A parable at a gathering of people from every city.
Luke 8:5 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 8:5 A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
He went out, the one seeding for that seeding of his. And in the seeding itself, it certainly fell down along the path and not only was it trampled but also the winged ones of the sky ate it up.
This verse combines what are two verses in both Matthew and Mark. It is much more humorous in the Greek, but there are several untranslated words. Many word forms are changed and certain words are left untranslated, which disrupts the humor.
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.
The word translated as "sower" is actually the verb, "to sow" or, more precisely, "to seed" since it is from the same root word as "seed". but it is in the form of an adjective ("sowing") used as a noun, "the one seeding".
The word translated as "Went out" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true."
Untranslated here is a possessive article preceding the verb below. The use of an article changes the infinitive form in a noun describing the action.
The verb translated as "to sow" is the same verb translated as "sower" above. Here, it is used as a noun because it is preceded by an article, describing the activity of "seeding".
The noun translated as "seed" means "sowing", "seed-time", "seed", "harvest", "crop", and "offspring". It is the noun form of the verb used twice already. It is singular, which explains why all the pronouns/adjective referring to it later in the verse are singular.
The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also."
The Greek phrase translated as "as he showed" is actual "in the seeding". The verb "to seed" is again in a form used as a noun preceded by an article ("the").
The "some" here is singular, "it".
There is an untranslated particle here, which. when used alone. expresses certainty, "truly" and "certainly".
"Cast down" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down." It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class", "to prostrate", "to fall from power", "to perish," and so on. Here, it is in the form which indicates someone acting on themselves, so "lower themselves down." It is not a passive so the sense is "fell'.
"The way side" is translated from a Greek word that means "way" or "road" but which is used symbolically to mean "a way of doing things" or "a philosophy of life." It is interesting that a term joining a path with philosophy exists in many languages from the west to the east.
The Greek word translated as "the fowls" is normally an adjective means "able to fly" and "winged," but it is used as a noun here, so "winged-ones" or, more simply, "birds." There was clearly a conscious choice here not to use the Greek word for "bird," which is ornis. All the English words referring to birds coming from Greek begin with this "ornith" prefix, including ornithology, the study of birds. Christ uses "winged one" as a metaphor for ideas, thoughts, or "spirits" that are not limited to the earth.
"Devoured" is from a verb that means "to eat up" and "to devour." It is a term applied to animals of prey. It also means "to corrode" or "to be gnawed."
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
Ἐξῆλθεν[54 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Went out " is exerchomai, which means "to come or go out of " "to march forth," "go out on," "to stand forth," "to exceed all bounds," "to come to an end," "to go out of office," and [of dreams or prophecies] "to come true." -- The word translated as "ye go thence" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." In some verses, its sense is "started out" from the primary meaning of its root.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
σπείρων [31 verses] (part sg pres act masc nom) "A sower" is speiro, which means "to sow a seed," "to beget offspring," "to scatter like a seed," and "to sow a field." -- The Greek word translated as "sow" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. Seeds" are Jesus's symbol of knowledge or the beginning of knowledge.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
σπεῖραι [31 verses](verb pres inf act) "To sow" is speiro, which means "to sow a seed," "to beget offspring," "to scatter like a seed," and "to sow a field." -- The Greek word translated as "sow" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. Seeds" are Jesus's symbol of knowledge or the beginning of knowledge.
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. - missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "word" is not shown in the English translation.
σπόρον [4 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Seed" is sporos, which means "sowing", "seed-time", "seed", "harvest", "crop", and "offspring". - The word "seed" means "seed," "sowing," "harvest," and "crop". It is Jesus's symbol for the beginning or kernel of knowledge.
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people. The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.-- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during." -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. With the direct object form, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."
τῷ [821 verses](article sg masc dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "goods" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
σπείρειν [31 verses](verb pres inf act) "To sow" is speiro, which means "to sow a seed," "to beget offspring," "to scatter like a seed," and "to sow a field." -- The Greek word translated as "sow" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. Seeds" are Jesus's symbol of knowledge or the beginning of knowledge.
αὐτὸν [124 verses](pron/adj sg masc acc) "Him/It" is auton, is the masculine, accusative case of the third-person, singular adjective that is used as a pronoun. Masculine pronouns can refer to things as well as people, so it can be it." The word also means "the same," and "of one's own accord." An accusative object of a preposition indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time. However, masculine pronouns refer to masculine nouns, not just masculine people so this word can mean "it" as well as "he." As a preposition's object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time. -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, singular, masculine as a direct object of a verb or preposition.
