Mark 4 · Verse 7

Mark 4:7

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Mark 4:7, King James Version

Mark 4:7 in other translations

BSBOther seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
WEBOthers fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
ASVAnd other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
YLTand other fell toward the thorns, and the thorns did come up, and choke it, and fruit it gave not;
DARBYAnd another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
BBEAnd some went among the thorns, and the thorns came up, and it had no room for growth and gave no fruit.
WebsterAnd some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

What does Mark 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit--This case is that of ground not thoroughly cleaned of the thistles, &c.; which, rising above the good seed, "choke" or "smother" it, excluding light and air, and drawing away the moisture and richness of the soil. Hence it "becomes unfruitful" (Mt 13:22); it grows, but its growth is checked, and it never ripens. The evil here is neither a hard nor a shallow soil--there is softness enough, and depth enough; but it is the existence in it of what draws all the moisture and richness of the soil away to itself, and so starves the plant. What now are these "thorns?" See on Mr 4:19. Fourth Case: The Good Ground. (Mr 4:8, 20).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7.

(c) "among thorns" Jer 4:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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 4:7 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
ἄλλοallootherG243
ἔπεσενepesenfellG4098
εἰςeisamongG1519
τὰςtastheG3588
ἀκάνθας,akanthasthorns,G173
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀνέβησανanebēsangrew upG305
αἱhaitheG3588
ἄκανθαιakanthaithornsG173
καὶkaiandG2532
συνέπνιξανsunepnixanchokedG4846
αὐτό,autoit,G846
καὶkaiandG2532
καρπὸνkarponfruitG2590
οὐκouknoG3756
ἔδωκεν.edōkenit yielded.G1325

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

Cross references for Mark 4:7

  • Jeremiah 4:3

    For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

  • 1 John 2:15-16

    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.

  • Genesis 3:17-18

    And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

  • Luke 12:15

    And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

  • 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 8:14

    And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 13:22

    He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

  • Luke 8:7

    And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

  • Mark 4:18-19

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

  • Matthew 13:7

    And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
18,19; Ge 3:17,18; Jer 4:3; Mt 13:7,22; Lu 8:7,14; 12:15; 21:34
1Ti 6:9,10; 1Jo 2:15,16

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

Context

  • Mark 4:6

    But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

  • Mark 4:7

    And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

  • Mark 4:8

    And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y otra parte cayó en espinas; y subieron las espinas, y la ahogaron, y no dió fruto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et d’autres tombèrent dans les épines; et les épines montèrent et les étouffèrent, et ils ne donnèrent pas de fruit.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und anderes fiel unter die Dornen; und die Dornen schossen auf und erstickten es, und es gab keine Frucht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et aliud cecidit in spinas: et ascenderunt spinæ, et suffocaverunt illud, et fructum non dedit.