Matthew 13:22

World English Bible (2000)

What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων· καὶ ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου, συμπνίγει τὸν λόγον, καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται.

Transliteration

But the one eis the akanthas spareis, this estin the one the logon akouōn; and the merimna tou aiōnos this, and the apatē tou ploutou, sympnigei the logon, and akarpos ginetai.

Grammar Details

• *de*: contrastive particle - but/and
• *eis*: preposition + accusative - into/among
• *akanthas*: accusative, feminine, plural - thorns
• *spareis*: aorist participle, nominative, masculine, singular, passive - having been sown
• *houtos*: demonstrative, nominative, masculine, singular - this one
• *estin*: present, 3rd singular - is
• *logon*: accusative, masculine, singular - word
• *akouōn*: present participle, nominative, masculine, singular - hearing
• *merimna*: nominative, feminine, singular - care/anxiety
• *aiōnos*: genitive, masculine, singular - of age
• *toutou*: demonstrative, genitive, masculine, singular - this
• *apatē*: nominative, feminine, singular - deceitfulness
• *ploutou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of wealth
• *sympnigei*: present, 3rd singular - chokes
• *akarpos*: nominative, masculine, singular - unfruitful
• *ginetai*: present, 3rd singular, middle - becomes

Word Meanings

• *eis tas akanthas spareis*: the one sown among the thorns
• *logon akouōn*: hearing the word/one who hears the message
• *merimna tou aiōnos toutou*: care/worry of this age/worldly concerns
• *apatē tou ploutou*: deceitfulness of wealth/deception of riches
• *sympnigei*: chokes/suffocates/crowds out
• *akarpos ginetai*: becomes unfruitful/nonproductive/barren

Referenced Verses

• 1 Tim 6:9-9 : 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• 1 Tim 6:17 : 17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
• 2 Tim 4:10 : 10 for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
• Luke 8:14 : 14 That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
• Luke 12:15 : 15 He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."
• Matt 6:24-25 : 24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon. 25 Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
• Ps 52:7 : 7 "Behold, this is the man who didn't make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness."
• Eccl 5:10-11 : 10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?
• Acts 5:1-9 : 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While you kept it, didn't it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn't it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven't lied to men, but to God." 5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for so much." 9 But Peter asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
• 1 John 2:15-16 : 15 Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's.
• Jude 1:11-12 : 11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
• Acts 8:18 : 18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
• 2 Pet 2:14-15 : 14 having eyes full of adultery, and who can't cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing; 15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
• Eccl 5:13-14 : 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. 14 Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
• Jer 4:3 : 3 For thus says Yahweh to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up your fallow ground, and don't sow among thorns.
• Gen 13:10-13 : 10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
• Josh 7:20-21 : 20 Achan answered Joshua, and said, "I have truly sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done. 21 When I saw among the spoil a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it."
• 2 Kgs 5:20-27 : 20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him." 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?" 22 He said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'" 23 Naaman said, "Be pleased to take two talents." He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him. 24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you come from, Gehazi?" He said, "Your servant went nowhere." 26 He said to him, "Didn't my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your seed forever." He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.
• Ps 62:10 : 10 Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don't set your heart on them.
• Prov 11:28 : 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
• Prov 23:5 : 5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
• Eccl 4:8 : 8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
• Matt 13:7 : 7 Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
• Matt 19:16-24 : 16 Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" 17 He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder.' 'You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false testimony.' 19 'Honor your father and mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20 The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. 23 Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
• Mark 4:18-19 : 18 Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, 19 and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
• Mark 10:23-25 : 23 Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
• Luke 12:21 : 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
• Luke 12:29-30 : 29 Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
• Luke 14:16-24 : 16 But he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. 17 He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.' 18 They all as one began to make excuses. "The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.' 19 "Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.' 20 "Another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I can't come.' 21 "That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.' 22 "The servant said, 'Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.' 23 "The lord said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.'"
• Luke 18:24-25 : 24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
• Luke 21:34 : 34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.