Luke 8:14
What does Luke 8:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:14 means
Luke 8:14 explains the thorny-ground hearers: they have heard, but as they go on, worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke the word so it does not mature. The verse identifies specific obstacles—anxieties about life, pursuit of wealth, and sensory pleasures—that divert loyalty from God. It is not persecution but the seduction of ordinary life that often stifles spiritual fruit. The verse calls for sober self-assessment about what occupies the heart and cautions that prosperity and comfort can be spiritual hazards if they eclipse devotion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And those which went among thorns are those who have given hearing, and go on their way, but they are overcome by cares and wealth and the pleasures of life, and they give no fruit.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And that which fell to the thorns: These are they who have heard, and going forth, through anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, are choked, and bear not to completion.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And that which fell among thorns are they who have heard and, going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and yield no fruit.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But that that fell where the thorns were, these are they who having heard go away and are choked under cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Context
Placed after the rocky-ground explanation, this verse completes the negative diagnoses of the parable. It prepares the reader for the good-ground example by showing three ways the word fails to bear fruit. The chapter’s movement from problem to solution encourages practical correction: remove thorns so that the seed may grow.
v.13And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
v.14This passage
v.15And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- Luke 18:24
And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
- 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 Timothy 6:9
But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
- 2 Timothy 4:10
for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
- Matthew 13:22
And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
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