And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
And {G1161} some {G243} fell {G4098} among {G1909} thorns {G173}; and {G2532} the thorns {G173} sprung up {G305}, and {G2532} choked {G638} them {G846}:
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:
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Mark 4:18
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, -
Mark 4:19
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. -
Jeremiah 4:3
¶ For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. -
Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings. -
Genesis 3:18
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; -
Matthew 13:22
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Matthew 13:7 is a crucial part of Jesus' Parable of the Sower, detailing the fate of seeds that fall among thorns.
Context
This verse is found within the Parable of the Sower (or Soils), one of Jesus' most significant parables, recorded also in Mark 4:7 and Luke 8:7. Jesus used familiar agricultural imagery to explain how people receive and respond to the "word of the kingdom." In ancient Israel, it was common for fields to contain dormant weeds or thorns that would sprout alongside newly sown crops, competing for vital resources like water, nutrients, and sunlight.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "choked" is apoknigo (ἀποπνίγω), which means to strangle or suffocate, emphasizing the complete suppression of life. The "thorns" (Greek: akantha, ἄκανθα) represent any prickly, hindering growth, vividly illustrating the invasive nature of worldly distractions and spiritual impediments.
Practical Application
This verse serves as a powerful warning for believers to examine their own hearts and lives. What "thorns" might be growing alongside the seed of God's Word? It encourages introspection regarding: