Devine Scripture

Mark 4:19

What does Mark 4:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 4:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 4:19 means

The "thorns" are identified as the "cares of the world" (anxieties about daily life), the "deceitfulness of riches" (the false promise of security and satisfaction wealth offers), and the "lusts of other things" (excessive desires for anything apart from God). These worldly concerns intertwine around the Word, choking its life out and preventing it from producing spiritual fruit. They depict a situation where the Word is heard but rendered unfruitful by competing loyalties.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, and the desire for other things coming in, put a stop to the growth of the word, and it gives no fruit.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts after other things entering in choke the word, and it is made fruitless.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Context

This verse provides the specific, detailed explanation of the "thorns" from the previous verse in Jesus' interpretation of the Parable of the Sower. It immediately precedes the discussion of the good ground. This clarification is vital for understanding how worldly distractions and desires can subtly, yet effectively, nullify the power of the Word in a person's life, even after it has been received.

v.18And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,

v.19This passage

v.20And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 21:34

    But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:

  • Philippians 4:6

    In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

  • Matthew 3:10

    And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

  • Luke 12:17

    and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?

  • Isaiah 5:4

    What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

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