Luke 8:5

KJV

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

KJV (with Strong's)

A sower {G4687} went out {G1831} to sow {G4687} his {G846} seed {G4703}: and {G2532} as {G1722} he {G846} sowed {G4687}, some {G3739}{G3303} fell {G4098} by {G3844} the way side {G3598}; and {G2532} it was trodden down {G2662}, and {G2532} the fowls {G4071} of the air {G3772} devoured {G2719} it {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the path and was stepped on, and the birds flying around ate it up.

Berean Standard Bible

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.

American Standard Version

The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 8:5 introduces the opening scene of Jesus' pivotal Parable of the Sower, often more accurately termed the Parable of the Soils. This verse vividly depicts the initial scattering of seed, illustrating the indiscriminate proclamation of God's Word, and immediately highlights the first type of unreceptive ground: the hardened path where the seed is trampled and consumed by birds, symbolizing a heart that fails to retain the divine message.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 8:5 is the inaugural verse of the Parable of the Sower, recounted by Jesus to a large crowd (Luke 8:4). This parable serves as a foundational teaching within Luke's Gospel, immediately preceding Jesus' explanation of why He teaches in parables (Luke 8:9-10) and His direct interpretation of the parable itself (Luke 8:11-15). It is followed by the Parable of the Lamp (Luke 8:16-18), which reinforces the theme of hearing and understanding the Word. The parables in this chapter collectively emphasize the importance of a receptive heart to the Kingdom message, setting the stage for subsequent narratives about Jesus' power and authority over nature, demons, disease, and even death.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Galilee was an agrarian society, making agricultural parables highly relatable to Jesus' audience. Farmers would often sow seeds by hand, scattering them broadly across fields that frequently had unplowed paths running through them, hardened by foot traffic. These paths were not separate from the fields but integral to them, making the scenario of seed falling "by the way side" a common and observable occurrence. Birds were also a constant presence, readily devouring exposed seeds. This immediate, tangible imagery allowed Jesus to convey profound spiritual truths using familiar daily experiences, grounding His abstract teachings in concrete reality.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Luke and the broader Gospels. Primarily, it introduces the theme of **receptivity to the Word of God**, highlighting that while the message is sown indiscriminately, its effectiveness depends entirely on the condition of the hearer's heart. It also subtly introduces the theme of **spiritual opposition**, as the "fowls of the air" foreshadow the spiritual enemy's work in snatching away the truth, a concept explicitly revealed in Jesus' interpretation in [Luke 8:12](/luke/8-12 "Luke 8:12 - Interpretation of the Way Side Soil"). The parable as a whole, initiated by this verse, underscores the **sovereignty of God in sowing His Word** and the **responsibility of humanity in receiving it**, a tension found throughout the [Gospel narratives](/luke/8 "Luke 8 - Parables and Miracles").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sowed (Greek, _speírō'_):** G4687. This verb means "to scatter, i.e., sow (literally or figuratively)." In the context of Luke 8:5, it describes the action of the sower generously and widely scattering the seed. Figuratively, as Jesus explains in [Luke 8:11](/luke/8-11 "Luke 8:11 - The Seed is the Word of God"), this "seed" represents "the word of God." The act of sowing, therefore, symbolizes the widespread proclamation of the Gospel message to all people, without discrimination based on their potential receptivity.
* **trodden down (Greek, _katapatéō'_):** G2662. Derived from `katá` (down) and `patéō` (to tread), this word literally means "to trample down." Its use here emphasizes the utter lack of protection and respect for the seed that falls on the "way side." The seed is not merely exposed; it is actively crushed and rendered incapable of germination by the constant passage of feet. Spiritually, this signifies the hardening of the heart by worldly pressures, indifference, or active rejection, which prevents the Word from penetrating or taking root.
* **devoured (Greek, _katesthíō'_):** G2719. This verb means "to eat down, i.e., devour (literally or figuratively)." It describes the swift and complete consumption of the exposed seed by the "fowls of the air." The imagery suggests a rapid and irreversible loss. In Jesus' interpretation in [Luke 8:12](/luke/8-12 "Luke 8:12 - The Devil Steals the Word"), these "fowls" represent the devil, who comes and "takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." This highlights the spiritual warfare involved in the reception of God's Word, where the enemy actively seeks to steal the truth before it can bear fruit.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"A sower went out to sow his seed:"** This opening clause establishes the main character and his primary action. The "sower" (implicitly, Jesus or His messengers) initiates the process of disseminating the "seed" (the word of God). The act of "going out" signifies an intentional, active, and expansive mission to spread the message.
* **"and as he sowed, some fell by the way side;"** This describes the first outcome of the sowing. The "way side" refers to the hardened path running through a field, compacted by foot traffic. This ground is unreceptive, unable to allow the seed to penetrate and take root. This immediately introduces the theme of varied receptivity to the message.
* **"and it was trodden down,"** This phrase emphasizes the fate of the seed on the hardened path. It is not merely left exposed but actively crushed and destroyed by those passing by. This imagery powerfully conveys the idea of the Word being disregarded, disrespected, or overwhelmed by the cares and activities of the world, preventing any possibility of growth.
* **"and the fowls of the air devoured it."** This final clause describes the complete removal of the seed. The "fowls of the air" swiftly consume what remains, ensuring that no trace of the seed's potential remains. This symbolizes the spiritual enemy's immediate intervention to snatch away the Word from hearts that are hardened and therefore vulnerable.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 8:5 is rich in **Symbolism**, a hallmark of parabolic teaching. The **sower** symbolizes anyone who proclaims the Word of God, whether Jesus Himself or His disciples. The **seed** is explicitly identified by Jesus as "the word of God" ([Luke 8:11](/luke/8-11 "Luke 8:11 - The Seed is the Word of God")). The **"way side"** represents a specific type of human heart—one that is hardened, unreceptive, and resistant to the truth. The actions of being "trodden down" and "devoured" by the "fowls of the air" (**Symbolism** for the devil or his agents, as clarified in [Luke 8:12](/luke/8-12 "Luke 8:12 - The Devil Steals the Word")) vividly portray the immediate loss of the Word from such hearts. The entire verse functions as **Imagery**, painting a clear, agricultural picture that allows the audience to visualize the scenario and grasp the spiritual implications.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 8:5 introduces a profound theological truth: the universal and generous proclamation of God's Word, coupled with the varied human responses to it. While the sower casts the seed broadly, its effectiveness is contingent not on the sower's effort or the seed's inherent power, but on the condition of the soil—the human heart. This highlights divine initiative in revelation and human responsibility in reception. The immediate loss of the seed on the "way side" underscores the reality of spiritual opposition and the vulnerability of the Word when it encounters an unreceptive heart, emphasizing the critical need for understanding and guarding the truth.

