse introducing the Parable of the Sower. It is a direct command from Jesus, "Listen!", compelling the audience to give their full attention. The subsequent statement, "A sower went out to sow," sets the stage for an agricultural analogy that reveals how God's Word is proclaimed and how people receive it. This verse highlights the proactive nature of disseminating divine truth and the crucial requirement of attentive hearing from those who receive it.
Mark 4 3 Context
Mark 4 opens with Jesus teaching a large crowd by the Sea of Galilee. Because of the vast numbers, He sits in a boat just offshore, using the natural acoustics of the bay. This specific verse, Mark 4:3, initiates what is known as the Parable of the Sower, the first of several parables Jesus tells in this chapter concerning the Kingdom of God. It's significant because it sets a pattern for Jesus' teaching method: speaking in parables to both reveal spiritual truth to those with ears to hear, and conceal it from those with hardened hearts (as explained later in Mk 4:10-12). The immediate historical context is Jesus' active ministry, gathering followers, and increasingly encountering both receptivity and resistance to His message among diverse groups in first-century Galilee.
Mark 4 3 Word analysis
- "Listen!" (Greek: Akouete - ἀκούετε):
- This is an imperative verb in the present tense, demanding continuous attention and active engagement, not merely passive hearing.
- It's a common opening for Jesus, emphasizing the gravity and importance of what follows.
- The act of hearing (akouo) in the biblical sense often implies understanding and obedience, not just auditory perception. This echoes the Old Testament's Shema (Hear, O Israel), calling for complete spiritual attentiveness to God's commandments and teaching (Deut 6:4-5).
- "A sower" (Greek: Ho speirōn - ὁ σπείρων):
- Literally, "the one sowing." The definite article "the" combined with a present participle emphasizes the general and habitual action of "a sower," making it a universal archetype rather than a specific individual initially.
- This sets up the agricultural imagery, instantly relatable to an agrarian society.
- Though initially generic, Jesus later identifies the "sower" as the one who "sows the word" (Mk 4:14), primarily himself, but also anyone who proclaims the Gospel.
- "went out" (Greek: exēlthen - ἐξῆλθεν):
- A common verb meaning "to come out, go forth, proceed." In the context of the sower, it implies leaving a customary dwelling (perhaps the house or barn where seed is kept) and going to the field.
- For Jesus, this "going out" represents His active and deliberate engagement in ministry, extending His teaching beyond traditional settings (like synagogues) to the common people, often in open-air environments like the seashore (Mk 4:1). It signifies proactive mission and accessibility of the message.
- The term also subtly evokes a deeper theological meaning: God's initiative in revealing Himself and sending His Son into the world.
- "to sow" (Greek: speirai - σπεῖραι):
- An aorist infinitive indicating purpose. The primary action and intention of the sower.
- It literally means "to scatter seed," an image deeply ingrained in the lives of Jesus' audience.
- The act of sowing is an act of hope and faith, expecting future growth and harvest, but also acknowledging potential loss. This metaphor directly leads to the different outcomes of the "seed" (the Word of God) on various "soils" (human hearts).
- Word-group Analysis:
- "Listen! A sower went out": This powerful opening immediately establishes a speaker (Jesus), a command to hear (listen intently), and the introduction of a character engaged in a fundamental agricultural activity (the sower). It draws the audience's full attention to the impending allegory, which will reveal truths about their spiritual lives.
- "A sower went out to sow": This phrase simply describes a common, observable action in that time. Yet, its very commonness allows it to become a profound symbol for the active, intentional dissemination of the Word of God by Jesus and His followers. It highlights the divine initiative and persistence in making known the good news.
Mark 4 3 Bonus section
The agricultural setting of Jesus' parables was particularly effective for His agrarian audience. Sowing was a foundational activity, deeply understood by everyone. This choice of metaphor grounds spiritual truth in everyday experience. Furthermore, the act of "going out" by the sower emphasizes that God's truth is not passive or hidden; it is actively, indeed pro-actively, proclaimed. This concept foreshadows the Great Commission, where disciples are commanded to "go out" and make disciples of all nations, continually "sowing" the word (Mt 28:19-20). The call to "Listen!" in this verse highlights the critical role of personal responsiveness in salvation and spiritual growth. The effectiveness of the word depends not on the sower or the word itself, but on the preparedness of the heart.
Mark 4 3 Commentary
Mark 4:3 serves as the critical prologue to Jesus' teaching on the reception of the Word of God. The emphatic command "Listen!" underscores the profound importance and urgency of the message. This isn't just a physical hearing, but a call to spiritual attentiveness, inviting active participation and deep reflection on the divine truths presented. The simple image of "a sower went out to sow" immediately transports the audience to a familiar agricultural scene, providing a relatable entry point into complex spiritual concepts. It prefigures the diligent and pervasive spread of God's Word, demonstrating the consistent, universal nature of its proclamation despite varying outcomes in human hearts. It is an invitation to engage with Jesus' teaching not just intellectually, but existentially, probing the readiness of one's own heart to receive the sown seed.