Matthew 13 · Verse 19

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.
Matthew 13:19, King James Version

Matthew 13:19 in other translations

BSBWhen 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.
WEBWhen anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
ASVWhen any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.
YLTEvery one hearing the word of the reign, and not understanding--the evil one doth come, and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.
DARBYFrom every one who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and catches away what was sown in his heart: this is he that is sown by the wayside.
BBEWhen the word of the kingdom comes to anyone, and the sense of it is not clear to him, then the Evil One comes, and quickly takes away that which was put in his heart. He is the seed dropped by the wayside.
WebsterWhen 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 who received seed by the way side.

What does Matthew 13:19 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. When any one heareth, etc. The seed represents the word of God communicated in any manner to the minds of men, by the Scriptures, by preaching, by acts of providence, or by the direct influence of the Holy Spirit.

Then cometh the wicked one. That is, Satan, Mk 4:15 or the devil Lk 8:12 the one eminently wicked, the accuser, the tempter. He is represented by the fowls that came and picked up the seed by the way-side. The gospel is preached to men hardened in sin. It makes no impression. It lies like seed in the hard path; it is easily taken away, and never suffered to take root.

(i) "word of the kingdom" Mt 4:23 (k) "wicked one" 1Jn 2:13,14, 3:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom - Viz. the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. And understandeth it not - Μη συνιεντος, perhaps more properly, regardeth it not, does not lay his heart to it. The wicked one - Ο πονηρος, from πονος, labor, toil, he who distresses and torments the soul. Mark, Mar 4:15, calls him ὁ σατανας, the adversary or opposer, because he resists men in all their purposes of amendment, and, to the utmost of his power opposes, in order to frustrate, the influences of Divine grace upon the heart. In the parallel place in Luke, Luk 8:12, he is called ὁ διαβολος, the devil, from διαβαλλειν, to shoot, or dart through. In allusion to this meaning of the name, St. Paul, Eph 6:16, speaks of the fiery Darts of the wicked one. It is worthy of remark, that the three evangelists should use each a different appellative of this mortal enemy of mankind; probably to show that the devil, with all his powers and properties, opposes every thing that tends to the salvation of the soul. Catcheth away - Makes the utmost haste to pick up the good seed, lest it should take root in the heart. A careless inattentive hearer is compared to the way side - his heart is an open road, where evil affections, and foolish and hurtful desires, continually pass and repass, without either notice or restraint. "A heart where Satan has" (as one terms it) "ingress, egress, regress, and progress: in a word, the devil's thoroughfare."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 13:1-23

The parable of the tares. (24-30; 36-43) The parables of the mustard-seed and the leaven. (31-35) The parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net cast into the sea, and the householder. (44-52) Jesus is again rejected at Nazareth. (53-58) Verses 1-23 Jesus entered into a boat that he might be the less pressed, and be the better heard by the people. By this he teaches us in the outward…

Read the full comment on Matthew 13:1-23 →

Matthew 13:19 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.

παντὸςpantosEveryoneG3956
ἀκούοντοςakouontoshearingG191
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
τῆςtēsof theG3588
βασιλείαςbasileiaskingdomG932
καὶkaiandG2532
μὴmēnotG3361
συνιέντοςsunientosunderstandingG4920
ἔρχεταιerchetaicomesG2064
ὁhotheG3588
πονηρὸςponērosevil oneG4190
καὶkaiandG2532
ἁρπάζειharpazeisnatches awayG726
τὸtothatG3588
ἐσπαρμένονesparmenonhaving been sownG4687
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
καρδίᾳkardiaheartG2588
αὐτοῦ·autouof him;G846
οὗτόςhoutosThisG3778
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhothe [one]G3588
παρὰparaonG3844
τὴνtēntheG3588
ὁδὸνhodonpathG3598
σπαρείς.spareishaving been sown.G4687

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

Cross references for Matthew 13:19

  • Luke 8:11-15

    Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 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. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 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. …

  • Hebrews 2:1

    Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

  • Matthew 13:38

    The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

  • 1 John 5:18

    We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

  • Matthew 4:23

    And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

  • Proverbs 2:1-6

    My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; …

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • Proverbs 18:1-2

    Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

  • 1 John 2:13-14

    I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

  • 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.

  • Romans 1:28

    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

  • Acts 17:32

    And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the word.
4:23; Lu 8:11-15; 9:2; 10:9; Ac 20:25; 28:23; Ro 14:17; 2Co 4:2,3
Eph 3:8
and understandeth.
Pr 1:7,20-22; 2:1-6; 17:16; 18:1,2; Joh 3:19,20; 8:43; 18:38
Ac 17:32; 18:15; 24:25,26; 25:19,20; 26:31,32; Ro 1:28; 2:8; 2Th 2:12
Heb 2:1; 1Jo 5:20
the wicked.
38; Mr 4:15; Lu 8:12; 1Jo 2:13,14; 3:12; 5:18
This.
4

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

Context

  • Matthew 13:18

    Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 13:20

    But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Read all of Matthew 13

Matthew 13:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Oyendo cualquiera la palabra del reino, y no entendiéndola, viene el malo, y arrebata lo que fué sembrado en su corazón: éste es el que fué sembrado junto al camino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Toutes les fois que quelqu’un entend la parole du royaume, et ne la comprend pas, le méchant vient et ravit ce qui est semé dans son cœur; c’est là celui qui a été semé le long du chemin.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So oft jemand das Wort vom Reiche hört und nicht versteht, kommt der Böse und reißt weg, was in sein Herz gesät war; dieser ist es, der an den Weg gesät ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnis qui audit verbum regni, et non intelligit, venit malus, et rapit quod seminatum est in corde ejus: hic est qui secus viam seminatus est.