Mark 4:19
New International Version
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

New Living Translation
but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

English Standard Version
but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Berean Standard Bible
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Berean Literal Bible
and the cares of this age and the deceit of riches, and the desires of the other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

King James Bible
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

New King James Version
and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

New American Standard Bible
but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

NASB 1995
but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

NASB 1977
and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Legacy Standard Bible
but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for anything else enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Amplified Bible
but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Christian Standard Bible
but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

American Standard Version
and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Contemporary English Version
But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.

English Revised Version
and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can't produce anything.

Good News Translation
but the worries about this life, the love for riches, and all other kinds of desires crowd in and choke the message, and they don't bear fruit.

International Standard Version
but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word so that it can't produce a crop.

Majority Standard Bible
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

NET Bible
but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.

New Heart English Bible
and the cares of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Weymouth New Testament
but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Berean Literal Bible
and the cares of this age and the deceit of riches, and the desires of the other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Young's Literal Translation
and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the cares of this time, and the deceit of riches, and eager desires about remaining things, coming in, choke the word, and it is unfruitful.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts after other things entering in choke the word, and it is made fruitless.

Catholic Public Domain Version
but worldly tasks, and the deception of riches, and desires about other things enter in and suffocate the word, and it is effectively without fruit.

New American Bible
but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.

New Revised Standard Version
but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the thoughts of this world, and the deception of wealth, and the lusts of other things, enter in and choke the word, and bear no fruit.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And the cares of this world and the seductiveness of wealth and other desires are entering in and choking the word and it becomes unfruitful.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Godbey New Testament
and the cares of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and desires concerning other things coming into them, choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Haweis New Testament
but the anxious cares of this world, and the seducing nature of wealth, and inordinate desires after other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mace New Testament
but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Weymouth New Testament
but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful.

Worrell New Testament
and the anxieties of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires about other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Worsley New Testament
but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and inordinate desires after other things entering in choke the word, and so it becometh unfruitful.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”…

Cross References
Matthew 13:22
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Luke 8:14
The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:31-33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Luke 12:15
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. / When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

2 Timothy 4:10
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.


Treasury of Scripture

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

the cares.

Luke 10:41
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Luke 12:17-21,29,30
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? …

Luke 14:18-20
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused…

the deceitfulness.

Proverbs 23:5
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-16
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity…

and the lusts.

1 Peter 4:2,3
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God…

1 John 2:15-17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him…

unfruitful.

Isaiah 5:2,4
And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes…

Matthew 3:10
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Jump to Previous
Age Anxieties Cares Choke Deceitfulness Deceits Delight Desire Desires Enter Entering Excessive Fruit Gives Growth Lusts Message Objects Proves Pursuit Riches Stifle Stop Unfruitful Wealth Word World Worldly Worries
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Age Anxieties Cares Choke Deceitfulness Deceits Delight Desire Desires Enter Entering Excessive Fruit Gives Growth Lusts Message Objects Proves Pursuit Riches Stifle Stop Unfruitful Wealth Word World Worldly Worries
Mark 4
1. The parable of the sower,
14. and the meaning thereof.
21. We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others.
26. The parable of the seed growing secretly;
30. and of the mustard seed.
35. Jesus stills the storm on the sea.














but the worries of this life
This phrase highlights the everyday concerns and anxieties that can distract believers from their spiritual focus. In the context of first-century Judea, these worries could include basic survival needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, as well as social and political pressures under Roman occupation. Biblically, Jesus addresses these concerns in Matthew 6:25-34, urging His followers to seek first the kingdom of God. Theologically, this reflects the human tendency to prioritize temporal issues over eternal truths.

the deceitfulness of wealth
Wealth is portrayed as deceptive because it can create a false sense of security and self-sufficiency, leading individuals away from reliance on God. In the cultural context of the time, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor, yet Jesus frequently warned against its dangers (e.g., Matthew 19:23-24). This phrase connects to the broader biblical theme that love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The deceit lies in the belief that wealth can provide ultimate satisfaction and security, which only God can truly offer.

and the desire for other things
This phrase encompasses a broad range of distractions and temptations that can divert attention from spiritual growth. In a historical context, this could include the pursuit of power, status, or pleasure, which were prevalent in Roman society. Biblically, this aligns with the warnings against idolatry and covetousness found throughout Scripture (e.g., Exodus 20:17, Colossians 3:5). Theologically, it underscores the call to prioritize God above all else, as seen in the greatest commandment to love God with all one's heart (Mark 12:30).