* [Matthew 13:4](/matthew/13-4 "Matthew 13:4 - The Seed by the Wayside")
* [Mark 4:4](/mark/4-4 "Mark 4:4 - The Seed by the Wayside")
* [Hebrews 4:7](/hebrews/4-7 "Hebrews 4:7 - Hardening Your Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 8:5 serves as a potent mirror, inviting us to examine the condition of our own hearts as recipients of God's Word. Are we like the hardened "way side," allowing the truths of the Gospel to merely skim the surface of our lives, quickly trampled by the demands of the world or snatched away by spiritual distractions? This verse challenges us to cultivate a receptive heart, one that is soft, open, and prepared to receive, understand, and retain the life-giving seed of God's truth. It also reminds us of the constant spiritual battle for our minds and hearts, urging us to be vigilant against the enemy's attempts to steal the Word before it can take root and transform us. Our spiritual growth, and indeed our salvation, hinges on our active engagement with, and protection of, the divine message.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What might be "hardening" the "way side" in my own heart, preventing God's Word from taking root?**
* **How can I actively guard my heart and mind against spiritual distractions or attacks that seek to "devour" the Word I hear?**
* **In what ways can I cultivate a more receptive and fertile "soil" for the Word of God in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What does "the way side" symbolize in this parable?**

Answer: In the Parable of the Sower, "the way side" (Greek: _para ten hodon_) symbolizes a hardened, unreceptive heart. Just as a path running through a field becomes compacted and impenetrable due to constant foot traffic, preventing seeds from taking root, so too can a human heart become hardened by indifference, cynicism, distractions, or a lack of understanding. This type of heart hears the Word of God but does not allow it to penetrate deeply, making it vulnerable to being "trodden down" and quickly "devoured" by spiritual opposition, as explained in [Luke 8:12](/luke/8-12 "Luke 8:12 - The Meaning of the Way Side Soil").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Luke 8:5 describes a scene of loss and unreceptivity, it is profoundly Christ-centered in its broader context. Jesus Himself is the ultimate Sower, the one who "went out" from the Father to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He is the very "Word of God" (as described in [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God")), the living seed sown into the world. The tragic outcome for the seed on the "way side" foreshadows the rejection Jesus would face from many hardened hearts during His earthly ministry, particularly from those who heard His teachings but refused to believe ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). Yet, Jesus' mission was not deterred by such unreceptivity; rather, He continued to sow the seed, ultimately offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice, ensuring that the "word of the cross" ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")) would be sown for all humanity, providing the opportunity for all who believe to become fertile ground for eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 2:1

¶ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip.

Mark 4:15

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

James 1:23

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

James 1:24

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Luke 8:11

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Luke 8:12

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.

Genesis 15:11

And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.