A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

LUKE 8:5KJV
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Luke 8:5 (KJV)

What does Luke 8:5 mean?

Luke 8:5 describes a person scattering seed, and as he does, some of the seed lands on the path, where it gets stepped on and eaten by birds. This verse sets up the beginning of Jesus’ parable about a sower, showing how not all seed finds good soil or survives.

Jesus is speaking to a crowd, using a familiar farming image to explain a deeper spiritual truth. The sower represents someone spreading a message, and the seed is that message. The detail about seed falling on the path and being devoured highlights how some people hear the message but it never takes root, because it is quickly lost or taken away.

The Greek behind Luke 8:5

  • σπείρων (speirōn, "sower"): This word refers to someone actively scattering seed, emphasizing the intentional action of spreading something valuable.
  • παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν (para tēn hodon, "by the way side"): This phrase means right next to or along the road, suggesting a hard, well-trodden place where seed cannot easily grow.
  • καταπατέω (katapateō, "trodden down"): This word means to be trampled underfoot, showing that the seed is not just ignored but actively destroyed by people passing by.
  • τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (ta peteina tou ouranou, "the fowls of the air"): This phrase refers to birds coming down from above, quickly eating up what is left exposed, which adds to the sense of loss and vulnerability for the seed.

Why Luke 8:5 matters

  • Luke 8:5 helps readers understand that not every effort to share a message will succeed; some will be lost before they even have a chance to grow.
  • The verse introduces the theme of different responses to the same message, which Jesus will explain further in the parable.
  • By describing the seed's fate on the path, Luke 8:5 prepares the reader to think about the reasons why some people do not respond to spiritual teaching.

Where else these words appear

“seed” Greek G4703 · used in 5 verses

  • Mark 4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
  • Mark 4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
  • Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

“down” Greek G2662 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
  • Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
  • Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

“fowls” Greek G4071 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
  • 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.
  • Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

“devoured” Greek G2719 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
  • Luke 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
  • Revelation 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.