come in and choke the word
The imagery of choking suggests a gradual process where these distractions suffocate spiritual vitality. In agricultural terms, weeds can overtake and hinder the growth of crops, which would be a familiar concept to Jesus' agrarian audience. This metaphor illustrates how external pressures and internal desires can stifle the transformative power of God's word in a believer's life. It echoes the parable's theme of different soil types representing various responses to the gospel.

and it becomes unfruitful
The ultimate consequence of these distractions is spiritual barrenness. In biblical terms, fruitfulness is often associated with living a life that reflects God's character and produces good works (Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:5). Historically, fruitfulness was a key indicator of a faithful covenant relationship with God, as seen in the Old Testament's emphasis on Israel's obedience leading to blessing. This phrase serves as a warning that allowing worldly concerns to dominate can render one's faith ineffective and unproductive.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of the parable, teaching His disciples and the crowd about the Kingdom of God through the Parable of the Sower.

2. The Crowd
The audience listening to Jesus' teachings, representing various types of hearers of the Word.

3. The Disciples
Followers of Jesus who receive further explanation of the parable, representing those who seek deeper understanding.

4. The Sower
Symbolic of anyone who spreads the Word of God.

5. The Seed
Represents the Word of God being sown into the hearts of people.
Teaching Points
The Dangers of Distraction
The worries of this life can distract us from God's Word. We must prioritize spiritual growth over worldly concerns.

The Deceitfulness of Wealth
Wealth can be deceptive, promising security and happiness but often leading us away from God. True security is found in Christ.

Desires for Other Things
Our desires can become idols, taking the place of God in our hearts. We must guard against letting anything overshadow our relationship with Him.

Fruitfulness in the Christian Life
To be fruitful, we must allow the Word to take root deeply in our hearts, free from the choking influences of the world.

Cultivating a Receptive Heart
Regular self-examination and prayer can help us identify and remove the thorns that hinder our spiritual growth.Verse 19. - The cares of the world (τοῦ αἰῶνος); literally, of the age; that is, temporal and secular cares, incident to the age in which our lot is cast, and which are common to all. These, like thorns, distress and trouble, and often wound the soul; while, on the other hand, the care of the soul and the thought of heavenly things compose and establish the mind. The deceitfulness of riches. Riches are aptly compared to thorns, because, like thorns, they pierce the soul. St. Paul (1 Timothy 6:10) speaks of some who, through the love of riches, "have pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Riches are deceitful, because they often seduce the soul from God and from salvation, and are the cause of many sins. "How hardly," says our Lord, "shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of God I" They have a tendency to choke the Word of God, and to weaken the power of religion. "Those are the only true riches," says St. Gregory, "which make us rich in virtue."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
but
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
αἱ (hai)
Article - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

cares
μέριμναι (merimnai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3308: Care, worry, anxiety. From merizo; solicitude.

of this life,
αἰῶνος (aiōnos)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 165: From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

deceitfulness
ἀπάτη (apatē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 539: Deceit, deception, deceitfulness, delusion. From apatao; delusion.

of
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wealth,
πλούτου (ploutou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4149: From the base of pletho; wealth, i.e. money, possessions, or abundance, richness, valuable bestowment.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
αἱ (hai)
Article - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

desire
ἐπιθυμίαι (epithymiai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1939: Desire, eagerness for, inordinate desire, lust. From epithumeo; a longing.

for
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

other things
λοιπὰ (loipa)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3062: Left, left behind, the remainder, the rest, the others. Masculine plural of a derivative of leipo; remaining ones.

come in
εἰσπορευόμεναι (eisporeuomenai)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1531: To journey in(to), I go in(to), enter, intervene. From eis and poreuomai; to enter.

[and] choke
συμπνίγουσιν (sympnigousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4846: To choke utterly, as weeds do plants; I crowd upon. From sun and pnigo; to strangle completely, i.e. to drown, or to crowd.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word,
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

it becomes
γίνεται (ginetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

unfruitful.
ἄκαρπος (akarpos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 175: Unfruitful, barren, profitless. Barren.


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NT Gospels: Mark 4:19 And the cares of this age (Mar Mk Mr)
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