Luke 8:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

Complete Jewish Bible:

After a large crowd had gathered from the people who kept coming to him from town after town, Yeshua told this parable:

Berean Standard Bible:

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable:

American Standard Version:

And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And{G1161} when much{G4183} people{G3793} were gathered together{G4896}, and{G2532} were come{G1975} to{G4314} him{G846} out of every{G2596} city{G4172}, he spake{G2036} by{G1223} a parable{G3850}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Mark 4:1

  • ¶ And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

Mark 4:9

  • And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:2

  • And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Matthew 13:9

  • Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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Commentary for Luke 8:4

Luke 8:4 captures a moment in the ministry of Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament. The verse sets the stage for one of Jesus's well-known teachings, the Parable of the Sower, which follows in the subsequent verses. The historical context places us in the region of Galilee during the early part of Jesus's public ministry. At this time, Jesus had already gained a reputation as a teacher and healer, attracting large crowds from various cities, a testament to His growing influence and the widespread interest in His message.

The themes present in this verse include the popular appeal of Jesus's teachings and His method of imparting spiritual truths through parables—a storytelling technique that uses everyday experiences to convey deeper moral and religious lessons. Parables were a common teaching tool among Jewish rabbis, and Jesus effectively employed them to make His message more accessible and memorable. The gathering of people from different cities also speaks to the inclusive nature of Jesus's ministry, reaching out to a diverse audience regardless of their social or geographical background.

In the broader context of Luke's Gospel, this verse is part of the narrative that emphasizes Jesus's role as a teacher and prophet, illustrating how He engaged with the multitudes who sought to understand God's kingdom. Luke, as a physician and historian, was particularly interested in recording the details of Jesus's interactions with people from all walks of life, highlighting the universality of Jesus's message and the transformative power of His words.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G1161
    There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: δέ
    Transliteration:
    Pronunciation: deh
    Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
  2. Strong's Number: G4183
    There are 331 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πολύς
    Transliteration: polýs
    Pronunciation: pol-oos'
    Description: including the forms from the alternate ; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare πλεῖστος, πλείων.
  3. Strong's Number: G3793
    There are 170 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὄχλος
    Transliteration: óchlos
    Pronunciation: okh'los
    Description: from a derivative of ἔχω (meaning a vehicle); a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot:--company, multitude, number (of people), people, press.
  4. Strong's Number: G4896
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: σύνειμι
    Transliteration: sýneimi
    Pronunciation: soon'-i-mee
    Description: from σύν and (to go); to assemble:--gather together.
  5. Strong's Number: G2532
    There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καί
    Transliteration: kaí
    Pronunciation: kahee
    Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
  6. Strong's Number: G1975
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐπιπορεύομαι
    Transliteration: epiporeúomai
    Pronunciation: ep-ee-por-yoo'-om-ahee
    Description: from ἐπί and πορεύομαι; to journey further, i.e. travel on (reach):--come.
  7. Strong's Number: G4314
    There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πρός
    Transliteration: prós
    Pronunciation: pros
    Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
  8. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
  9. Strong's Number: G2596
    There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κατά
    Transliteration: katá
    Pronunciation: kat-ah'
    Description: a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from … to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), … by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.
  10. Strong's Number: G4172
    There are 155 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πόλις
    Transliteration: pólis
    Pronunciation: pol'-is
    Description: probably from the same as πόλεμος, or perhaps from πολύς; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.
  11. Strong's Number: G2036
    There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔπω
    Transliteration: épō
    Pronunciation: ep'-o
    Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
  12. Strong's Number: G1223
    There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: διά
    Transliteration: diá
    Pronunciation: dee-ah'
    Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
  13. Strong's Number: G3850
    There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παραβολή
    Transliteration: parabolḗ
    Pronunciation: par-ab-ol-ay'
    Description: from παραβάλλω; a similitude ("parable"), i.e. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage:--comparison, figure, parable, proverb.