Matthew 13 4

Matthew 13:4 kjv

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Matthew 13:4 nkjv

And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

Matthew 13:4 niv

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Matthew 13:4 esv

And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

Matthew 13:4 nlt

As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 4 Meaning

Matthew 13:4 describes the initial failure of the "seed"—the Word of God—to take root when sown upon hardened ground, specifically "by the wayside." This represents a heart that is unreceptive, hardened by life's traffic and unprepared to receive spiritual truth. Before the seed can even begin to germinate, "fowls" (representing the evil one or demonic forces) swiftly come and snatch it away, preventing any understanding, retention, or transformation. It highlights the immediate and total loss of the divine message due to an unprepared listener and spiritual opposition.

Matthew 13 4 Context

This verse is the opening of the "Parable of the Sower" (or soils), which serves as a foundational parable within Jesus' discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 13. Jesus shifts from teaching publicly in a general manner to employing parables to both reveal truth to those with ears to hear and obscure it from those who remain hardened (Mt 13:10-17). This parable immediately addresses why different individuals respond to His message (the Word) in vastly different ways, explaining that the issue lies with the condition of the listener's heart, not the quality of the Word itself or the sower's method.

From an ancient agricultural perspective, sowing involved scattering seeds broadcast over fields. These fields often had well-trodden paths crossing them, compacted by people and animals, which made the ground impervious to seed penetration. Fowls were a constant threat to exposed seeds, quickly devouring them before they could be buried by further sowing or natural means. Jesus used such relatable, everyday agricultural scenarios to illustrate profound spiritual truths to His audience.

Matthew 13 4 Word analysis

• And as he sowed (καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτόν - kai en tō speirein auton):

  • kai ("and"): Connects to Jesus' action of going out to teach.
  • en tō speirein auton: "while he was sowing." This phrase highlights an ongoing, habitual action. The sower's primary act is broadcasting the seed indiscriminately, indicating the widespread proclamation of God's Word. The quality of the seed itself is implicitly perfect.

• some seeds (ἃ μὲν ἔπεσεν - ha men epesen):

  • ha men: "some," specifies a portion, emphasizing that not all seed falls on good ground. It highlights diversity of outcomes.
  • epesen: "fell," implying a natural, undirected landing of the seed. The sower did not intentionally place seeds on the path; it was a consequence of the broadcast method over various terrain. This emphasizes that the varied results are not due to the sower's intention but the ground's nature.

• fell by the way side (παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν - para tēn hodon):

  • para tēn hodon: "alongside the path/road." The Greek hodos here refers to a hard, well-trodden path or public roadway that would have been compact and impenetrable within or adjacent to cultivated fields.
  • Significance: This represents a heart that is hardened, impenetrable to the Word. It implies indifference, superficiality, or outright resistance. There is no depth or softness for the seed to settle or take root.

• and the fowls came (καὶ ἦλθεν τὰ πετεινά - kai ēlthen ta peteina):

  • kai ēlthen: "and came," denotes immediate action, swift in response to exposed seed.
  • ta peteina: "the birds" or "the fowls." In Jesus' explanation in Mt 13:19, these represent "the evil one." The imagery conveys swift, predatory, and decisive destruction of the spiritual opportunity. They symbolize demonic forces or Satan acting as scavengers to prevent any truth from lodging in the heart.

• and devoured them up (καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτά - kai katephagen auta):

  • kai katephagen: "and ate up completely" or "devoured them." The prefix kata- intensifies the verb phagō ("eat"), indicating total consumption or destruction.
  • Significance: This portrays the complete and immediate removal of the Word, preventing even the slightest potential for germination or understanding. There is no lingering impression, no retention, no opportunity for growth. The truth is utterly snatched away.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side": This phrase introduces the scene of indiscriminate sowing by the sower, immediately highlighting that not all efforts yield fruit due to the receiving ground. It points to the objective action of broadcasting truth meeting varied receptivity.
  • "and the fowls came and devoured them up": This describes the immediate consequence for seeds falling on hard ground: spiritual opposition swiftly eradicates the message, leaving no trace. It underscores the active work of the adversary to prevent divine truth from taking hold.

Matthew 13 4 Bonus section

• Initial Emphasis: Jesus begins with the worst-case scenario. By placing the "wayside" hearers first, He highlights the initial and most immediate spiritual failure, setting a stark contrast for the subsequent soil types that show some initial promise before faltering.
• Quality of the Seed: Implicit in the parable is that the seed (the Word of God) is always perfect and powerful. The failure rests solely on the condition of the ground.
• Audience and Accountability: The parable's very telling creates a divide; those who grasp its spiritual meaning begin to cultivate good soil within themselves, while those who dismiss it demonstrate the characteristics of the wayside hearer.
• Active Opposition: The fowls are not passive; they "came" and "devoured." This emphasizes the aggressive and intentional work of the spiritual adversary in actively preventing people from understanding and receiving the truth of the Kingdom.

Matthew 13 4 Commentary

Matthew 13:4 is crucial because it immediately establishes the first and most barren category of soil in the Parable of the Sower, representing a common human response to the Word of God. This ground is not merely resistant but entirely impenetrable. The "wayside" symbolizes a heart so hardened and trodden upon by worldly pursuits, preconceived notions, or outright indifference, that the Word cannot even begin to sink in. It is a heart closed off, unprepared for transformation, and vulnerable.

The "fowls" symbolize Satan, the "evil one," or demonic influences, as Jesus Himself later explains. This illustrates spiritual warfare; the adversary is ever-present and swift to snatch away any spiritual truth that might, even by chance, land on a resistant heart. This removal ensures there is no understanding, no growth, and ultimately no fruit. The emphasis is on the complete and immediate loss of the seed. It serves as a sober warning that without a prepared, open heart, divine revelation is instantly lost to spiritual adversaries, leaving the hearer untouched and unchanged. This part of the parable calls for introspection: how open and receptive is my heart to God's truth?