Mark 4 · Verse 15

Mark 4:15

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mark 4:15, King James Version

Mark 4:15 in other translations

BSBSome 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.
WEBThe ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
ASVAnd these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.
YLTand these are they by the way where the word is sown: and whenever they may hear, immediately cometh the Adversary, and he taketh away the word that hath been sown in their hearts.
DARBYand these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
BBEAnd these are they by the wayside, where the word is planted; and when they have given ear, the Evil One comes straight away and takes away the word which has been planted in them.
WebsterAnd these are they by the way-side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

What does Mark 4:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but, when they have heard, &c.--or, more fully (Mt 13:19), "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." The great truth here taught is, that hearts all unbroken and hard are no fit soil for saving truth. They apprehend it not (Mt 13:19) as God's means of restoring them to Himself; it penetrates not, makes no impression, but lies loosely on the surface of the heart, till the wicked one--afraid of losing a victim by his "believing to salvation" (Lu 8:12)--finds some frivolous subject by whose greater attractions to draw off the attention, and straightway it is gone. Of how many hearers of the word is this the graphic but painful history!

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15.

(l) "Satan cometh" 1Pet 5:8, Rev 12:9 (m) "away the word" Heb 2:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 These are they - Probably our Lord here refers to the people to whom he had just now preached, and who, it is likely, did not profit by the word spoken. Where the word is sown - Instead of this clause, four copies of the Itala read the place thus - They who are sown by the way side, are they Who Receive The Word Negligently. There are thousands of this stamp in the Christian world. Reader, art thou one of them?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 4:1-20

This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. In the great…

Read the full comment on Mark 4:1-20 →

Mark 4:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὗτοιhoutoiTheseG3778
δέdenowG1161
εἰσινeisinareG1510
οἱhoitheyG3588
παρὰparaalongG3844
τὴνtēntheG3588
ὁδὸνhodonroadG3598
ὅπουhopouwhereG3699
σπείρεταιspeiretaiis sownG4687
ὁhotheG3588
λόγος,logosword,G3056
καὶkaiandG2532
ὅτανhotanwhenG3752
ἀκούσωσιν,akousōsinthey may hear,G191
εὐθὺςeuthusimmediatelyG2112
ἔρχεταιerchetaicomesG2064
ὁho<the>G3588
σατανᾶςsatanasSatanG4567
καὶkaiandG2532
αἴρειaireitakes awayG142
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἐσπαρμένονesparmenonsownG4687
εἰςeisinG1519
ταῖςtais<the>G3588
καρδίαιςkardiaisheartsG2588
αὐτούς.autousthem.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 4:15

  • 1 Peter 5:8

    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

  • Matthew 13:19

    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.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:11

    Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

  • Luke 8:12

    Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

    But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

  • Mark 4:4

    And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

  • Acts 5:3

    But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

  • Luke 14:18-19

    And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

  • Isaiah 53:1

    Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

  • Revelation 20:7

    And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

  • Job 1:6-12

    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? …

  • Matthew 22:5

    But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
these. See on ver.
4; Ge 19:14; Isa 53:1; Mt 22:5; Lu 8:12; 14:18,19
Ac 17:18-20,32; 18:14-17; 25:19,20; 26:31,32; Heb 2:1; 12:16
Satan.
Job 1:6-12; Zec 3:1; Mt 13:19; Ac 5:3; 2Co 2:11; 4:3,4
2Th 2:9; 1Pe 5:8; Re 12:9; 20:2,3,7,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 4:14

    The sower soweth the word.

  • Mark 4:15

    And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

  • Mark 4:16

    And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y éstos son los de junto al camino: en los que la palabra es sembrada: mas después que la oyeron, luego viene Satanás, y quita la palabra que fué sembrada en sus corazones.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ce sont ici ceux qui sont le long du chemin, là où la parole est semée; et quand ils ont entendu, Satan vient aussitôt et ravit la parole semée en eux.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Diese aber sind die an dem Wege: wo das Wort gesät wird und, wenn sie es hören, alsbald der Satan kommt und das Wort wegnimmt, das in ihre Herzen gesät war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Hi autem sunt, qui circa viam, ubi seminatur verbum, et cum audierint, confestim venit Satanas, et aufert verbum, quod seminatum est in cordibus eorum.