Bible Strands
Matthew 13:4
And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a crowd while recounting a parable, continuing the narrative of a farmer who has just gone out to sow. The moment occurs between the introduction of the sower and the description of the next ground condition.
The words — The Greek ἔπεσεν (epesen) literally means "fell," recording the seed's descent, while ἃ (ha) specifies "some" of that scattered portion. These terms anchor the physical action before any spiritual application.
The thread — The text explicitly reappears in the parable's interpretation at Matthew 13:18, which directs listeners to consider how the fallen seed corresponds to the initial reception of the word. The passage functions as the first case study in a four-part explanation.
Why it lands — The text states that scattered seed meets the path and is immediately eaten by birds. The reader must identify whether their own attention remains exposed to immediate loss rather than taking root.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Cross-references
- Matthew 13:18 Consider, then, the parable of the sower: