Luke 8:7 (KJV)

What does Luke 8:7 mean?

Luke 8:7 describes how some of the sower’s seed fell among thorns, and as both the seed and the thorns grew together, the thorns crowded out the seed and stopped it from thriving. This verse uses the image of plants being choked by weeds to show how certain things can prevent growth or success.

In this part of Luke, Jesus is telling a parable—a story with a deeper meaning—to a crowd. The sower’s seed represents a message being given, and the different types of ground show different responses. Here, the focus is on how outside pressures or distractions (pictured as thorns) can overwhelm and stifle what was meant to grow, setting up a lesson that Jesus explains later in the chapter.

The Greek behind Luke 8:7

• ἄκανθαι (akanthai, "thorns"): This word refers to prickly plants or weeds that compete with crops. The Greek highlights the idea of something harmful growing right alongside what is good, not just nearby.
• συνέπνιξαν (synepnixan, "choked"): This verb means to press together or crowd so tightly that something cannot breathe or grow. The Greek here emphasizes a complete smothering, not just a gentle hindrance.

Why Luke 8:7 matters

• Luke 8:7 helps clarify that the problem is not with the seed itself, but with what grows up around it—outside influences can be just as damaging as outright rejection.
• The verse sets up a contrast with other types of soil in the parable, showing that even a promising start can be undone by competing concerns.
• Understanding the image of thorns highlights how subtle, gradual pressures (not just obvious dangers) can prevent something good from reaching its full potential.