Luke 8:12
What does Luke 8:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:12 means
Luke 8:12 interprets the path-soil: those who hear but have the devil immediately remove the word from their hearts so they do not believe and are not saved. The verse names an active spiritual adversary at work: the devil opposes God by stealing the message before it takes root. It underscores that unbelief can be the result of external spiritual sabotage as well as internal hardness. The warning is sober: hearing without heart-response leaves people vulnerable to being cut off from salvation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Those 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Those by the side of the road are those who have given hearing; then the Evil One comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not have faith and get salvation.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and those beside the way are those hearing, then cometh the Devil, and taketh up the word from their heart, lest having believed, they may be saved.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they by the way side are they that hear: then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But those by the wayside are those who hear; then comes the devil and takes away the word from their heart that they may not believe and be saved.
Context
This verse follows the seed-identification and gives the first negative outcome’s spiritual cause. It ties back to earlier images of the word being devoured by birds and clarifies that the parable addresses eternal consequences. The chapter’s pastoral tone is cautionary, urging vigilance about how the gospel is received.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 4:15
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.
- Proverbs 1:24
Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
- Luke 8:5
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.
- Isaiah 65:11
But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny;
- Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9
even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
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