Topical Bible: Wayside

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "wayside" refers to the edge or border of a road or path, often used in biblical contexts to describe a place where seeds are sown but do not take root. This imagery is most prominently featured in the Parable of the Sower, as recounted in the Synoptic Gospels. In this parable, Jesus uses the wayside to illustrate the spiritual condition of those who hear the Word of God but do not understand or accept it, leading to its loss or ineffectiveness in their lives.

Biblical Context

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes four types of soil upon which seeds are sown, each representing different responses to the Word of God. The wayside is the first type of ground mentioned:

"As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it." (Mark 4:4)

The wayside, or path, is a hard, trampled area where seeds cannot penetrate the soil. In Jesus' explanation of the parable, He clarifies the meaning of the wayside:

"Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them." (Mark 4:15)

Spiritual Significance

The wayside represents individuals who hear the Word of God but do not allow it to penetrate their hearts. Their spiritual condition is characterized by a lack of understanding and receptivity, making them vulnerable to the influence of Satan, who quickly snatches away the Word before it can take root. This imagery underscores the importance of a receptive heart and mind in the process of spiritual growth and transformation.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the wayside serves as a cautionary symbol of spiritual hardness and inattentiveness. It highlights the necessity of preparing one's heart to receive the Word of God, emphasizing the role of personal responsibility in spiritual receptivity. The parable suggests that external factors, such as the influence of Satan, can impede spiritual growth, but the primary issue lies in the condition of the heart.

Practical Application

In practical terms, the concept of the wayside challenges believers to examine their own spiritual receptivity. It calls for self-reflection on how one receives and responds to the teachings of Scripture. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a heart that is open and responsive to God's Word, actively seeking understanding and application in their daily lives.

