Mark 4 · Verse 19

Mark 4:19

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.
Mark 4:19, King James Version

Mark 4:19 in other translations

BSBbut the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
WEBand the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
ASVand 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.
YLTand 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.
DARBYand the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Mark 4:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in--or "the pleasures of this life" (Lu 8:14). choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful--First, "The cares of this world"--anxious, unrelaxing attention to the business of this present life; second, "The deceitfulness of riches"--of those riches which are the fruit of this worldly "care"; third, "The pleasures of this life," or "the lusts of other things entering in"--the enjoyments in themselves may be innocent, which worldly prosperity enables one to indulge. These "choke" or "smother" the word; drawing off so much of one's attention, absorbing so much of one's interest, and using up so much of one's time, that only the dregs of these remain for spiritual things, and a fagged, hurried, and heartless formalism is at length all the religion of such persons. What a vivid picture is this of the mournful condition of many, especially in great commercial countries, who once promised much fruit! "They bring no fruit to perfection" (Lu 8:14); indicating how much growth there may be, in the early stages of such a case, and promise of fruit--which after all never ripens.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19.

(q) "cares" Lk 14:18-20, 1Timm 6:9,17, 2Ti 4:10 (r) "deceitfulness" Prov 23:5 (s) "lusts" 1Jn 2:16,17 (t) "unfruitful" Isa 5:2,4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 The deceitfulness of riches - This is variously expressed in different copies of the Itala: the errors - delights of the world - completely alienated (abolienati) by the pleasures of the world. The lusts of other things - which have not been included in the anxious cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches. All, all, choke the word!

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 4:19 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.

καὶkaiandG2532
αἱhaitheG3588
μέριμναιmerimnaicaresG3308
τοῦtouof theG3588
αἰῶνοςaiōnosageG165
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
ἀπάτηapatēdeceitG539
τοῦtouof theG3588
πλούτουploutourichesG4149
καὶkaiandG2532
αἱhai<the>G3588
περὶperiofG4012
τὰtatheG3588
λοιπὰloipaother thingsG3062
ἐπιθυμίαιepithumiaidesiresG1939
εἰσπορευόμεναιeisporeuomenaientering inG1531
συμπνίγουσινsumpnigousinthey chokeG4846
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγον,logonword,G3056
καὶkaiandG2532
ἄκαρποςakarposunfruitfulG175
γίνεται.ginetaiit becomes.G1096

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

Cross references for Mark 4:19

  • 1 John 2:15-17

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  • 1 Timothy 6:9-10

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

  • 1 Peter 4:2-3

    That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

  • Philippians 4:6

    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

  • Matthew 19:23

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  • Luke 12:29-30

    And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

  • John 15:2

    Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

  • Luke 21:34

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

  • Luke 10:41

    And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

  • Ecclesiastes 5:10-16

    He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. …

  • Isaiah 5:2

    And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the cares.
Lu 10:41; 12:17-21,29,30; 14:18-20; 21:34; Php 4:6; 2Ti 4:10
the deceitfulness.
Pr 23:5; Ec 4:8; 5:10-16; 1Ti 6:9,10,17
and the lusts.
1Pe 4:2,3; 1Jo 2:15-17
unfruitful.
Isa 5:2,4; Mt 3:10; Joh 15:2; Heb 6:7,8; 2Pe 1:8; Jude 1:12

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

Context

  • Mark 4:18

    And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

  • Mark 4:19

    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.

  • Mark 4:20

    And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas los cuidados de este siglo, y el engaño de las riquezas, y las codicias que hay en las otras cosas, entrando, ahogan la palabra, y se hace infructuosa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et les soucis du siècle, et la tromperie des richesses, et les convoitises à l’égard des autres choses, entrant, étouffent la parole, et elle est sans fruit.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und die Sorgen des Lebens und der Betrug des Reichtums und die Begierde nach den übrigen Dingen kommen hinein und ersticken das Wort, und es bringt keine Frucht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et ærumnæ sæculi, et deceptio divitiarum, et circa reliqua concupiscentiæ introëuntes suffocant verbum, et sine fructu efficitur.