Mark 4:3
New International Version
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

New Living Translation
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.

English Standard Version
“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

Berean Standard Bible
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

Berean Literal Bible
"Listen! Behold, the one sowing went out to sow.

King James Bible
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

New King James Version
“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

New American Standard Bible
“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;

NASB 1995
“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;

NASB 1977
“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;

Legacy Standard Bible
“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;

Amplified Bible
“Listen! A sower went out to sow seed;

Christian Standard Bible
“Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.

American Standard Version
Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:

Contemporary English Version
Now listen! A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field.

English Revised Version
Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Listen! A farmer went to plant seed.

Good News Translation
"Listen! Once there was a man who went out to sow grain.

International Standard Version
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow.

Majority Standard Bible
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

NET Bible
"Listen! A sower went out to sow.

New Heart English Bible
"Listen. Look, the sower who went out to sow.

Webster's Bible Translation
Hearken; Behold, a sower went out to sow:

Weymouth New Testament
"Listen: the sower goes out to sow.

World English Bible
“Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Listen, behold, the sower went forth to sow;

Berean Literal Bible
"Listen! Behold, the one sowing went out to sow.

Young's Literal Translation
'Hearken, lo, the sower went forth to sow;

Smith's Literal Translation
Hear ye; behold, he sowing went out to sow:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Hear ye: Behold, the sower went out to sow.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow.

New American Bible
“Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

New Revised Standard Version
“Listen! A sower went out to sow.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Listen; Behold, a sower went out to sow.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Listen; behold, a sower went out to sow.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Hear; Behold, the sower went forth to sow;

Godbey New Testament
Hear: Behold, a sower went out to sow:

Haweis New Testament
Hear me! Behold, a sower went out to sow;

Mace New Testament
give your attention to what I say, a sower went out to sow: as he sowed,

Weymouth New Testament
"Listen: the sower goes out to sow.

Worrell New Testament
"Hearken! behold the sower went forth to sow.

Worsley New Testament
hearken, Behold a sower went out to sow:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Sower
2And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said, 3“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.…

Cross References
Matthew 13:3-9
And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. / And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. ...

Luke 8:5-8
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. / Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings. ...

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.

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.

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.

Jeremiah 4:3
For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.

John 12:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

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.

Galatians 6:7-9
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. / Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

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.

Hebrews 6:7-8
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. / But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

Ezekiel 36:9
For behold, I am on your side; I will turn toward you, and you will be tilled and sown.

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

Isaiah 28:23-29
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say. / Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? / When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, and rye within its border. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Listen; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Hearken.

Mark 4:9,23
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear…

Mark 7:14,16
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: …

Deuteronomy 4:1
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

there.

Mark 4:14,26-29
The sower soweth the word…

Ecclesiastes 11:6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Isaiah 28:23-26
Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech…

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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.














Listen!
The verse begins with a command to "Listen!" This imperative is a call to attention, urging the audience to focus on the message that follows. In the Greek, the word used is "ἀκούετε" (akouete), which is a present active imperative, suggesting continuous action. It is not merely a passive hearing but an active, engaged listening. This command sets the tone for the parable that Jesus is about to deliver, emphasizing the importance of being receptive to His teachings. In a historical context, rabbis often used such calls to draw attention to important teachings, indicating that what follows is of great significance.

A farmer went out to sow his seed
The phrase "A farmer went out to sow his seed" introduces the parable of the sower. The "farmer" represents anyone who spreads the word of God, but in the immediate context, it is Jesus Himself. The act of "sowing" is a common agricultural practice, familiar to Jesus' audience, making the parable relatable and understandable. The Greek word for "sow" is "σπείρειν" (speirein), which implies scattering seed broadly. This reflects the indiscriminate and generous nature of God's word being spread to all, regardless of the condition of the "soil" or the hearts of the listeners. Historically, sowing was a critical task in agrarian societies, symbolizing the beginning of growth and potential harvest. In a scriptural context, this act of sowing is symbolic of the dissemination of divine truth, inviting reflection on how one receives and nurtures the word of God in their life.

(3) A sower.--Better, the sower.

Verses 3-8. - Hearken (Ακούετε). This word is introduced in St. Mark's narrative only; and it is very suitable to the warning at ver. 9, "he hath ears to hear, let him hear. The sower went forth to sow. The scope of this beautiful parable is this: Christ teaches us that he is the Sower, that is, the great Preacher of the gospel among men.

1. But not all who hear the gospel believe it and receive it; just as some of the seed sown fell by the wayside, on the hard footpath, where it could not penetrate the ground, but lay upon the surface, and so was picked up by the birds.

2. Again, not all who hear and believe persevere in the faith; some fall away; like the seed sown on rocky ground, which springs up indeed, but for want of depth of soil puts forth no root, and is soon scorched by the rising sun, and, being without root, withers away.

3. But further, not all who show faith bring forth the fruit of good works; like the seed sown among the thorns, which, growing up together with it, choked it (συνέπνιξαν αὐτὸ); such is the meaning. St. Luke has the words (συμφυεῖσαι αἱ ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν), "the thorns grew up with it and choked it." . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Listen!
Ἀκούετε (Akouete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

A
(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.

went out
ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

to sow his seed.
σπεῖραι (speirai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4687: To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow.


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