Related Scriptures

The theme of spiritual receptivity and the dangers of a hardened heart are echoed throughout Scripture. Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." Similarly, Hebrews 3:15 warns, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." These passages reinforce the importance of maintaining a heart that is receptive to God's Word, avoiding the pitfalls represented by the wayside.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The side of the way; the edge or border of a road or path.
2. (a.) of or pertaining to the wayside; as, wayside flowers.
Strong's Hebrew
3197. yak -- wayside
... 3196, 3197. yak. 3198 . wayside. Transliteration: yak Phonetic Spelling:
(yak) Short Definition: side. Word Origin ... NH3204. wayside By ...
/hebrew/3197.htm - 5k
4570. magal -- an entrenchment, track
... the same as egel Definition an entrenchment, track NASB Word Usage circle of the
camp (3), course (1), path (2), paths (5), tracks (2), ways (2), wayside (1). ...
/hebrew/4570.htm - 6k
1870. derek -- way, road, distance, journey, manner
... roadway (2), safely* (1), street (2), toward (33), toward* (1), walk (1), way (382),
way in the direction (1), way toward (1), ways (150), wayside (2), wherever ...
/hebrew/1870.htm - 6k
Library
The Wayside Feast
... The Wayside Feast. SB Psalm 23:5. Bread that camest down from Heaven,. Fruit of
the eternal tree; Banquet which my God has given. Even unto me; ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/the wayside feast.htm
By the Wayside
... Chapter V BY THE WAYSIDE. By sunset, the Maccabee and Julian of Ephesus
had taken the road to Jerusalem again. As they reached the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter v by the wayside.htm
By the Wayside.
... By the Wayside. I went down past the corner of Clark and Lake streets one
day, and, fulfilling my vow, on seeing a man leaning up ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/by the wayside.htm
The Good Samaritan
... enough now. But I would take the scene of this parable in a wider sense;
I would ask you to look at it as the wayside of life. The ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlviii the good samaritan.htm
Sowing the Seed.
... A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell by the wayside and was
trodden down, and birds came and devoured it. ... Is it like the wayside? ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/sowing the seed.htm
Matt. xii. 46-49.
... desist from sowing. And how can it be reasonable, saith one, to sow among
the thorns, on the rock, on the wayside? With regard to ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xliv matt xii 46-49.htm
Stories Told by the Lake.
... "A sower went out to sow his seed," said Jesus, "and as he sowed, some fell by the
wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xx stories told by.htm
Matt. xiii. 24-30.
... own inventions. And what difference is there, one may say, between them
that sleep, and them that resemble the wayside? That in ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xlvi matt xiii 24-30.htm
Christ among the Common Things of Life
... that would at once have attracted all eyes; but God orders that it shall come without
observation, unfolding its quiet beauty like the wayside flower, which ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/dawson christ among the.htm
Human Soot
... You all know how he found the poor wounded Jew by the wayside; and for the mere
sake of their common humanity, simply because he was a man, though he would ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxiii human soot.htm
Thesaurus
Wayside (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The side of the way; the edge or border of a road or path. 2. (a.) of or
pertaining to the wayside; as, wayside flowers. ...Wayside (16 Occurrences). ...
/w/wayside.htm - 11k
Dropped (52 Occurrences)
... Dropped (52 Occurrences). Matthew 13:4 And while he did so, some seeds were dropped
by the wayside, and the birds came and took them for food: (BBE). ...
/d/dropped.htm - 22k
Seated (252 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:30 And two blind men seated by the wayside, when they had the news that
Jesus was going by, gave a loud cry, saying, Lord, Son of David, have mercy ...
/s/seated.htm - 35k
Way-side (10 Occurrences)
Way-side. Wayside, Way-side. Waysides . Multi-Version Concordance Way-side
(10 Occurrences). ... Selah. (DBY). Wayside, Way-side. Waysides . Reference Bible
/w/way-side.htm - 9k
Quickly (254 Occurrences)
... takes away that which was put in his heart. He is the seed dropped by the
wayside. (BBE). Matthew 13:21 But having no root in himself ...
/q/quickly.htm - 35k
Violated (23 Occurrences)
... You have been seated waiting for them by the wayside like an Arabian in the waste
land; you have made the land unclean with your loose ways and your evil-doing ...
/v/violated.htm - 13k
News (453 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:30 And two blind men seated by the wayside, when they had the news that
Jesus was going by, gave a loud cry, saying, Lord, Son of David, have mercy ...
/n/news.htm - 34k
Neighbourhood (9 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 18:35 And it came to pass when he came into the neighbourhood of
Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging. (DBY). ...
/n/neighbourhood.htm - 9k
Nomad (1 Occurrence)
... You have been seated waiting for them by the wayside like an Arabian in the waste
land; you have made the land unclean with your loose ways and your evil-doing ...
/n/nomad.htm - 6k
Gins (2 Occurrences)
... Gins (2 Occurrences). Psalms 140:5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah. ...
/g/gins.htm - 6k
Resources
What does it mean that Jesus is the son of David? | GotQuestions.org