[821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
μὲν [31 verses](partic) Untranslated is men , which is generally used to express certainty and means "indeed," "certainly," "surely," and "truly." Alone in a question, it assumes the answer like "I take it" or "isn't it." Used with the conjunction de, it points out the specific word being contrasted after the conjunction. In English, we usually say, "on one hand...on the other hand." See the article here for specific uses with other particles. -- The "indeed" here is a particle, which. when used alone. expresses certainty, "truly" and "certainly." Alone in a question, it assumes the answer like "I take it" or "isn't it." However, when used with the conjunction translated here as "but" takes on the meaning "on one hand..." with the "on the other hand" identified by the "but" phrase.
ἔπεσεν, [36 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "It fell" is pipto, which means "to fall," "to fall down," "to be cast down," "fall upon," "intersect (geometry)," "meet," "pass through," "fall violently upon," "attack," "fall in battle," "sink{in water)," "fall short i.e. fail," " fall out of," "lose a thing," "escape from," "fall asleep," "to be accessible to perception," "to fall (between her feet, i.e. to be born)," "to let fall[dice)," "turn out," and "fall under (belong to a class)." -- "Fall" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down." It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class," "to prostrate," "to fall from power," "to perish," and so on.
παρὰ [45 verses](prep) "With" is para, has many meanings, which depend on the case of its object and the sense of the verb. With the genitive, the sense is always motion, "from the side of," "from beside," "issuing from", and generally "from." With the dative, the sense is always static, "by the side of," "near," "in the presence of," and "before." With the accusative, its has a number of specialized meanings depending on the character of the verb, with coming/going "near," "beside," with placing "side-by-side," as a metaphor, "like" or "as a parody of, of comparison, "compared with" and many more including "along", "past", "beyond", "parallel (geometry)", "precisely at the moment of (time)," and "throughout (time)." With a possessive form, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from." With an indirect object form, the sense is static, "beside," "by the side of," "near," and "before." With the direct object, its has a number of specialized meanings depending on the character of the verb, with coming/going "near," "beside," with placing "side-by-side," as a metaphor, "like" or "as a parody of, of comparison, "compared with" and many more. -- The Greek preposition translated as "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object.
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
ὁδόν, [27 verses](noun sg fem acc) "The way side" is hodos, which means literally "way" or "road" but it also means "travel" and "journey." It is interesting that a term joining a path with philosophy exists in many languages from the west to the east. -- "Way" is from a word meaning "the way" or "the road" but which is used symbolically to mean "a way of doing things" or "a philosophy of life." In Acts, followers of Jesus are described as those "belonging to the way."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
κατεπατήθη [3 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "To be trodden underfoot" is from katapateo, which means "to trod underfoot", "trample," and "trample down." - The word for "trample" is also is also a metaphor for treating someone rudely or spurning them, treating them with neglect.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opipeteinonnion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
πετεινὰ [13 verses](adj pl neut acc) "Birds" is peteinon, which as an adjective means "able to fly," "full-fledged," and "winged," and, as a noun, "winged fowl," and "a bird." There was clearly a conscious choice here not to use the Greek word for bird, which is ornis, or, in the diminutive, ornithion. All the English words referring to birds coming from Greek begin with this "ornith" prefix, including ornithology, the study of birds. - The Greek word translated as "birds" is normally an adjective means "able to fly" and "winged," but it is used as a noun here, so "winged-ones" or, more simply, "birds." Jesus always uses this word to refer to birds generally, not the one of the more common normal Greek words that means "bird," but those other words are not used in the Septuagint.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. - missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "word" is not shown in the English translation.
οὐρανοῦ [111 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate." -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky." WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
κατέφαγεν [7 verses](3rd sg aor ind act) "Devoured" is from katesthio, which means "to eat up" and "to devour." Literally, it means "eat down" with the prefix kata- meaning down." It is a term applied to animals of prey. It also means "to corrode" or "to be gnawed." - "Devoured" is from a verb that means "to eat up," "eat down," and "to devour." It is a term applied to animals eating their prey. It also means "to corrode" or "to be gnawed."
αὐτό [24 verses](pron/adj sg neut nom/acc) "It" is auto, which means "it," the neuter pronoun as a subject or object. It also means "itself," and "the same." When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same." An accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. Events may show the amount of time -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. Here it is neuter in the form of a subject or object of a verb or preposition.
The word "seed which is Jesus's symbol for the beginning or kernel of knowledge, is repeated in various forms of the verb and noun.
The word "cast down" means to fall from a higher state to a lower, which described knowledge going to those who are unknowing.
The word "way" also means "philosophy" and in a "way of thought" or a "way of life."
"Winged one" is used instead of the Greek word for "bird." Christ always uses "winged one" instead of "bird."