Luke 8:4

What does Luke 8:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 8:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 8:4 means

Luke 8:4 sets the scene for Jesus teaching a large crowd, attracted from many nearby towns. The phrase “he spake by a parable” explains that Jesus used a story to communicate spiritual truth. Parables invite hearers to engage imaginatively and morally with kingdom realities. Jesus’ choice to speak this way is intentional: parables reveal truth to those open to it and conceal it from those who will not receive it. The verse highlights the contrast between widespread curiosity about Jesus and the selective nature of true understanding.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when a great number of people came together, and men from every town went out to him, he gave them teaching in the form of a story:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming unto him, he spake by a simile:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when a very great multitude was gathered together and hastened out of the cities, unto him, he spoke by a similitude.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And a great crowd coming together, and those who were coming to him out of each city, he spoke by parable:

Context

This verse transitions from the traveling entourage to a public teaching moment. Having established why people followed Jesus, Luke now focuses on one of Jesus’ most famous parables. The crowd’s size and diversity set up the need for parabolic speech — a method suited to varied listeners and to testing hearts, themes that will be developed in the explanation of the parable.

v.3and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.

v.4This passage

v.5The 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 4:1

    And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.

  • Matthew 13:2

    And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.

Related questions readers ask

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 8:4.