What should a Christ-centered life look like? | GotQuestions.org

Is it possible to marry the wrong person? | GotQuestions.org

Wayside: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance
Wayside (16 Occurrences)
Matthew 13:4
And while he did so, some seeds were dropped by the wayside, and the birds came and took them for food:
(BBE)
Matthew 13:19
When the word of the kingdom comes to anyone, and the sense of it is not clear to him, then the Evil One comes, and quickly takes away that which was put in his heart. He is the seed dropped by the wayside.
(BBE DBY)
Matthew 20:30
And two blind men seated by the wayside, when they had the news that Jesus was going by, gave a loud cry, saying, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.
(BBE DBY)
Matthew 21:19
And seeing a fig-tree by the wayside, he came to it, and saw nothing on it but leaves only; and he said to it, Let there be no fruit from you from this time forward for ever. And straight away the fig-tree became dry and dead.
(BBE RSV)
Mark 4:4
And while he was doing it, some was dropped by the wayside, and the birds came and took it for food.
(BBE DBY)
Mark 4:15
And these are they by the wayside, where the word is planted; and when they have given ear, the Evil One comes straight away and takes away the word which has been planted in them.
(BBE DBY)
Mark 10:46
And they came to Jericho: and when he was going out of Jericho, with his disciples and a great number of people, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind man, was seated by the wayside, with his hand out for money.
(BBE DBY)
Luke 8:5
A man went out to put in seed, and while he was doing it, some was dropped by the wayside and it was crushed under foot, and was taken by the birds of heaven.
(BBE)
Luke 8:12
But those by the wayside are those who hear; then comes the devil and takes away the word from their heart that they may not believe and be saved.
(DBY)
Luke 18:35
And it came to pass when he came into the neighbourhood of Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.
(DBY)
Genesis 38:21
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here.
(See JPS ASV BBE RSV)
1 Samuel 4:13
And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE)
Psalms 110:7
He will drink of the brook in the way; therefore will he lift up the head.
(See NAS)
Psalms 140:5
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
(KJV JPS ASV NAS RSV)
Jeremiah 3:2
Let your eyes be lifted up to the open hilltops, and see; where have you not been taken by your lovers? You have been seated waiting for them by the wayside like an Arabian in the waste land; you have made the land unclean with your loose ways and your evil-doing.
(BBE RSV)
Hosea 13:7
And I am to them as a lion, As a leopard by the way I look out.
(See NAS)
Subtopics
Wayside
Related Terms
Way-side (10 Occurrences)
Dropped (52 Occurrences)
Fowls (61 Occurrences)
Falls (79 Occurrences)
Peck (3 Occurrences)
Sows (18 Occurrences)
Taketh (398 Occurrences)
Carries (27 Occurrences)
Air (74 Occurrences)
Message (222 Occurrences)
Seated (252 Occurrences)
Straight (196 Occurrences)
Seed (337 Occurrences)
Quickly (254 Occurrences)
Violated (23 Occurrences)
News (453 Occurrences)
Neighbourhood (9 Occurrences)
Nomad (1 Occurrence)
Understandeth (24 Occurrences)
Lest (282 Occurrences)
Gins (2 Occurrences)
Wicked (476 Occurrences)
Waysides (1 Occurrence)
Ways (2336 Occurrences)
Takes (380 Occurrences)
Trodden (42 Occurrences)
Trachonitis (1 Occurrence)
Roadside (9 Occurrences)
Ravished (8 Occurrences)
Received (312 Occurrences)
Eli (36 Occurrences)
Drew (162 Occurrences)
Dry (217 Occurrences)
Passed (329 Occurrences)
Planted (105 Occurrences)
Bethlehem (49 Occurrences)
Beg (77 Occurrences)
Catch (46 Occurrences)
Catcheth (10 Occurrences)
Crushed (199 Occurrences)
Awaiting (13 Occurrences)
Snatcheth (3 Occurrences)
Sense (195 Occurrences)
Sower (11 Occurrences)
Lovers (57 Occurrences)
Outcry (56 Occurrences)
Roads (34 Occurrences)
Clear (641 Occurrences)
Nigh (243 Occurrences)
Hearts (418 Occurrences)
Cry (431 Occurrences)
Large (235 Occurrences)
Straightway (96 Occurrences)
Openly (52 Occurrences)
Questions (76 Occurrences)
Receive (350 Occurrences)
Goes (472 Occurrences)
Hilltops (10 Occurrences)
Pass (1172 Occurrences)
Evil-doing (106 Occurrences)
Vile (59 Occurrences)
Feared (134 Occurrences)
Harlot (87 Occurrences)
Loose (219 Occurrences)
Sitting (201 Occurrences)
Faces (158 Occurrences)
Hand (14438 Occurrences)
Saying (2162 Occurrences)
Heareth (137 Occurrences)
Birds (125 Occurrences)
Evil (1503 Occurrences)
Money (284 Occurrences)
Dead (580 Occurrences)