Mark 4:14
New International Version
The farmer sows the word.

New Living Translation
The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

English Standard Version
The sower sows the word.

Berean Standard Bible
The farmer sows the word.

Berean Literal Bible
The one sowing sows the word.

King James Bible
The sower soweth the word.

New King James Version
The sower sows the word.

New American Standard Bible
The sower sows the word.

NASB 1995
“The sower sows the word.

NASB 1977
“The sower sows the word.

Legacy Standard Bible
The sower sows the word.

Amplified Bible
The sower sows the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation].

Christian Standard Bible
The sower sows the word.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The sower sows the word.

American Standard Version
The sower soweth the word.

Contemporary English Version
What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom.

English Revised Version
The sower soweth the word.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The farmer plants the word.

Good News Translation
The sower sows God's message.

International Standard Version
The farmer sows the word.

Majority Standard Bible
The farmer sows the word.

NET Bible
The sower sows the word.

New Heart English Bible
The farmer sows the word.

Webster's Bible Translation
The sower soweth the word.

Weymouth New Testament
"What the sower sows is the Message.

World English Bible
The farmer sows the word.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He who is sowing sows the word;

Berean Literal Bible
The one sowing sows the word.

Young's Literal Translation
He who is sowing doth sow the word;

Smith's Literal Translation
He sowing sows the word.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that soweth, soweth the word.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He who sows, sows the word.

New American Bible
The sower sows the word.

New Revised Standard Version
The sower sows the word.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The sower who sowed, sowed the word.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“The sower, who sowed, sowed the word.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
The sower sows the word.

Godbey New Testament
The sower sows the word.

Haweis New Testament
The sower soweth the word.

Mace New Testament
the sower is he that soweth the word.

Weymouth New Testament
"What the sower sows is the Message.

Worrell New Testament
The sower sows the word.

Worsley New Testament
The sower is he that soweth the word. And these are they by the way-side:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Sower Explained
13Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.…

Cross References
Matthew 13:18-23
Consider, then, the parable of the sower: / When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. / The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ...

Luke 8:11-15
Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. / The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. / The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. ...

Isaiah 55:10-11
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. / He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. ...

James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...

1 Peter 1:23-25
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. / For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, / but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Jeremiah 31:27
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and of beast.

Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Proverbs 11:18
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.


Treasury of Scripture

The sower sows the word.

sower.

Mark 4:3
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Isaiah 32:20
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

Matthew 13:19,37
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side…

the word.

Mark 2:2
And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

Colossians 1:5,6
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; …

1 Peter 1:23-25
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever…

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Farmer Message Seed Sow Sower Soweth Sowing Sows Word
Mark 4
1. The parable of the sower,
14. and the meaning thereof.
21. We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others.
26. The parable of the seed growing secretly;
30. and of the mustard seed.
35. Jesus stills the storm on the sea.














The farmer
In the context of Mark 4:14, "the farmer" represents anyone who spreads the message of God, most directly Jesus Himself, but also His disciples and all believers who share the Gospel. The Greek word used here is "σπείρων" (speirōn), which means "one who sows." Historically, farming was a common occupation in ancient Israel, and Jesus often used agricultural metaphors to communicate spiritual truths. This imagery would have been easily understood by His audience, who were familiar with the hard work and patience required in farming. The farmer's role is active and intentional, emphasizing the responsibility of believers to actively share the Gospel.

sows
The act of sowing, from the Greek "σπείρω" (speirō), involves scattering seeds with the hope that they will take root and grow. This action is deliberate and purposeful, symbolizing the intentional dissemination of God's Word. In the historical context, sowing was a critical step in the agricultural process, requiring faith that the seeds would eventually yield a harvest. Spiritually, this reflects the faith and hope that believers must have when sharing the Gospel, trusting that God will bring growth in His time.

the word
"The word" refers to the message of the Kingdom of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Greek term "λόγος" (logos) is used here, which can mean "word," "message," or "reason." In the scriptural context, "logos" is not just any word but the divine message of salvation and truth. John 1:1 identifies Jesus Himself as the "Logos," the living Word of God. This highlights the power and authority of the message being sown. Historically, the Word of God has been the foundation of Christian teaching and the means by which God reveals Himself to humanity. The emphasis on "the word" underscores its centrality in the life of faith and the mission of the Church.

Verse 14. -The sower soweth the word. St. Matthew (Matthew 13:19) calls it "the word of the kingdom" - an expression equivalent to "the gospel of the kingdom," not merely moral truth, but spiritual and eternal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
(Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

farmer
σπείρων (speirōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4687: To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow.

sows
σπείρει (speirei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4687: To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word.
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.


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NT Gospels: Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 4:13
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